Utah looking to have above-average snowpack this winter


2 photos
Save Story

Show 1 more video

Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

PARK CITY — Although the snowpack may not look like much right now, the snowstorms Utah's had so far could have a very big impact on our very dry state.

Troy Brosten, one of Utah's hydrologists at the Snow Survey office, said Utah is looking to have a good snow year this season and this snow and precipitation is much needed.

"The last couple years have really sucked a lot of the water out of the reservoirs," Brosten said.

The snow could have a lasting effect on nature.

"When we have a high soil moisture, that means it will all go into a stream," he said.

From Tuesday's storm, northern Utah mountains are siting at up to 150 percent of the average snowpack. Places in Southern Utah are up to 500 percent of the average this time of year.

"Our snowpack, we're really sitting above average in northern and southern Utah," Brosten said.


The last couple years have really sucked a lot of the water out of the reservoirs.

–Troy Brosten, hydrologists at Utah's Snow Survey office


While these numbers sound great, the Snow Survey office also said, Utah doesn't typically have big storms this early in the year so the average is close to zero.

"(The percentages) simply mean you have one to three inches of snow verses no snow," he said.

But regardless, the early snow is a good indicator of what Utah could see this winter. Park City resident Larry Coleman is already planning snowshoeing trips for this weekend. He is happy there is already snow in Utah.

"And they say this is only a warm up," Coleman said, "so we have more to come."

Coleman and his wife, Charlotte, just moved from Georgia in June and they're grateful for early snow so they know what to prepare for.

"I got a little more familiar with the snow shovel, in Atlanta I didn't even own one," Larry Coleman said.

Charlotte Coleman said it's a bit of an adjustment going from 1,000 feet in elevation in Atlanta to 7,000 feet elevation in Park City. The biggest adjustment is all the snow.

"(I'm) learning how to drive in it all over again, but I think we're going to enjoy Park City," she said.

If Utah continues to get a big snow pile up, Brosten said you'll see the pay-off with water-filled rivers and reservoirs in the spring.

The storm on Tuesday laid down enough of a foundation of snow for several of the slopes to open. According to the Ski Utah website, Brighton is now open and Solitude opens some of their runs on Friday.

Photos

Related stories

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
Haley Smith

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast