Where did all of BC’s snow go this year?
Here in BC we’ve had an average snow year at best, along with an unusually challenging snowpack that is more akin to what you'd find in Colorado. With the base at Whitewater Ski Resort currently sitting at 256cm and a total snowfall of 939cm it’s by no means a bad year but just not our typical season that generally sees more epic snowfalls. The most snow year to date goes to Powder King Resort with 984cm and the biggest base is found at Mt Seymour with 447cm which gets more moisture laden coastal snow.So the big question is where did all our snow go?
Easy, California, Nevada and Utah. Those states have been getting pummelled by several atmospheric rivers all season long and they are seeing their snowiest winters EVER!
So far Mammoth Mountain in California is the winner with the deepest base but several Utah resorts are also breaking records and in the running for the snowiest place in the US. Here’s the shakedown of who has the deepest base currently:
Mammoth Mountain, CA – 340″
Boreal, CA – 269″
Sugar Bowl, CA; Mt. Hood Meadows, OR – 254″
Alta, UT – 247″
Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA – 246″
Bear Valley, CA – 238″
Palisades Tahoe, CA – 233″
Snowbasin, UT – 227″
To put that 247” base at Alta into perspective, that is over 20’ of packed base! Not surprisingly they have received 874” of snow over the season. I wonder if all that snow will melt before next season starts?