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) levelsโa 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 โ 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 inchesย This plateau, located east of Lake […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | March 1, 2025 0 Comments
Top 7 Snowiest Ski Resorts in Europe โ 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
Utahโs 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 Itโs 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