Average snowfall may lead to record numbers at Utah ski resorts

Average snowfall may lead to record numbers at Utah ski resorts

(Snowbasin Resort)


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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — Thus far 2015-16 has been a pretty average snow year. It may not seem so in comparison to last year's snowfall, but the 2014-2015 season was among the lowest snowfall seasons on record and the previous year wasn't much better.

In this case, average is good. And, consensus is, if skiers and snowboarders continue visiting Utah's resorts at the current rate during this average winter, this year is on target to hit record numbers.

Ski Utah president Nathan Rafferty said it will all depend "on how things go in February and March, which are typically very good months."

"Currently, we're ahead of last year in skier and snowboarders and snow," Rafferty said. "All the snow is helping, but what is helping more is there's snow on the ground in the cities and that gets people off the couches and onto the slopes. Having snow in the driveways is helping.''

The Salt Lake Valley has received a lot more snow this year. In 2014-15, the Salt Lake International Airport received only 6 total inches. Already this winter, the airport has received 28.3 inches.

The Utah ski visitor numbers have also been boosted due to the fact that Europe and the East Coast have had marginal snowfall. A freestyle aerial event scheduled for Lake Placid, for example, had to be moved to Deer Valley Feb. 4-6 because of lean snow cover in New York. It also helps that word of Utah's good snow has gotten out in what may seem like unlikely markets like Australia, California, Florida and Texas.

Photo credit: Snowbasin Resort
Photo credit: Snowbasin Resort

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Monica Traphagan, the long-range forecast is that February will be slightly dryer, but overall the next three months in Utah are expected to get "normal to slightly above normal precipitation.''

And what part has El Nino played in Utah's weather pattern? Traphagan suggested very little.

"Yes, we are in a strong El Nino pattern and it may mean Utah will be a little wetter this winter," she said. "But it won't be as significant as on the West Coast. This is more of an average winter.''

Giving a report on regional resort numbers, Bill Malone, executive director of the Park City Visitors Bureau, said that from an occupancy standpoint, the city enjoyed strong bookings in November, December and January, "and the forecast looking forward is pretty positive."

"Compared with 16 other Rocky Mountain resorts, early on we were a little below average, but now we are above average for January through March,'' Malone said.

Malone also pointed to a change in booking patterns. Numbers for 45 days out have typically look weak; numbers 30 days out look better and numbers 15 days out look strong.

"It seems that this pattern is becoming a growing part of the business in that people are booking later and later," Malone said. "Looking into early March, we're a little behind last year, but as the dates come closer things will be looking up.''

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So, where do resorts stand compared to last winter?

According to Brian Brown, communication manager at Snowbird Resort, the resort has received 308 inches of snow this winter.

"At this same point last winter, we had only 190 inches," he said. "We've received almost 10 more feet of snow this winter. Total snowfall last year was only 340 inches.''

Snowbird's annual average snowfall is around 500 inches and Brown noted that bookings are up for the remainder of the season.

Solitude Mountain Resort, under new ownership this season after being purchased by Deer Valley last winter, and a resort frequented mostly by locals, is having a good year. With the good snow, Sherri Harkin, communications director for Solitude said, "Skiers and snowboarders are telling us this is the best season in the past four years . . . and it really is.''

Deer Valley Resorts director of marketing Coleen Reardon said, "Numbers are ahead of last year and we're a little ahead on the budget.''

As for Park City Mountain Resort, now the largest ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of ski/snowboarding terrain, Margo Van Ness, senior manager of communications, said, "It has been fun watching guests explore the new Park City, with the upgrades and the new gondola that connects to two areas.''

Thus far, America's largest ski/snowboard area has generated a lot of interest around the country and at this point in the season, with the average snowfall, skiing and snowboarding conditions are some of the best within the past four years.


Ray Grass was an employee of the Deseret News for 47 years. He worked as a member of the sports staff for 40 years and 37 of those years served as an outdoor writer/editor.

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