NASA: Western Mountain Snow Melts Fast and Early This article first appeared on NASA Earth Observatory and was written by Lindsey Doermann. The Pacific Northwest is one of many regions reliant on the winter mountain snowpack to sustain ecosystems and satisfy a host of water needs during drier times of the year. After two winters of meager accumulations, winter 2024-25 brought healthy snow totals to the mountains of […] Climate SnowBrains | June 30, 2025 0 Comments
Snowpack Levels Fall Below Average Across Most of Western U.S., New Data Shows The latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reveals a below-average snowpack across much of the western United States, raising concerns for water supply, wildfire risk, and drought conditions heading into summer. According to the NRCS Westwide SNOTEL report for April 28, 2025, snow water equivalent (SWE) levels—a key indicator of the amount of […] Weather Martin Kuprianowicz | April 29, 2025 0 Comments
Why Do Ski Resorts Close When Their Snowpack Is Still So Deep? At the beginning of the ski season, it is a race to see which resort will open first. Pent-up demand from not skiing during the summer and fall drives skiers to clamor for their first tracks of the season. Sometimes this is only on one lift and a measly 12-inch base, most of which might be man-made snow. Then, at […] Brains Brent Thomas | April 3, 2025 11 Comments
California Snowpack Drops to 85% of Average as Winter Winds Down While Recent Storms Brought Statewide Snowpack Closer to Average, Dry Conditions Returned in Late February SACRAMENTO, California – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the third snow survey of the season at Phillips Station on Friday, February 28. The manual survey recorded 34 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 13.5 inches, 58 percent of average […] Press Release | March 3, 2025 0 Comments
Snowfall Extremes: Earth’s Deepest Winter Zones Snowfall enthusiasts often wonder where some of the highest average annual snowfall totals occur. A deep dive into the research reveals several fascinating locations, some of which may come as a surprise. Below is a list of five places that receive staggering amounts of snowfall each year. #5) Tug Hill, New York: 200 inches This plateau, located east of Lake […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | March 1, 2025 0 Comments
Top 7 Snowiest Ski Resorts in Europe — Week 6, 2025 After some solid snowfall last week, ski resorts across the Alps saw smaller top-ups in recent days, keeping conditions fresh on the slopes. It has been a very French week in terms of snowdepth rankings, with six of the top seven spots occupied by French resorts. The only exception is a lone Swiss contender, highlighting the dominance of France when […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | February 6, 2025 0 Comments
Utah’s Backcountry Dangers: How Recent Heavy Snowfall Has Impacted Avalanche Conditions Because of a Weak Base Layer Utah is known for its incredible skiing due to the large amounts of snow it receives yearly and the extensive terrain available, primarily in the Wasatch Range. There are many resorts for skiers to enjoy but many turn to the backcountry due to the vast amount of options when it comes to terrain. However, there are dangers associated with the […] Anders Henrikson | January 16, 2025 0 Comments
Snowiest November At Mammoth Mountain, CA, For Over A Decade At 11,053 feet, Mammoth Mountain boasts the highest summit of any California resort, making for deeper, better snow and beautiful vistas. With 3,500 skiable acres, 175 trails, an average of 400 inches of snowfall, 300 days of sunshine per year, and a season that typically stretches from November to June, Mammoth delivers big smiles on the slopes from first-timers to […] Industry News Gregg Frantz | December 1, 2024 0 Comments
Current Westwide Snowpack is 2,500% Normal in Some Regions, 30% in Others It’s still very early in the season, but this image of the current snowpack across the western states makes for good reading. As winter approaches, the latest snow water equivalent data from November 10 reveals a varied snowpack across the Western United States, with some states experiencing exceptional early-season conditions while others lag behind. Related: These Are the 23 Ski […] SnowBrains | November 11, 2024 0 Comments
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
NASA: A “Surprisingly Average” Year for Sierra Snowpack The Sierra Nevada is known for its booms and busts regarding mountain snow. Last year, there was record-high snow, whereas the snowpack was low three years prior. After more than a decade of unusually wet or unusually dry years, the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada was close to normal in 2024. Related: California’s April Snow Survey Shows Above Average Snowpack […] SnowBrains | April 12, 2024 0 Comments
