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
Chicago Cubs Owner to Purchase White Pine Ski Area, WY Less than a two-hour drive from the well-known Jackson Hole Mountain Resort sits the quiet White Pine Ski Area in Pinedale, Wyoming. The Sublette County Chamber of Commerce announced on Facebook that current White Pine Ski Area owner Alan Blackburn has found a buyer to keep the skiers on the slopes for seasons to come. The buyer is Joe Ricketts, a […] Industry News Luke Guilford | March 5, 2024 0 Comments
NASA: Fire Season Heats Up in the West In terms of wildfires, 2023 has been a quiet year so far in the United States. But in early August, 60 fires burned across nine states in the West, fueled by hot and dry conditions. Two of the largest fires were ignited in Oregon and Idaho in late July. Related: Thanks to Epic Snowpack, California Wildfires Off to Slowest Start […] Fire Firebrains | August 4, 2023 0 Comments
Dust Produced by the Shrinking Great Salt Lake is Harming the Utah Snowpack The Great Salt Lake and the effect it has on winter storms, commonly referred to as ‘Lake Effect’, is one of the biggest reasons that Utah is credited with the greatest snow on Earth. Lake effect occurs when a cold winter storm passes over a warm body of water and picks up water from the lake, causing an increase in […] Industry News Tyler Hatch | July 10, 2023 1 Comment
These Are All The New Chairlifts Being Installed Out West This Year After a slump in lift installations during the pandemic, there are a ton of new projects this year and it can be hard to keep track of them. Here are most of the significant (non-beginner) lift installations and expansions happening out west this year. Colorado Vail New lifts: Game Creek Express #7, Sun Down Express #17 After nearly 4 decades […] Industry News Spencer McLaughlin | November 4, 2022 4 Comments
NASA: Western Smoke Rides the Winds In late summer 2022, nearly 100 large wildland fires burned in the U.S. West. Almost two dozen of those burned Washington and Oregon alone, filling the air with smoke. Plumes from two of the fires on September 10, 2022, were especially pronounced. Related: NASA: Smoky Fires Rage in the Northwest The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite […] Fire Firebrains | September 13, 2022 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Pattern Change Out West; Feet of Snow Expected Forecast By SnowBrains Chief Meteorologist – Eric McNamee 8:35 PM MST, 12/5/2021 Forecast Summary: FEET of snow is expected across the western US over the next week as a major pattern change occurs. The extremely dry November over the west looks to hopefully change going into December as a long-wave trough develops. Different regions of the west will see rounds […] Weather Eric McNamee | December 5, 2021 0 Comments
Where is All the Snow? Snowpack Well Below Normal Across the West After what seemed like a promising start to the winter, most states got dumped on in October, things have taken a turn for the worse. Warm temperatures and lack of precipitation have left ski areas hurting, with many having postponed opening days. Even snowmaking opportunities to give the base a helping hand have been limited due to the warm temperatures. Related: […] WeatherBrains | December 1, 2021 1 Comment
Recent Wintry Weather Has Left Many Mountains With Snowpack x1,000s More Than Normal The intermountain west has been slammed with wintry weather this last few weeks, doing wonders for the early season snowpack. Utah and Colorado especially have had an awesome start to the season, so much so that three Colorado resorts are open this weekend. Related: 3 Resorts Are Open in North America This Weekend What’s been so great about this, though […] SnowBrains | October 22, 2021 0 Comments
NASA: Heat Records Across the West Fall in Early Summer Heatwave This post first appeared on NASA Earth Observatory and was written by Kathryn Hansen Extreme heat has descended on the southwestern United States this week, with several states enduring temperatures near and above record highs for June. As temperatures have surged, the region is also dealing with drought and scattered wildfires. The map above shows air temperatures across the continental […] WeatherBrains | June 17, 2021 0 Comments
