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.

The Flakes Podcast is proudly sponsored by Alta Ski Area — one of the most special ski areas on the planet. Independently owned since 1938 and tucked deep in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta is a skier’s-only mountain known worldwide for its powder skiing. With an average of 538 inches of snowfall each season, powder days aren’t the exception here — they’re the norm. Learn more at Alta.com.

We’re also supported by Smartwool, because chasing storms means long days outside in every kind of weather. From cold chairlift rides to deep powder laps and post-ski town runs, Smartwool’s merino layers keep us warm when it’s cold, cool when it’s not, and comfortable no matter what the forecast throws our way. It’s gear we actually wear — on storm days, travel days, and everything in between. Visit Smartwool.com to learn more.

Pray for snow in the West, and good luck to everyone in the East dealing with whatever precipitation type the “snow sandwich” decides to serve. We appreciate you being part of the Flakes community!

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