Is there a trend developing with lower snow packs year over year?
Is there a trend? It’s a little early to say that. The recent dry period is quite acute, but compare to the 1985-1992 period where there were few seasons much above average even at the individual region level. The graph above has a trend line. This is the first year that it has even a slightly negative slope, obviously dragged down by the extremity of 2014-15. If there was zero negative trend from 1973-2014, we need to see a few more years before concluding that there is a meaningful negative trend now. Just 4 years ago we enjoyed the highest snowfall ski season of our lifetimes, and that trend line was up more then than it is down now.
(click for a larger view)
Top 10 Snowfalls for 2014-15:
#1. Alta, UT = 323.5 inches, discussed above
#2. Arapahoe Basin, CO = 322.75 inches, discussed above
#3. Breckenridge, CO = 321 inches, discussed above
#4. Revelstoke, BC = 318 inches, estimated above
#5. Grand Targhee, WY = 301 inches, discussed above
#6. Jay Peak, VT = 294 inches, discussed above
#7. Smuggler’s Notch, VT = 294 inches
#8. Stowe, VT = 290 inches, no accident these last 3, they usually record very similar snow once you adjust Jay to mid-mountain.
#9. Vail, CO = 288 inches
#10. Jackson Hole, WY = 287 inches, discussed above
Heres an overview of who got what during the 2014/15:
Alyeska
Alyeska like most West Coast areas was plagued by a high rain/snow line in 2014-15. The top of Alyeska’s lift service at 2,750 feet had 478.3 inches of snow while mid-mountain at 1,500 feet had only 176 inches. The long term relationship of mid to top at Alyeska is 79%, so the 37% this year tells you how much rain there was.
Jay Peak
Jay Peak in Vermont measured 374 inches on its upper mountain and 214 at the base, so I count 294 mid-mountain for Jay.
Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole had 287 inches November 1 – April 30 at its long term mid-mountain site. The commonly quoted upper site near the top of the Bridger gondola recorded 316 inches from October through early April.
Breckenridge
Breckenridge in Colorado recorded 321 inches of snow through closing date Apr. 19 at 11,600 feet. This site is not at the top of lift service but is considered by locals to be in a high snowfall part of the ski area as it measures about 25% higher than nearby Copper Mt. or the Breckenridge site used before 2010.
Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin had 322.75 inches of snow from November through May. I count May because A-Basin was open to June 14.
Revelstoke
Revelstoke in Canada recorded 224 inches December – March. The website total of 356 inches includes September and October (during the season I estimated 38 inches for those months) and no measurements after closing date of April 12.
(This info comes from Tony Crocker and snowbrains.com)