Lackluster Rainy Season Leading to Worse Drought Conditions in California Article By SnowBrains Meteorologist – Eric McNamee 2:20 PM MST, 3/30/2021 After a lackluster rainy season across California, there is a growing concern for drought conditions to worsen. Back at the beginning of the month, there was some optimism for a “Miracle March” since the overall setup was pretty active, with storms moving through the region every few days. But […] Weather Eric McNamee | March 31, 2021 1 Comment
SnowBrains Forecast: Active Pattern Out West The Next Seven Days, 1-6 Feet of Snow Possible Forecast By SnowBrains Meteorologist – Eric McNamee Brought to you by Alta Ski Area 6:45 PM MST, 2/10/2021 Forecast Summary: 1-6 FEET of snow is expected across the West through the next seven days as a series of storms make their way through the region. Snow will get going tomorrow morning as the first shortwave trough moves into the West […] Weather Eric McNamee | February 10, 2021 0 Comments
VIDEO: Mountain Weather Update – What’s Coming the Next 7-Days? [arve url="https://youtu.be/JLu7tWBhqQ8"] WeatherBrains | February 8, 2021 Likes Tweets 0 Comments
Stormy Pattern On the Way For West This Week California is currently on the tail end of one of the most significant atmospheric river events in the past decade, dropping 60-100″ across most of the Sierra Nevada mountains. While the atmospheric river is poised to shortly fizzle out, a highly active pattern is in store for much of the West next week. Below is a look at the GFS […] Weather Clay Malott | January 29, 2021 2 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Pattern Shift Out West, 1-2 Feet of Snow Possible This Week Forecast By SnowBrains Meteorologist – Eric McNamee Brought to you by Alta Ski Area 12:30 PM MST, 1/18/2021 Forecast Summary: 1-2 FEET of snow is expected across the West through the weekend as a pattern shift takes place over the Western US. The shift will begin today a shortwave trough digs in from Canada down into the desert Southwest. This […] Weather Eric McNamee | January 18, 2021 2 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: 2-5 Feet of Snow For The Northwest US Through Sunday Forecast By SnowBrains Meteorologist – Eric McNamee 3:30 PM MST, Dec. 30, 2020 Forecast Summary: An active pattern will remain in place for the northwestern US through Sunday, bringing 2-5 FEET snow. This will come in three waves through the weekend and more next week. Conditions will remain wet in the extended as an active pattern persists over the Western […] Weather Eric McNamee | December 30, 2020 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: 8-14″ For Portions Of Cascades, 12-18″ Around The Great Lakes Over Next Week Forecast By SnowBrains Meteorologist – Eric McNamee 11:15 AM MST, Nov. 30, 2020 Brought to you by Alta Ski Area Forecast Summary: 8-14″ of snow expected for portions of the Cascades Monday as a shortwave trough moves through the area today. 12-18″ of snow expected around areas of the Great Lakes through Wednesday from a cold upper-level low. Primarily a […] Weather Eric McNamee | November 30, 2020 0 Comments
Snow Totals Across the West This Weekend | Wolf Creek, CO Got 25″, Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA 18″ It’s starting to look a lot like winter across the west, as a couple of storms over the end of the week dropped significant snowfall on most resorts. Related: VIDEO: Deep Turns and Face Shots at Alta, UT Yesterday, Sunday 8th November, 2020 As most resorts aren’t yet open and therefore not reporting, totals are hard to come by, but […] SnowBrains | November 9, 2020 3 Comments
PHOTO TOUR: Significant Snow Falls at Ski Resorts Across the West All images taken from resorts’ Facebook pages on October 12th, 2020 A storm that began yesterday has dumped several inches of snow on many ski resorts across the west, definitely getting us stoked for winter. Last year Arapahoe Basin and Keystone, CO were both open at this time (A-Basin open 10/11, Keystone 10/12), but it looks like we’ll have to […] Conditions Report SnowBrains | October 12, 2020 0 Comments
Significant Snow to Affect the West This Weekend | Snowfall May Reach Double Digits in Some Areas A snowstorm is heading for the western United States with the potential to drop significant amounts of snow on higher elevation areas. Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Oregon can all expect to see snowfall Sunday through Monday. California will see some welcome rainfall, which could turn to snow at higher elevations. Temperatures will continue to be unseasonably high […] Weather WeatherBrains | October 7, 2020 0 Comments
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