Cold Air, Snow, and More to Distinguish First Week of April

Posted: April 3, 2023 1:00 pm

The first week of April is going to be unseasonably cold for the West, including the chance of significant snow for some areas. Some temperature readings may approach record low levels. Here is the latest on the blast of early spring cold air moving into the region.

Jet Stream Plunge Will Pull Down Cold Air

It has been a calm few days for much of the West Coast, including the state of California. While the upcoming weather pattern will deliver another round of snow to the Sierra Nevada, the coastal areas will be spared the torrential rain and high winds that have impacted the Golden State in regular intervals this winter.

The jet stream will dip to the south early in the week, bringing cold air from Canada along with it. This movement will usher in temperatures that are up to 25 degrees cooler than the historical average for the beginning of April.

While the temperature change will not be quite as dramatic in Seattle, temperatures are forecast to be about 10 degrees below normal for this time of the year with highs struggling to hit the 50-degree mark on Monday and Tuesday. It will be even colder in Salt Lake City with forecast highs in the upper 30s on Monday and Tuesday, compared to an average in the upper 50s.

The mass of cold air will dip as far south as California and into the Desert Southwest. The cold temperatures will be accompanied by brisk winds that bring the real feel down further. This forecast may be unwelcome news for tourists in Los Angeles and San Diego hoping to find warmth.

Records may fall in the interior Northwest as the mercury continues its downward trajectory. Even people in areas not accustomed to cool weather to start the month of April may need to grab a jacket. For instance, Phoenix is only forecast to hit the mid 60s to start the work week, compared to the historical averages in the low 80s.

Who Will See the Snow

In addition to the cold temperatures and wind, some parts of the interior West will also be under a threat of snow. Forecasters are predicting that a storm will fire up along the leading edge of the mass of cold air. This storm will begin to intensify as it moves into the nation’s heartland, leading to the potential of blizzard conditions for a large swath of the northern Plains.

Salt Lake City will see a few inches of snow out of this weather maker beginning Monday and continuing through Tuesday. Other areas that should brace for snow include Cheyenne, Wyoming and Vail, Colorado. Snowfall will be enough throughout these areas to disrupt travel and other daily activities.

The highest terrains of the central Rocky Mountains and the Wasatch Range will see snowfall measuring well over a foot or more. For instance Utah’s Alta Ski Area will see another dose of heavy snow, helping to stretch out the winter sports season well into the spring.

The Sierra Nevada will also pick up more snow out of this early week system. The bulk of the snowfall will wrap up by Monday before it moves into the Intermountain West. The northern Cascades about an hour east of Seattle saw some flakes fly over the weekend with more on the way to start the week.

This same storm system will also be responsible for what is forecast to be another outbreak of severe weather for the Midwest this week. Be sure to stay tuned to this developing forecast if you live in the area that is expected to be in the impact zone.

The good news for the western half of the nation is that temperatures are predicted to inch higher by the middle of the week and into next weekend. More seasonable weather is on the way for those ready for spring to finally show its colors.

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