"It's the start of December, and winter is beginning to take shape across the Western U.S., though it's been slow in some places. By this time of year, many skiers and snowboarders should have had their first days on the mountain; however, many ski areas haven't had enough snow to open yet. The slow start to the season has December snowpack levels well below typical depths for this time of year."
"Storms have been fewer and weaker than usual, and the cold snaps needed to build and preserve a base have been hit-and-miss. In many basins, snow water equivalent is lagging by a wide margin, leaving mountains bare where they're usually covered. It's still early enough for the pattern to shift, but the region is entering December with a noticeable deficit. Meanwhile, the East Coast has seen the opposite, with ski areas opening and skiing conditions proving lovely."
"Snowpack is measured in two main ways: total snow depth and snow-water equivalent (SWE). SWE is especially important because it measures how much water is actually stored in the snow, giving a clearer picture of how much runoff might be available in spring. For instance, 10 feet of dense snow can hold as much water as 20 feet of lighter snow."
The Western U.S. is entering December with a slow start to winter and below-normal early-season snowpack. Storm frequency and strength have been reduced, and intermittent cold snaps have limited base building. Many basins show significant snow-water-equivalent deficits that leave normally snow-covered terrain exposed. The East Coast has experienced earlier, better skiing conditions with open resorts. Snowpack accumulates as storm layers settle and compact, and snow-water equivalent provides a direct measure of stored water that influences spring runoff potential.
Read at SnowBrains
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]