There's some healthy precipitation numbers in the Wasatch from this storm including as of about 11 AM this morning (Jan 2nd):
Sundance: 4.29"
Tibble Fork: 2.48"
Collins: 1.82"
Mill D North: 1.40"
Farmington SNOTEL: 2.2"
Snowbasin Boardwalk: 2.84"
Ben Lomond Peak SNOTEL: 3.50"
That's the good news. The bad news is that snow levels have been high (reaching as high as 9000 feet late yesterday in the central Wasatch) so this is yet another storm period in which the lower elevations got skunked. The base of Park City, for example, remains free of natural snow.
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| Source: https://www.parkcitymountain.com/the-mountain/mountain-conditions/mountain-cams.aspx |
Thoughts and prayers to the Wasatch Back.
At mid elevations, where there is snow, its DENSE and water logged. At the Ben Lomond Peak SNOTEL (7600 feet), there's currently 8.2" of water packed into a snowpack that is only 22" deep. That's a water content of 37% or a density of 370 kg/m3, as one might find in a maritime snowpack.
Meanwhile, in the Salt Lake Valley, we finally cracked the smog or fog at around noon today. Yesterday afternoon there were some great views of the valley fog from the Avenues.
Paraphrasing Albus Dumbledore, "pity the low elevations and, above all, those elevations without snow."
Sad to see the lack of Utah snow below 7,500 ft ish in January! I don' t think the 4.29" at Sundance is accurate when comparing to other reports in the area? I see 2.07" for Sundance on https://www.weather.gov/wrh/TextProduct?product=pnsslc and 2.08" for Aspen Grove. The 2.48" for Tibble Fork does look accurate when comparing to PNCUT and TCRUT. Of note as well (which I have been in talks with NOAA about and they agree) is LPTUT is not accurate.
ReplyDeleteI had a great time skate skiing in circles at Solitude a few days ago. And to think, just last year I was telling myself, "Well, we'll always have Solitude and Spruces." Apparently not. Pity the nordic skiers. My bike trainer is getting way more use than it should.
ReplyDeleteI groomed the Spruces on the 28th. Nice. And now it's gone.
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