tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post7596671766991158568..comments2024-03-17T20:10:54.095-06:00Comments on Wasatch Weather Weenies: Backside ClimatologyJim Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15799757451626876963noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-11145523743754083832012-04-19T06:49:55.138-06:002012-04-19T06:49:55.138-06:00Fascinating, the very steep gradient of snowfall b...Fascinating, the very steep gradient of snowfall by elevation. On either side. I had seen 160" mentioned for the base of PCMR but for obvious reasons that number doesn't see much press. Just looked up Kamas to see how much further it drops off in the shadow of the Wasatch and it's 87".Evrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08949828769565434946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-66354855519105288462012-04-19T05:43:51.287-06:002012-04-19T05:43:51.287-06:00What about the mountains west of salt lake valley?...What about the mountains west of salt lake valley? The ones u see as u drive towards the airport. They look about 30 miles west. R those ever skied? Why no resorts there?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-11558202366844686692012-04-18T15:19:50.287-06:002012-04-18T15:19:50.287-06:00More? Probably not. The best snow option outside...More? Probably not. The best snow option outside of LCC is probably Ben Lomond Peak northeast of Ogden. The data is sketchy, but the evidence suggests that it snows about as much there as it does in LCC, but, it is a feast or famine climate (they get creamed in southwesterly flow) and a very windy location. Additionally, I like to backcountry ski tour there, so build your ski area elsewhere :-).Jim Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15799757451626876963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-29998783553007984412012-04-18T15:01:49.709-06:002012-04-18T15:01:49.709-06:00are there any mountains in the slc area that recei...are there any mountains in the slc area that receive more snow then LCC? i.e. where should I build a new ski resort?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-10808579316621807312012-04-18T14:27:50.897-06:002012-04-18T14:27:50.897-06:00Ben:
WIth regards to the numbers on that graph, t...Ben:<br /><br />WIth regards to the numbers on that graph, they are based on a digital snowfall analysis that I created in house at about 800-m grid spacing. That analysis produces just over 500 inches at the Alta coop site, so it's fairly close, but that's one of the snowiest places in LCC. I eyeballed the data in the Little Cottonwood Canyon area and in the PCMR area for the graph, so the graph won't perfectly match the coop data. The 531" figure you quote is a bit higher than the 509" mean reported at http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ut0072. The time periods used and methods used to replace missing data all contribute to uncertainties. There is no truth in meteorology! Nevertheless, the graph should be in the ballpark. <br /><br />JimJim Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15799757451626876963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6168620747792092240.post-86786374706680310362012-04-18T13:34:58.692-06:002012-04-18T13:34:58.692-06:00hmmm, very interesting! Although not as large of a...hmmm, very interesting! Although not as large of a rain shadow as is found in some of Washington's or Oregon's mountains (for example, the contrast between Bonneville Dam and The Dalles stations along the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon), this is still pretty substantial. <br />Alta's weather station listed at the WRCC says it receives 531 inches of snow annually at 8700' elevation. This looks like more than you have listed. Is this for a different part of the canyon? Thanks for the interesting post!Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08849548322559850150noreply@blogger.com