Warmer Winters Threaten U.S. Snowpack and Water Supply, Say 2 Dartmouth Professors Warmer winters threaten the snowpack in the western U.S. and ice cover in the East which is due to rising temperatures according to scientists. Projections show rising temperatures throughout this century will result in decreased snowfall threatening the water supply and the $67 billion snow sports industry. Snow hovered near record-low depths this season and the Great Lakes had their […] Industry News David Michael | July 2, 2024 0 Comments
Origins: Sierra Nevada Snow Surveying In this week’s edition of Origins, we take a look at the humble beginning of snow surveying within the Sierra Nevada Mountains. If you missed last week’s edition on how the New Deal helped promote the U.S. ski industry you can check it out here: Related: Origins: How The New Deal Helped Foster The U.S. Ski Industry California’s most precious […] Ryan Flynn | November 6, 2020 3 Comments
Measuring Snow Water Equivalent (SWE): A Job For NASA NASA is on a mission to accurately measure the world’s snow water equivalent (SWE), but why do we care? SWE is a calculation of how much liquid water is in a given snowpack or the depth of the snowpack multiplied by the density. If you are a winter recreator you are probably familiar with SWE even if you have never […] Brains Alex Camerino | July 17, 2020 0 Comments
STUDY: 30% of All Avalanche Fatalities in Western USA Occurred During an Atmospheric River Research published by Benjamin Hatchet, Susan Burak, Jon Rutz, Nina Oakley, Edward Bair, and Michael Kaplan in the Journal of Hydrometerology suggests a strong link between Atmospheric River (AR) events and avalanche deaths. According to their research, 31% of avalanche fatalities between 1998 and 2014 occurred either during or shortly after an AR event. West Coast skiers got very […] Avalanche Roger Romani | February 17, 2019 0 Comments
California DWR: Sierra Snowpack Currently at 37% of Average Even with a miracle March that renewed the hopes of many California skiers and riders, snowpack levels are still well below historic averages. According to the California DWR, snow sensors are recording average depths only 37% of normal across the state. Northern Sierra: 30% of Normal Central Sierra: 44% of Normal Southern Sierra: 31% of Normal Statewide: 37% of Normal […] Weather Mike Lavery | May 1, 2018 0 Comments
Current Colorado Snowpack is Insanely Above Normal The current Colorado snowpack as measured by SNOTEL is off the charts. One reading yesterday even came up with southwest Colorado having a snowpack 8,650% of normal… Today, the SNOTEL graph left that 8,650% zone without a value so we can assume that was some sort of error. Nevertheless, north central Colorado is sporting a snowpack 585% of average and that’s hugely above average. Central Colorado is at 323% of average, southwest Colorado is at 151% above average, and south central Colorado is at 233% above aver Industry News SnowBrains | June 12, 2015 5 Comments
Western USA Snowpack Is Historically Below Average | 0% of Average in Lake Tahoe, CA… The above map shows us what the Western USA snow water equivalent (more or less snowpack) is doing. The numbers in the various regions above represent that region’s departure from average as of today’s date, April 20th, 2015. The Far West is really hurting right now with: 0% of average snowpack in Lake Tahoe, CA 26% of average snowpack in the Cottonwood Canyons, UT (Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Solitude) 6% of average snowpack in Northern Washington’s Cascade mountains 9% of average in Central Oregon […] Weather SnowBrains | April 20, 2015 6 Comments
Who’s Got Snow? | Graph of Western Snowpack Right Now It’s been a wild year in the West winter. The Pacific Northwest has been enduring torrential rain, California is going through a historical drought, Utah is below average, while Wyoming, Idaho and Montana having been getting tons of snow. Colorado is a mixed bag so far this year with most of the state seeing below average snowpacks. The real eye openers are these locations: WESTERN USA SNOWPACK RIGHT NOW: 123% of average snowpack in Western Montana 17% of average snowpack in Northern Washington State 116% of average snowpack in Jackson Hole, Wyoming 28% of average snowpack in Lake Tahoe, California Industry News SnowBrains | February 11, 2015 0 Comments
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