Does anyone know where to get historical information on the yearly snow totals for Utah mountain locations or ski resorts?
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Does anyone know where to get historical information on the yearly snow totals for Utah mountain locations or ski resorts?
there has to be more specific #s but these NRCS Snotel weater stations have historical data and a few are located or near Ski Resorts.
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snotel/Utah/utah.html
I do believe the record is at Alta with a mid 700" season. That link only goes back to 1989. We had heavier snow years prior to that. According to Ski Patrol at the Bird, if we get 70 more inches before the end of the season we will set an all time record this year for snowfall in a season. We are expecting about 30" more by the end of the weekend. We may get a 700" season this year. It has been unbelievable! But the flooding is gonna be catastrophic. We have more snowpack than the 1983 year that flooded downtown SLC. :crazy:
Actually, it's in the mid-800's, but that's for the town of Alta (base) and at the official weather station. Mid-mountain gets a lot more snow, but isn't an official weather station. Mid mountain readings (which as mentioned are not official weather stations) have approached 1000 inches on occasion.Quote:
I do believe the record is at Alta with a mid 700" season.
Seems very doubtful that this would be the case. Alta isn't even remotely close to breaking their all time record, so it seems strange that Snowbird would.Quote:
According to Ski Patrol at the Bird, if we get 70 more inches before the end of the season we will set an all time record this year for snowfall in a season.
Alta is currently 383.1 inches short of breaking their record. Edit: Unfortuantely, after more research, several days data is missing this season, so snow totals in the database aren't as high as reality.
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Does anyone know where to get historical information on the yearly snow totals for Utah mountain locations or ski resorts?
Yes, but for some reason it's hard to link directly and some years have incomplete data.
Here's how to do it. Click on the link below:
http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?utalta
In the left hand menu, click "Monthly Totals".
Do the same for other mountain locations such as Silver Lake-Brighton, Brian Head, Blowhard Mountain, etc. You can go back farther than in the above link, by clicking the map view on the Western US icon, but snowfall readings are very questionable before the late 1940's.
I worked at the Alta Peruvian Lodge from 80-82 and 81-82 saw over 700" don't remember exactly, BUT 82-83 was the big El Nino year that brought over 800" and flooding in SLC. We were interlodged most nights, and December 81 saw 180" alone which also was a record. I still have the Alta Powder News from that month with the daily totals. One storm brought 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 36, 30, 24, 12 inches consecutive days, and I had to plow the parking lot. Fun, fun!
Steve
I read last week that Alta's single season record was 744", Snowbird's was 688" - the bird is 23" past that as of this morning...
I was reading somewhere 81-82 was 744" and was the highest, yet I read that 82-83 was 848". Curious!
keep in mind some measurements are october-april, some november-april, some just for the time a ski area is open, and some for the entire snow year (september-june).
at alta ski area here are two sets of numbers i have
these are numbers that i got in the 90s from alta snow safety
82'-83' total is 593" (nov-april)
83'-84' total is 765" (nov-april)
these numbers are from the forest service (alta guard station)
82'-83' total is 637" (nov-april)
83'-84' total is 743.5" (nov-april)
the record annual snowfall at alta was during 83-84. total according to nws is 808.5" (for sept-june).
nice! welcome to the forum :2thumbs:Quote:
Originally Posted by stevierayhall
only to be beat 2 decembers later with 244.5"Quote:
December 81 saw 180" alone which also was a record.
these were fun years to ski
April was the snowiest month up LCC this season. We got 154" of snow at the Bird from April 1st to April 30th. It has been unbelievable.
Apparently, according to Snowbird, 83-84 they set their season total record with 688". We broke that on April 26th by hitting 690".
We are at 711" as of today, with 190" base. Record year for sure. 4th of July Bogley Ski/Snowboard party on Little Cloud? :crazy:
Yes, and even more confusing, at some resorts, readings taken at various elevations/locations during different time periods as well. Quite confusing to correlate.Quote:
keep in mind some measurements are october-april, some november-april, some just for the time a ski area is open, and some for the entire snow year (september-june).
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Stevierayhall: yet I read that 82-83 was 848". Curious!
Ahh, another weather statistic mystery.Quote:
Stefan: the record annual snowfall at alta was during 83-84. total according to nws is 808.5" (for sept-june).
