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
High Avalanche Danger Incites Warnings Across 5 States A large winter storm slugged its way across the Pacific Northwest, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado last Thursday to Sunday, dropping several feet of snow in many mountain locales. As a result, avalanche danger has skyrocketed across four states, with avalanche centers issuing warnings to avoid steep, avalanche-prone terrain due to the risk of large, life-threatening slides. Washington/Oregon The Northwest Avalanche […] Avalanche Martin Kuprianowicz | December 5, 2023 0 Comments
Comparison Photos of Austrian Glacier Show Striking Decline Over Past 9 Years The Mölltal Glacier offers skiers and riders some incredible high alpine terrain at Mölltaler Gletscher, Austria. The ski resort, which is the only glacier ski resort in the region of Carinthia, is also the official training resort for the Austrian ski team and the German national alpine ski team. The advanced terrain and world-class maintenance provide the ideal foundations for […] Industry News Brent Thomas | October 25, 2023 0 Comments
Why Does Lassen Peak Typically Get More Snow Than Mt. Shasta in California? You’re probably wondering how can a peak that is further south and is around ~3,723 ft shorter in elevation typically receives more snow overall compared to a much taller edifice. Before I explain and break down this intriguing case, let’s first get our bearings set in terms of the location and overall coordinates of these two iconic peaks in the […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | September 25, 2023 0 Comments
[PHOTOS] Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort, CA, Shares Staggering Last Winter vs. This Summer Snowpack Comparisons The best thing on the internet these days may just be the trend of side-by-side pictures of last winter vs. the current summer at ski resorts. Thanks to a record snowfall year in many areas, especially California, these have been pretty dramatic. Related: [PHOTO TOUR] Before and After Pictures From Palisades Tahoe, CA, Show How Deep Last Season Really Was […] Industry News Brent Thomas | August 23, 2023 0 Comments
Dramatic Before and After Pictures Show Full Extent of California’s Snowpack Last Season The photos above sent in by a SnowBrains reader show the enormous amount of snow and resulting snowpack depth experienced by resorts in California last winter. Related: [UPDATED] These Are the 18 Resorts in the U.S. That Have Set Snowfall Records This Season The images are from Heavenly Resort which received a record-breaking 591” of fresh snow during the 2022/23 […] SnowBrains | August 13, 2023 1 Comment