In this “Snow Party” episode, the hosts—Brian, Evan, and Mike—lay out a packed winter schedule, share their personal fatigue, and recap the recent avalanche tragedy in the Tahoe area.

The group reports on the most extensive blizzard‑blasting and 4‑foot fresh powder on the Sierra that’s come in the last few days, and they look ahead to an atmospheric river that may drop 2–3 ft of wet snow before March’s first dry spell. All across the West, snow has fallen and will continue to fall over the next 5 - 7 days. Even the Great Lakes and East Coast join in on the action over the next 5 days, as their previous 5-day period was on the drier side.

During the long‑range discussion, they describe how the MJO (Madden–Julian Oscillation) has delivered the winter’s most significant West Coast storm cycles, and how it is unlikely to return to the same form in March.

Bryan also shares lighter moments: a “beard shaver” in Tahoe as they finally hit the 3‑foot-in‑24‑hr benchmark, and the tradition of shaving off a playoff beard. The show ends with a hopeful sign‑off that this might be the final (but hopefully not) “Snow Party” episode of the season.

Song Clip: Ski & Party By Pixie and The Partygrass Boys

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After weeks of dry spells and empty powder maps, winter is finally making a comeback out West.

This week on The Flakes Podcast, BA, Mike, and Evan break down the first meaningful snowfall in over a month across California and the Northern Rockies — including 2+ feet at Mammoth’s upper elevations and fresh snow across Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. It’s the appetizer… but the main course may be coming next week.

The crew dives into what could shape up to be the best 7–10 day stretch of the winter so far, with low snow levels, colder air, and multiple storm waves lining up across the Sierra, Utah, Colorado, and the broader West. Tahoe storm chasers are already circling, powder prescriptions are getting filled, and travel logistics might become part of the forecast.

How much snow are we really talking about? Where will the biggest totals land? And could this stretch deliver several powder days in a row?

Plus: why the Northeast suddenly goes quiet, how Mammoth keeps winning in southerly flow, and what to watch as the storm track evolves toward late February.

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This week on The Flakes Podcast, the crew stares down one of the most shockingly quiet snowfall periods they can remember — zero U.S. ski areas with double-digit snow in the next five days, and only a handful nationwide over the past week.

BA, Mike, and Evan break down just how rare this lull is, why both the West and East are stuck in a mid-winter transition, and how the Great Lakes and southern Appalachians somehow ended up as this week’s snowfall winners. From Tennessee and North Carolina surprise storms to Florida’s falling iguanas, it’s been a strange stretch of winter weather.

The good news? There are early signs of a pattern shift ahead. The crew digs into the long-range outlook, colder air moving into the West, and why Valentine’s Day weekend could mark the start of a much-needed comeback — even if trust in the models is at an all-time low.

Plus, Evan shares details on OpenSnow’s new model tables, how to read confidence in upcoming storms, and why patience (and coping mechanisms) are essential during a dry spell.

Powered by OpenSnow, The Flakes Podcast is your weekly lighthearted discussion of mountain weather — even when the powder map is painfully empty.

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BA is back with Mike and Evan — and the West is still stuck in “maybe” mode.

Plus: Mike sits down with Shannon Colleton, a physical therapist for the women's U.S. Ski Team, calling in from Austria as Olympic selections near — talking life on the road, training vs. injury prevention, and her best tips for staying healthy on the hill.

Thanks to Alta Ski Area and Smartwool for supporting The Flakes Podcast.

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The West stays stuck in “gray squares” mode (read: basically nothing falling), while winter keeps piling up east of the Rockies — and it’s about to get wild.

Mike and Evan recap a quiet stretch across the Sierra/Cascades and most of the West, with only a few bright spots (hello, sneaky Colorado upslope and a Southwest storm aimed at AZ/NM/CO). Then OpenSnow meteorologist Zach Butler returns with a full breakdown of a head-spinning Mid-Atlantic storm: major snow potential from Virginia into West Virginia/Maryland, plus a serious icing threat farther south — with the exact storm track making (or breaking) the forecast by the mile.

