Western North America Conditions 2025/26

kingslug said:
Alta is still skiing surprisingly well.
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Interesting, haven't we been hearing complaints from Snowbird, or maybe that was just BCC which doesn't have quite as favorable altitude (Solitude) or exposure (Brighton)? Jimk is home from Europe, we should hear more about Snowbird soon. Mammoth is skiing well too, but I've seen this scenario (midwinter drought but with a decent snowpack) there several times.
 
From Snowbrains which I always take with some skepticism:

"Utah’s snowpack has fallen to its lowest levels on record for this point in the season, with nearly half of the state’s monitoring sites now reporting all-time lows, according to data shared by KSL News. As of February 1, 67 of Utah’s 139 snowpack measuring sites are at their lowest levels ever recorded for the October 1-February 1 period since statewide tracking began in 1981. When averaged statewide, snowpack sits at just 57 percent of normal, making this the weakest start to winter Utah has seen in the modern record."
 
The whining I'm hearing the most from Utah Ski Divas is from those who live in the Ogden Valley. These are people who moved to Utah from either the west coast or east coast because of the mountains for skiing and other recreational activities.
 
Heading to Snowbird next Thursday evening. Looking positive. I'd have. canceled if it was going to be dry and just gone to Mammoth.

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The OpenSnow guys are deviating from their usual policy and discussing the likely breakup of the current dry spell after a month of it, even though it's still a week out. The models all say it will happen, but they disagree on the details of which places will benefit the most.
 
Tony Crocker said:
The OpenSnow guys are deviating from their usual policy and discussing the likely breakup of the current dry spell after a month of it, even though it's still a week out. The models all say it will happen, but they disagree on the details of which places will benefit the most.
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Desperate times call for desperate measures. The daily snow write up has been consistent in not talking details though.
 
I skied Solitude twice this week. It's like late March conditions, but in early Feb. Crowds are light, sun is bright, what's not to like? :)
 
Pretty much what TonyC said... The lack of details on the pattern change is because first of course, it's still about a week away... and second, models keep swinging rather wildly on how the storm track sets up, thanks largely to the departing high pressure ridge.

Latest models (today) generally have the high still lingering over the northern Plains to the Great Lakes/NE through much of next week, which might make incoming storms off the PNW drop south and down into CA before moving inland (maybe missing much of the PNW).. Toward the following weekend, systems might start coming in more directly to the PNW, and then points SE. Of course, that might change 10 times before next week.


After a long stagnant pattern, this is pretty typical for models to struggle on the details, especially a week + out.

Btw, 72º in Bend today (previous record was 67º)... fricken unbelievable. We went ahead cancelled our Bachelor trip a few days ago (for next week). While we may get some snow later in the week, it's going to fall on very little remaining base.

Brundage today... lots of little ice balls (chicken heads)? today, thanks to the latest freeze thaw cycle (and grooming in between the thaw and freeze).
 
I know one thing for sure..not going to even try to get up the canyon if and when the storm hits..
The last storm was a nightmare..took me 3 hours to get home.
I'll hit pc.....
 
"Utah’s snowpack has fallen to its lowest levels on record for this point in the season, with nearly half of the state’s monitoring sites now reporting all-time lows, according to data shared by KSL News.
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That's probably accurate for the lower elevations that got a lot of rain. It is not accurate for the higher elevations where the coastal-type high water content snow built a much more solid snowpack than snowfall totals would suggest.
since statewide tracking began in 1981
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At least that caveat was mentioned, but no one should be claiming true worst ever western US snowfalls/snowpacks if the dataset does not include 1976-77.
 
Vail finally opened part of the back bowls. ~1100 acres or so. Going to be wet slop and re-frozen this weekend though in the warm temps until late next week when snow is finally in the forecast again.

www.denverpost.com

Better late than never: Vail’s legendary Back Bowls finally open

It took much longer than usual due to Colorado’s unusually dry winter and record low snowpack, but limited areas of Vail’s Back Bowls finally opened Thursday morning for skiing and ridi…
www.denverpost.com www.denverpost.com
 
kingslug said:
Alta still in great shape..hot today though..
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Has the High T been melt frozen yet? When it is, it can be bulletproof until well past noon. But maybe like Backside, it doesn't get enough direct sun until later in February. Still no direct report on Snowbird from kingslug or Jimk?
 
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