The contrast couldn’t be more extreme for mid-June! While 90s which stretch from Colorado’s Front Range including Denver all the way to the East Coast is not unusual, what is, is 1-2ft snows up in the High Country at the same time!

Check out the temperatures across the country yesterday.

Yesterday failed to hit 90 in Central Park with a high of 89 but get south and west and it was into the 90s with Philadelphia topping 94, DC 95.

Positively summer-like east of the Rockies but note the chill in the Western mountains.

It’s all thanks to this upper air pattern!

500mb height anomalies.

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THIS was the scene just two days ago as a family drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon, UT for a ski trip, yes SKI TRIP on June 17!

2-days ago… up at Alta, UT

Mid-winter look on Parley’s Summit, UT.

Teton Pass, WY yesterday.

Write-up from Ski Utah.

Simply, the GREATEST day in the history of June!

How does one properly end a ski season? The same exact  way you started it. Skiing Alta, after a foot of fresh has fallen. How often do you get a powder day in June? Let alone on June 18th!   We are 3 days away from the summer solstice, so the fact that the 13 inches of snow that fell was of such incredible quality is just mind blowing.  It’s not totally uncommon for us to see a few snowflakes every once in a while in June, but snow of this magnitude and quality is just unheard of!

Looking back on past ski seasons, there’s always that one memorable moment that stands out. Honestly, this season was kind of lacking in that department.  There were storms and powdays but none that really blew your mind. Today, June 18, 2014 was one of those mind blowing days. Today will most certainly be the day in which I remember for years and years to come.  Skiing powder is more than a hobby for us, it’s a passion. When you get the opportunity to start your ski season skiing powder and you get to end it the exact same way, you simply have to tip your hat to the snow Gods and say thanks!

Here’s a write-up from the NWS Riverton office

A strong upper level low pressure system, combined with an equally strong cold front, brought rain and snow across the Cowboy State during the evening of June 16th, through June 17th, and even continuing into June 18th. Most of central and western Wyoming experienced some form of precipitation, with snow across much of western and portions of southern Wyoming. Areas as low as 6100 feet saw snow (Green River and Rock Springs area saw a trace to 0.5 inches of snow), Evanston in southwest Wyoming recieved 3.5 inches of snow, and generally 6 to 9 inches of snow could be found across the western mountains. See the snow totals below for the latest reports.

Is June Snow uncommon in Wyoming? Recent records show that June snow isn’t as uncommon as one may think, especially across the western mountains. In fact there have been significant late May or June snow events 3 of the last 5 years. The most recent occured on May 31st 2013 when portions of the Big Horns recieved 3 feet of snow, and June snow occured in the western mountains in mid June of 2012. June snow across the lower elevations of Wyoming is more uncommon, but does occur as Casper, Lander, and Riverton have all recorded snow in June.  

This strong system will exit the region by Thursday. Summer officially arrives this weekend, and more normal weather conditions can be expected.

Here are the latest snowfall reports from Monday evening (June 16th) through Wednesday morning (June 18th).

Snowfall Reports

County	Station Name	Snowfall
Big Horn	Bald Mountain Snotel	3
Fremont	Deer Park Snotel	5
Fremont	Hobbs Park Snotel	4
Fremont	Little Warm Snotel	3
Fremont	Cold Springs Snotel	2
Lincoln	Indian Creek Snotel	6
Lincoln	Cottonwood Creek Snotel	4
Lincoln	Blind Bull Summit Snotel	3
Lincoln	Spring Creek Divide Snotel	3
Lincoln	Willow Creek Snotel	3
Lincoln	Kelley Ranger Station Snotel	3
Lincoln	Salt River Summit Snotel	2
Lincoln	Blind Bull Summit	0.1
Park	Kirwin Snotel	5
Park	Beartooth Lake Snotel	4
Park	Blackwater Snotel	2
Park	Marquette Snotel	2
Park	Evening Star Snotel	1
Sublette	Gunsite Pass Snotel	9
Sublette	Loomis Park Snotel	6
Sublette	Elkhart Park G.S. Snotel	5
Sublette	Pocket Creek Snotel	4
Sublette	Triple Peak Snotel	2
Sublette	Big Sandy Opening Snotel	2
Sublette	Kendall Ranger Station Snotel	2
Sublette	New Fork Lake Snotel	2
Sublette	East Rim Divide Snotel	1
Sublette	Larsen Creek Snotel	1
Sublette	Daniel Fish Hatchery	0.5
Sublette	14 NW Pinedale	0.5
Sublette	Pinedale	0.3
Sweetwater	7 SE Rock Springs	0.4
Teton	Togwotee Pass Snotel	7
Teton	Grand Targhee Snotel	5
Teton	Gros Ventre Summit Snotel	5
Teton	Grassy Lake Snotel	2
Teton	Jackson Hole-Rendezvous Bowl	1
Teton	Jackson Hole-Mid	0.1
Teton	Jackson Hole-Raymer	0.1
Yellowstone	Two Ocean Plateau Snotel	6
Yellowstone	Parker Peak Snotel	3
Yellowstone	Lewis Lake Divide Snotel	2
Yellowstone	Thumb Divide Snotel	1
Yellowstone	Sylvan Lake Snotel	1
Yellowstone	Sylvan Road Snotel	1

Check out the contrast in temp and conditions over Colorado, what a difference a few thousand feet make!

NWS graphic from 2 days ago.

Severe Weather & Flooding Rains Causing Headaches Between Two Contrasting Extremes

With that type of clash, severe weather of course has been breaking out in between.

This was the scene out of Nebraska 2 days ago when the same supercell spawned two dangerous twisters.

Here’s yesterday’s storm report from the SPC.

In the past 3 days, there have been 96 reports of tornadoes, primarily on the Plains.

Today’s severe risk.

QPF rainfall next 7 days.

Here’s the rainfall for the month to date. Above normal from the Rockies east.

Heating Up This Weekend In The South!

See today’s video for discussion.

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