Interestingly, 1982-1983 had 846.8 inches of snow at the Alta Guard Station, but it includes September totals. A record 45.0 inches fell at Alta Guard Station in September 1982 (also the record wettest month in SLC and many other locations on the Wasatch Front). If you eliminate the September 1982 value, 1983-1984 is the snowiest annual with 808.5 (September 1983 had no snow). It is a mystery why some list eliminate the September value when others do not. Could it be because the water year starts on October 1? 1983-1984 would be the snowiest "water year". If anyone finds out the reason why some list include the September 82 value, while others do not, I'd be interested to know. The water year is just a wild guess for the difference; I'm not sure. :ne_nau:
Water Year Definition:
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...109416ad216412
Very impressive. If it stays cool and then heats up fast, hopefully there are plenty of sandbags available.Quote:
April was the snowiest month up LCC this season. We got 154" of snow at the Bird from April 1st to April 30th.
I remember sandbagging in 1983 (I was a kid then). Once we were in church and the meeting was dismissed so everyone could go fill sandbags.
1993 was another good snow year I remember well. It wasn't record quite breaking for the ski resorts, but the spring and summer were very cool. It is the only summer I've seen where Emerald Lake (on Timp) stayed frozen over year round. SLC never saw a day above 96F in 1993, something that has never happened in recorded history (it was also the coolest July on record in SLC with an average temp below 70F). The next year was extremely dry and hot, so you never know what's going to happen from year to year.
Willow Creek which is fed by Little Cottonwood Creek goes right through my back yard. We sandbagged last year. This year we took flood insurance. Plus we had a backhoe come in and put up some rocks along the bank to keep the property from washing away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott P
Looks like it will be mid 50's at 9,000 ft by Friday, glad I have got waders. Might need a boat too. :crazy:
this is true. it is curious to be sure. i thought i'd post the numbers here for others interested.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott P
1982-1983
sep '82 - 45"
oct '82 - 70"
nov '82 - 65.8"
dec '82 - 165"
jan '83 - 75.5"
feb '83 - 68"
mar '83 - 160"
apr '83 - 112.5"
may '83 - 78.5"
jun '83 - 4.5"
______________
sep '82 - jun '83 - 844.8
if you add in jul 82' which had 2" then it's 846.8"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1983-1984
sep '83 - 0"
oct '83 - 12.5"
nov '83 - 143.5"
dec '83 - 244.5"
jan '84 - 42"
feb '84 - 104"
mar '84 - 85"
apr '84 - 124.5"
may '84 - 27.5"
jun '84 - 25"
______________
sep '83 -jun '84 - 808.5
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
interestingly if you add up all of 1983 you get an even bigger number
jan '83 - 75.5"
feb '83 - 68"
mar '83 - 160"
apr '83 - 112.5"
may '83 - 78.5"
jun '83 - 4.5"
sep '83 - 0"
oct '83 - 12.5"
nov '83 - 143.5"
dec '83 - 244.5"
_______________
1983 - 899.5"
indeed, crazy times. i also remember frequent broadcast interruptions on tv requesting help with sandbagging and showing footage of the flooding.Quote:
I remember sandbagging in 1983 (I was a kid then). Once we were in church and the meeting was dismissed so everyone could go fill sandbags.
here's a digital photo (from usgs) taken near the sears that i posted awhile back in another thread.
http://www.math.utah.edu/%7Esfolias/sc/1983flood.jpg
of course '94-'95 was a huge year with alta guard reporting nov-april as 745.4". this was the year with the massive 205.9" november that was amazingQuote:
1993 was another good snow year I remember well.
end of oct '04 was very impressive. much of the snow was very dense 8-23% and set up a base that felt mid-winter. then the icing on the cake was a 2 foot dump of 5-6% at the end of it. needless to say oct 31 and nov 1 were superlative
oct 17 - 4"
oct 18 - 7"
oct 19 - 13"
oct 20 - 16"
oct 21 - 6"
oct 22 - 1.5"
oct 23 - 13.5"
oct 24 - 5"
oct 25 - 8"
oct 26 - .5"
oct 27 - 6"
oct 28 - 6.5"
oct 29 - 4.5"
oct 30 - 7"
oct 31 - 23.5" (5-6% snow)
----------------
oct 17-31 - 122"
I was an Alta localduring the 1978-79 season and can remember one particularly heavy snowfall weekI believe February or March 1979, in a lifetime of skiing I have never seenbetter. Does anyone have the snowfall history available from thisperiod, I’d be particularly interested to see how it stacks up against otheryears. I've already checked the Alta ski area and Western Regional Climate Center web pages, no luck. Thank you!