As promised, we saw our first cold storm of the season bring snowfall to Summit County to close out last week. It was a refreshing change of pace to ski fluffy, low-density snow again in Utah — the type of powder for which we are famous.
Unfortunately, also as promised, we have now entered a long period of high pressure, which is shutting down the chances for snow for at least the next week, and likely longer. Good news if you like sunny days on the mountain, but bad news for powder hounds, or even those simply hoping for near-normal snowpack levels for our summer water supply.
After seeing vast improvements in snowpack numbers to start January, climbing to 75% of normal at Park City Mountain Resort, we are now starting to see numbers fall again relative to normal.
While we are no longer threatening to set new record-low snowpack numbers, we still have a way to go to catch up to normal. Our grim forecast means we will fall further behind.
If you have ever spent much time on the trails of the Wasatch in summer, whether hiking, running, or mountain biking, then you have probably seen a moose. And if you have seen a moose, then there’s a good chance you have experienced the wrath of a “trail squatting” moose. This phenomenon entails a moose standing dead center in the middle of a mountain trail, refusing to move for hours. I have wasted more of my life than I care to admit under the incorrect assumption that the moose would eventually move off the trail.
Right now, we are experiencing the weather version of a moose squatting on a trail. A ridge of high pressure has developed over the western half of North America, so massive in scale that no storms can pass through.
This ridge of high pressure is, like the moose, stubborn. It has no motivation to move. Therefore, all potential storm energy is blocked from entering the western states, including Utah. The result is dry, sunny weather for at least the next week.
When it’s a moose on the trail, I have learned my lesson. I turn around and find a new place to ride my bike. But there is no “alternate route” when it comes to our weather right now. We are forced to sit and wait, hoping that eventually our stubborn, moose-like high pressure will move on.
The only hope I can offer is that sometime around Jan. 22, give or take a day or two, we could see the ridge shift slightly to the northwest, centering itself near the Aleutian Islands.
This may allow storms to sneak behind the ridge and potentially drop into the Northern Rockies, and maybe Utah as well. I fully admit that this is hopeful speculation at this point. Going back to the moose metaphor, we are hoping the moose moves to the side of the trail just enough for you to sneak past on the other side.
For now, try to enjoy the sun and the new terrain openings. Or focus on non-ski-related activities while we wait for storms to return. Next week, I hope to have better prospects for storms to share with you.
For up-to-date forecasts, you can subscribe to Evan’s Utah Daily Snow forecast on OpenSnow.com and the OpenSnow app.