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
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 what 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 8, 2024 11 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