To close it out, Evan sits down with Adam Fair, Digital Marketing Manager at Alta Ski Area, for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to market one of America’s iconic powder mountains… during a season that’s been light on the powder. They talk terrain openings, visitor behavior in lean years, storm-chasing logistics, and Alta’s 88th season campaign — including the dream of bringing back a Powder 8s competition when the snow finally cooperates.

Pray for snow in the West, and good luck (and good planning) to everyone in the East dealing with whatever precipitation type the “snow sandwich” decides to serve.

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BA is out this week at Operation Sierra Storm, so Mike and Evan take the mic — and stare down a stubborn January ridge that just won’t budge.

They break down why the West has gone quiet on the powder map (hello, gray squares) and why parts of the Sierra’s snowpack story are strangely uneven heading into a dry stretch. Meanwhile, the Great Lakes and Northern New England continue to see snow with lake effect and a favorable storm track.

Plus, OpenSnow meteorologist Zach Butler joins for a quick snow-science chat on SWE vs. snow depth and the Community Snow Observations (CSO) project — and how community-submitted measurements help improve snowpack modeling across Tahoe, Oregon, and Colorado.

Thanks to Alta Ski Area and Smartwool for supporting The Flakes Podcast. Whether you’re waiting out the ridge or chasing storms elsewhere, we appreciate you being part of the Flakes community.

If you’re hunting fresh turns this week: go east… or Japan — because out West, the moose is still standing in the trail.

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A mid-winter Flakes check-in with plenty to unpack ❄️

They dive into:

Plus, a clear-eyed look at the evolving late-January pattern, why patience matters right now, and where cautious optimism might be justified.

As always: honest forecasting, zero hype, and a whole lot of map-watching. ❄️

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Ring in the New Year with a special New Year’s Eve episode of The Flakes Podcast 🎉❄️

Bryan and Mike break down where it’s been snowing across the country — from massive lake-effect totals in the Great Lakes and New York to feet of snow in the Sierra — and where things have been… well, weird. Very weird.

They dive into:

Huge recent snowfall totals across the Northeast, Great Lakes, Rockies, and West Coast

Why California is piling up snow up high while battling rain and high snow levels down low

A strange subtropical storm track pulling moisture north from Baja

Ongoing snow-level issues across the West and Rockies

What’s ahead for New Year’s weekend travel, skiing, and mountain impacts

A deeper discussion on La Niña, warm Pacific waters, the MJO, and what it could mean for January

Plus, Bryan shares some big industry news as OpenSnow becomes the official forecasting partner for Ski California and several major ski organizations — a win for grounded, no-hype forecasting.

As always, the goal is simple: clear, honest mountain weather insight without the 100-inch clickbait. Whether you’re chasing powder, planning a ski trip, or just snow-curious, this episode closes out 2025 with perspective — and plenty to watch as 2026 begins.

Happy New Year, and may the flakes be ever in your favor. ❄️🥂

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A Christmas Snow Miracle… For Some! 🎄❄️

It’s a Christmas Eve special on The Flakes Podcast, and while some regions are still sweating through record-breaking warmth, others are waking up to a full-blown holiday snow miracle.

BA, Evan, and Mike break down a wildly uneven Christmas forecast across North America:

The crew also dives into season-to-date snowfall leaders, shifting snowpack trends, and what a classic La Niña pattern means for where to chase powder as we head into January. Plus: heli-ski dreams in British Columbia, why patience is key after a big dump on bare ground, and a reminder to show some love to the crews working through the holidays to make skiing possible.

A white Christmas isn’t guaranteed everywhere — but for some lucky spots, winter has officially arrived. 🎅⛷️

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Forecast stress is real — and this week, it’s off the charts.

In Episode 4, BA and Evan break down a messy pattern across the West: warm atmospheric rivers, flooding and washed-out access roads in Washington, and snow levels bouncing around resort elevations from Tahoe to Utah. Translation: there’s moisture, there’s potential… and there’s a giant asterisk.

They also spotlight where winter is showing up (hello, British Columbia and a banner start in northern Vermont), then Evan sits down with Tahoe skier Maya Bickert to talk skiing, travel, and living (and thriving) with Type 1 diabetes — plus how to support loved ones and push back on misconceptions.

And as always: be kind to your local forecaster.

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