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On Friday, our report from Jackson Hole, WY, claimed it was almost too deep to ski. No wonder; the snow that fell during that 48-hour period is the most ever recorded in the region.
In yesterday’s avalanche forecast discussion, the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center says, “The snowfall received from last Thursday through Saturday is the highest 2-day total on record.”
The storm total was 52″. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has seen 350″ of snow this season and has a 95″ base.
The BTAC warns, “This information alone should bring you to pause about your terrain choices today and for the remainder of this week.”
A huge avalanche was triggered by a skier on Taylor Mountain yesterday. Teton County Search and Rescue deployed a helicopter team who flew over the area to determine if anybody had been caught or buried but returned to base confident that nobody had.
I understand that when it melts it will benefit all of us in one way or another but at the same time when it melts won’t it also cause a lot of flooding?
The snowmelt from Jackson Hole will drain to the Snake River. There are a number of dams and reservoirs on the Snake River.
https://www.usbr.gov/pn/snakeriver/dams/index.html
That is exactly where it goes when it melts, into lakes, rivers and reservoirs. This is how the western states obtain their water, from the winter storms. All of this deep snow will begin to relieve our severe drought conditions.
Too bad all this snow can’t be funneled into reservoirs and used as water to drink, or flush toilets, or water lawns.