Conditions

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Montana St Alum
Posts: 1163
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:42 pm
Location: Wasatch, Utah
Ski style: Old dog, new school
Favorite Skis: Blizzard Rustler 9/10
Favorite boots: Tx Pro
Occupation: Retired, unemployable

Re: Conditions

Post by Montana St Alum » Wed Jan 06, 2021 1:53 pm

Woodserson wrote:
Wed Jan 06, 2021 10:14 am
Montana St Alum wrote:
Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:39 am
We ended up with about 8" by yesterday morning. This, on a run that had been closed for a while, so there was about 12" total or so up higher. Still not enough to try out my new Dynastars, though. Especially given the occasional rock. We're still in the drought despite a very good day.

20210105_093033.jpg
Does nobody ski ungroomed trails at DV? I mean...
I do!
I was making circuits of just over 12 minutes and ended up with 9 runs before my knees buckled and I had to head to the groomers. By run 9, it was fairly skied out, but it was a good morning, for sure!
I think most people ended up on the runs with powder over groomers. These runs don't get groomed, so it's powder over bumps....but that's my cup of tea!

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Woodserson
Posts: 2969
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:25 am
Location: New Hampshire
Ski style: Bumps, trees, steeps and long woodsy XC tours
Occupation: Confused Turn Farmer

Re: Conditions

Post by Woodserson » Sat Jan 09, 2021 8:43 am

my local NOAA office is now offering climate updates. not looking good for snow through most of January, with maybe some activity at the end of January:

November temperatures were 4 to 6 degrees above normal and this
warmth continued into early December. The rest of December featured
large swings in temperatures with significant early season snowfall
followed by a warm rain system towards the end of the month. This
rain system depleted the early season snowpack and caused
widespread river flooding across western Maine and New Hampshire
with rivers still running above normal. December ended with
temperatures running 2 to 6 degrees above normal with above normal
precipitation.

After a modest snow and mixed precipitation event to start
January there has been a notable pattern shift with the storm
track suppressed well to our south. This shift in the storm track
can be attributed to a strong upper level ridge and blocking to
our north thanks to a negative North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO).
This dry pattern is expected to continue through mid-January with
storminess suppressed to our south. Generally, in negative NAO
patterns temperatures are favored to run below normal, but medium
range guidance indicates that temperatures will run near to above
normal. There are signs that by mid-January the blocking
associated with the negative NAO will shift further northward,
which would allow the storm track to shift closer to northern New
England and more active weather going into the second half of the
month.

The Climate Prediction Center`s 6 to 10 day outlook calls for
above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation. The 8 to
14 day outlook calls for temperatures to be above normal with
near normal precipitation.



User avatar
Montana St Alum
Posts: 1163
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:42 pm
Location: Wasatch, Utah
Ski style: Old dog, new school
Favorite Skis: Blizzard Rustler 9/10
Favorite boots: Tx Pro
Occupation: Retired, unemployable

Re: Conditions

Post by Montana St Alum » Sat Jan 09, 2021 9:42 am

Interesting. It appears that of the 2 La Nina events in the last dozen years or so, Utah has had both its best and worst snow seasons, so this analysis may be the key.
Right now, we're working on a bad season.
It's been quite cold with only small storms coming through in the last couple of weeks out here. I suppose a colder than normal Pacific could account for less evaporation/precipitation. OTOH, Alyeska is getting HAMMERED!
Also, for any so inclined, Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole are above the jet and doing very well. As is Whitefish.
I may throw caution to the wind and head up there next week, as there are systems predicted. Still haven't had the chance to try my new powder skis.



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bauerb
Posts: 732
Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2019 9:37 am

Re: Conditions

Post by bauerb » Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:38 am

@Montana St Alum , are conditions at Whitefish good? I arrive there in 3 days. It doesn't look like they have gotten much snow in the last couple of weeks. I don't know what normal is like, or what to expect in Feb for snow...



User avatar
Montana St Alum
Posts: 1163
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:42 pm
Location: Wasatch, Utah
Ski style: Old dog, new school
Favorite Skis: Blizzard Rustler 9/10
Favorite boots: Tx Pro
Occupation: Retired, unemployable

Re: Conditions

Post by Montana St Alum » Wed Jan 27, 2021 1:56 pm

It looks like they are doing "Okay" but not great. They've gotten more snow than we have on the Wasatch Back, but less than Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. I'm not sure what to expect here, even, and I've lived here over 30 years.
I expect you'll have a really good time, though you may not get the kind of dumps they normally get.



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bauerb
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Re: Conditions

Post by bauerb » Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:15 am

I don't see any headlines about serious snow anywhere. the year is looking sort of average



User avatar
Montana St Alum
Posts: 1163
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:42 pm
Location: Wasatch, Utah
Ski style: Old dog, new school
Favorite Skis: Blizzard Rustler 9/10
Favorite boots: Tx Pro
Occupation: Retired, unemployable

Re: Conditions

Post by Montana St Alum » Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:56 pm

bauerb wrote:
Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:15 am
I don't see any headlines about serious snow anywhere. the year is looking sort of average
Fear not!
Things may be looking up.
18" on Saturday and 8" last night at Deer Valley.

I think we're up to about 100" this year which is pretty pathetic, and yet it's been a fun year anyway!
I think Whitefish is close to 4 feet ahead of us, YTD.
As long as you're pulling daisies and not pushing them, you're good!



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bauerb
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Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2019 9:37 am

Re: Conditions

Post by bauerb » Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:07 am

haha. I just read the forecast for Truckee/Squaw Valley. I did also see that Whitefish got 5" in the last day. I'll see first hand tomorrow...I'm not spoiled when it comes to powder, I'll take anything that is not ice :). I just signed up for my first race on Wednesday night. that should be fun.



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bauerb
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Re: Conditions

Post by bauerb » Mon Feb 08, 2021 9:48 am

Whitefish has received about 2ft of snow in the last 7 days, temps have been cold enough, but this week will be very cold



User avatar
Montana St Alum
Posts: 1163
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2020 6:42 pm
Location: Wasatch, Utah
Ski style: Old dog, new school
Favorite Skis: Blizzard Rustler 9/10
Favorite boots: Tx Pro
Occupation: Retired, unemployable

Re: Conditions

Post by Montana St Alum » Thu Feb 11, 2021 10:27 am

If you live near a ski area - ANYWHERE in the U.S.! - quit your job, preflight your gear and get ready.

The next ten days:
https://weatherstreet.com/models/gfs-ac ... recast.php

The Cottonwood Canyons are predicting 40-60" in the next 6 days, but it looks like everyone is going to get their fair share.



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