Wasatch Weather Expert Explains the "Greatest Snow on Earth"

[thetrailboss]

Great segment for those that want to listen to something while wrapping presents...

http://radiowest.kuer.org/post/secrets-greatest-snow-earth

And apparently Utah's advantage apparently has very little to do with the fact that we have "dry" snow or even the Great Salt Lake (contributing only about 5% of our snowfall :blink: ). It is weather patterns and the terrain that make the difference.

 

[St. Bear]

Hey TB, what's the long term forecast for Utah looking like, I've got a trip scheduled for the last week in Jan. I remember the fall forecast said near normal snowfall, is that shaping up to be the case? I know they got a slow start, but the last week or two has been better.

 

[thetrailboss]

Hey TB, what's the long term forecast for Utah looking like, I've got a trip scheduled for the last week in Jan. I remember the fall forecast said near normal snowfall, is that shaping up to be the case? I know they got a slow start, but the last week or two has been better.

Well, he dodges the question. I'll have to take a look and get back to you.

This latest storm has really made a big dent in things for us. More to come. Snowbird has received 100"+ so far this year. Our base depths moved from 32" up to about 50". We're getting there.

 

[St. Bear]

Just wondering if you've heard anything to the effect of "Jan looks promising" or "this storm should set us back on track through January".

 

[thetrailboss]

Just wondering if you've heard anything to the effect of "Jan looks promising" or "this storm should set us back on track through January".

OK, so I can report now that things are A LOT better than we were ten days ago.

I went up to Snowbird last weekend (Dec. 21st). Up until that point we were WAY behind....we had a meager 32" base and were under 100" for the season. NOT good. The Wasatch Back Areas were WAY worse. The December 21-23rd event started as rain for them...snow for the LCC areas.

Well, the Dec. 21-23rd was a great storm. As one NOAA forecaster put it, the firehose was aimed at Utah. It was a bit wet to start, but it has stuck. We garnered like 30" from that event.

Then we had another major storm that rolled in for December 24-26th. Totals right now look like it was about 20" or so.

Today we are at 142" or so for the season at Snowbird (you can see the huge difference). More importantly, we're at 68" base. I've found that the magic number for most of Alta/Snowbird's goods to open and be decent is 75". So we've caught up.

We are in the midst of another system. Forecasters are saying colder, but drier. Looks like maybe a foot or so of smoke, but we may get up to higher amounts in LCC with the Lake Effect cranking. Forecasts vary between 10-20".

After that, colder.

Looks like some snow next weekend.

Here's a news piece from the SL Trib confirming that the resorts are loving this: http://www.sltrib.com/news/1991903-155/utah-ski-resorts-opening-more-lifts

I went up to Alta on Friday. Holy crap what a difference. Pow and deep snow abound. Downside: NO parking and MAJOR traffic. Oh well. The ski areas are loving this.

Snowbird yesterday was also packed. The skiing looked amazing. I am on Daddy duty and my 3-year old threw up in the car and didn't want to ski (obviously). So it was a Tram Ride and some recon with her. You don't know how much I wanted to ski!

I'll keep my eyes open, but I hope that this (little) information is helpful. I'd say stick to BCC/LCC and you're really good.