Utah is know for its “powder” skiing which classifies Utah as having “The Greatest Snow on Earth”. Three World Renown ski resorts are just with a few minutes from each other - Park City, Deer Valley and The Canyons. The average snowfall is 330 inches with the snowfall the greatest in January (64 inches) and December close behind (62 inches). Temperatures averages are (high/low): Nov 43/21, Dec 35/15, Jan 31/11, Feb 35/14, Mar 40/19 and Apr 52/24. Late spring into early fall are beautiful in the Wasatch Mountains as the tress come out in the spring, summers are mild with cool nights and in the fall, leaves are very colorful with the reds/oranges/yellows. Temperatures averages are: May 64/37, Jun 75/43, Jul 83/51, Aug 80/49, Sep 71/41 and Oct 58/32. Showers and thunderstorms are most likely in the July and August and mainly in the afternoons and evenings. The summer heat is dry with low humidity but when the southern moisture is around it becomes somewhat more humid.
Storms that effect Utah have their origin in the northern Pacific Ocean. As these storms move southeastward across the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains, they lose a lot of their moisture. When they hit the high Wasatch Mountains, “orographic lifting” (or the forced rising of air) squeezes out much of the remaining moisture. The secret of Utah’s unique and wonderful “powder” is the structure of its individual snow crystals. Under cold, relatively dry conditions, light crystals-type snowflakes (called “dendrites) are produced. These snowflakes are thin and symmetrical in shape (like those seen on ski industry logos) and they float slowly down through the cold atmosphere, accumulating like “fluffy down” or “powder” on Utah’s mountains. The monthly averages are: Nov 46”, Dec 62”, Jan 64”, Feb 54”, Mar 58” and Apr 46”. The coldest month of the winter-season is January with an average temperature of 31/11.
El Nino (ocean waters warmer than normal) and La Nina (ocean waters colder than normal) in the central Pacific Ocean influence storm track of winter storms. El Nino supports a southern latitude storm track and La Nina a northern-latitude storm track. Unfortunately, northern Utah is in the mid-latitudes which makes a long range weather forecast more difficult to predict. Some skiers feel the depth of the snow is important and but more importantly is the frequency of storms to keep the snow fresh. A storm every 5-7 days is an ideal scenario. However, during an active storm pattern several feet of snow can accumulate in just a short period of time.
The Wasatch Mountains are prone to avalanches. However, the ski resorts perform avalanche control early in the morning which ensures that the slopes safe for skiing during the day. If you venture into the back-country staying on flat terrain or on slopes that are not too steep (15 degrees or less).
The Sawtooth Mountains are home to Bald Mountain which is called “Baldly” in the Sun Valley-Ketchum Area. The average snowfall is 225 inches with the snowfall the greatest in December and January with an average of 45 inches each month. Temperatures averages are (high/low): Nov 44/14, Dec 32/10, Jan 30/10, Feb 36/12, Mar 40/15 and Apr 52/22. Late spring into early fall are beautiful in the Sawtooth Mountains as the tress come out in the spring, summers are mild with cool nights and in the fall, leaves are very colorful with the reds/oranges/yellows. Temperatures averages are: May 64/29,
Jun 71/35, Jul 83/38, Aug 82/37, Sep 72/30 and Oct 61/23. Showers and thunderstorms are most likely in the July and August and mainly in the afternoons and evenings. The summer heat is dry with low humidity but when the southern moisture is around it becomes somewhat more humid.
El Nino (ocean waters warmer than normal) and La Nina (ocean waters colder than normal) in the central Pacific Ocean influence storm track of winter storms. El Nino supports a southern latitude storm track and La Nina a northern-latitude storm track. Fortunately, southern Idaho is in the northern-latitudes which makes a long range weather forecast somewhat easier to predict.
Some skiers feel the depth of the snow is important and but more importantly is the frequency of storms to keep the snow fresh. A storm every 5-7 days is an ideal scenario. However, during an active storm pattern several feet of snow can accumulate in just a short period of time. On occasion, arctic air from Canada enters from Montana and pours down the Snake River Valley into the Sun Valley area.
The Sawtooth Mountains are prone to avalanches. However, the ski resorts perform avalanche control early in the morning which ensures that the slopes safe for skiing during the day. If you venture into the back-country staying on flat terrain or on slopes that are not too steep (15 degrees or less).
Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts are nestled in Eagle Valley of the Rocky Mountains and just near the Continental Divide. This area has been noted for many years and some of best skiing in Colorado with Vail receiving 348 inches of annual snowfall and Beaver Creek 310 inches. The snowiest two months are December and January with 65 inches of snow on the average each month. Temperatures averages are (high/low): Nov 37/15, Dec 28/10, Jan 31/9, Feb 34/12, Mar 42/17 and Apr 48/24. Late spring into early fall are beautiful in the Rockies of Colorado as the tress come out in the spring, summers are mild with cool nights and in the fall, leaves are very colorful with the reds, oranges and yellows. Temperatures averages are: May 61/31, Jun 72/35, Jul 78/41, Aug 76/40, Sep 68/33 and Oct 55/25. Showers and thunderstorms are most likely in the July and August and mainly in the afternoons and evenings. The summer heat is dry with low humidity but when the southern moisture is around it becomes somewhat more humid.
El Nino (ocean waters warmer than normal) and La Nina (ocean waters colder than normal) in the central Pacific Ocean influence storm track of winter storms. El Nino supports a southern latitude storm track and La Nina a northern-latitude storm track. Fortunately, Vail and Beaver Creek are in the southern latitudes which makes a long range weather forecast somewhat easier to predict. Some skiers feel the depth of the snow is important and but more importantly is the frequency of storms to keep the snow fresh. A storm every 5-7 days is an ideal scenario. However, during an active storm pattern several feet of snow can accumulate in just a short period of time.
The Rocky Mountains are prone to avalanches. However, the ski resorts perform avalanche control early in the morning which ensures that the slopes safe for skiing during the day. If you venture into the back-country staying on flat terrain or on slopes that are not too steep (15 degrees or less).
South Lake Tahoe is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Average annual snowfall is 360 inches with the snowiest months being December and January. Temperatures averages are (high/low): Nov 52/23, Dec 45/18, Jan 43/16, Feb 46/20, Mar 51/24 and Apr 58/28. Lake spring into early fall are the warmest months with average temperatures: May 67/34, Jun 76/40, Jul 85/45, Aug 83/43, Sep 77/36 and Oct 66/29. A few showers and thunderstorms can occur in the months from July until about Labor Day when tropical moisture moves up from Arizona.
El Nino (ocean waters warmer than normal) and La Nina (ocean waters colder than normal) in the central Pacific Ocean influence storm track of winter storms. El Nino supports a southern latitude storm track and La Nina a northern-latitude storm track. Fortunately, central California is on the northern tier of the southern storm track which makes a long range weather forecast somewhat easier to predict.
The snow that falls in the Sierra Nevadas is rather unique. Storms coming in from in the Pacific Ocean especially in the southern storm track are packed with moisture so the snow can contain a great deal of water. This heavy wet snow is been referred to as “Sierra Cement”. Some skiers feel the depth of the snow is important but more importantly is the frequency of storms to keep the snow fresh. A storm every 5-7 days is an ideal scenario. However, during an active storm pattern several feet of snow can accumulate in just a short period of time.
The Sierra Mountains are prone to avalanches, especially after a active storm period. However, the ski resorts perform avalanche control early in the morning which ensures that the slopes safe for skiing during the day. If you venture into the back-country staying on flat terrain or on slopes that are not too steep (15 degrees or less).
Discussion.. Tropical moisture still encompasses southern Idaho but a drier westerly flow is expected by Sunday.
Today and Saturday.. Partly cloudy with a 20-30% chance of mainly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Highs today in the mid 80s and Saturday near 80. Lows in the mid 50s.
Sunday.. Just partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s and low in the mid 50s.
Discussion.. Monsoonal flow of tropical moisture from Arizona will continue into the weekend.
Today into the weekend.. Partly cloudy with a 40-50% chance of scattered mainly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Continued cool with highs only near 60. Lows 40-45.
Discussion: Monsoonal flow is drying as the flow aloft becomes more westerly.
Today and tonight.. Partly cloudy with an isolated afternoon or evening shower or thunderstorm.
Highs around 90. Low in the mid 50s.
Weekend.. Fair to partly cloudy with highs in the mid 80s. Lows near 50. Breezy winds 10-20 mph in the afternoons.