California Reaches 100% Average Statewide Snowpack California has officially reached 100% of the April 1 average for statewide snow-water equivalent (snowpack). As of March 13, 2024, the Northern Sierra/Trinity and Central Sierra are sitting at 117% and 102%, respectively, for the April 1 average. However, the Southern Sierra is still just below the April 1 average, with 95% total snow water equivalent. While it officially remains an […] Industry News John Cunningham | March 20, 2024 0 Comments
State of the Western U.S. Snowpack: Season-Saving February for California, Wyoming, Oregon While Utah/CO Thrive and PNW Still Lags Behind February was a good month for most of the West. The states with an already near-average snowpack at the start of the month like Utah and Nevada got several big storms that have put them well above average for this time of year, with Colorado also now sitting at a slightly above-average snowpack. But where the February snow really […] Weather WeatherBrains | March 4, 2024 0 Comments
Mt. Hood (Wy’East) vs Crater Lake (Giiwas), OR, Historic Snowfall Comparison When it comes to big snowfall totals in the state of Oregon, two sites remain supreme for their heavy annual snowfall and greatest snow depth recorded at one time. These sites are Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon and Timberline on Mt. Hood in northern Oregon. You might be asking why I chose these specific sites in Oregon. I […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | February 26, 2024 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Northern Rockies Revival | Several Inches of Much Needed Snow NBM Snowfall Map Through Saturday Night. Source: maps.weatherbell.com Forecast Summary The Northern Rockies will receive a much needed boost to their snowpack over the next couple of days. A deep trough will drop down across much of the western US Sunday/Monday, bringing colder air, at least temporarily, and widespread snowfall. A cold front will first cross Northern Idaho/Northwest Montana Sunday night, […] Weather WeatherBrains | February 24, 2024 0 Comments
Top 7 Snowiest Ski Resorts in Europe — Week 5, 2024 Warm temperatures across Europe have compressed snowdepth across the Alps. Our top 7 list of resorts has changed very little from last week as new new snow fell. French resorts are still dominating the list, but two Swiss resorts have made the top 7. Which resorts have the most snow right now? Here is the top 7 for the European […] Julia Schneemann | February 1, 2024 0 Comments
One of the Steepest Slopes in the World Closes Due to Giant Cracks in Snowpack Glacier 3000 in Switzerland was forced to close its most famous run, the Black Wall. The Black Wall is considered one of the steepest slopes in the world and is the steepest black run in Switzerland. The slope had developed massive cracks, making skiing on the Black Wall extremely dangerous. The slope was opened in the 2022/2023 season and runs […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | February 1, 2024 0 Comments
NASA: Andes Snowpack is Hanging On Snowy mountains serve as natural “water towers” in some parts of the world, storing vital fresh water in frozen form during cool, wet times and releasing it in warmer, drier seasons. In central Chile, however, a megadrought, ongoing since 2010, has disrupted this dynamic. The prolonged dry period has often left seasonal mountain snowpack thin, straining water supplies, exacerbating wildfires, […] SnowBrains | January 12, 2024 0 Comments
Mt. Hood, OR, is Experiencing the Worst Start to a Ski Season in 34 Years The snowfall across much of the U.S. this winter has been disappointing. Although plenty of resorts are open, the average snowpack is well below historical averages. Perhaps nowhere else is this more apparent than on Mt. Hood, Oregon. The current settled snow at the base at Timberline Lodge is a measly 26 inches. Typically, by January 1 at the resort, […] Industry News Brent Thomas | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
The State of the Snowpack: Hope For More Snow in 2024 This winter has brought a slow start to the ski season for ski resorts across North America. With few storms delivering a mix of rain and snow, many ski areas are struggling to open terrain. On top of little base snow, many resorts have also suffered from warm temperatures, precluding the use of snow-making systems to make up for the […] Weather Zach Armstrong | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
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