snow

Cross-country ski areas are doing their best to adapt, but they lack the same tools available in the far bigger downhill skiing industry.

From Salt Lake City to St. George, communities statewide experienced their warmest winter on record. Snowpack, air quality and ski shops all took a hit.

When conditions are unstable, the smartest decision may be to avoid backcountry recreation altogether,” said the Salt Lake County Sheriff. Avalanche danger is high across the entire state.

This dry winter hasn’t spelled much action for city snowplows, but year-round public works staff are busy with preventative maintenance and road repairs.

Utah’s statewide snowpack level has reached a record low. Much of the West is in the grip of a snow drought, impacting everything from water supplies to mountain forests.

A large snowmaking upgrade has come in handy at Nordic Valley, but the resort is still hiring staff after many part-timers left for more reliable work.

Forecasting snow conditions in Utah’s mountains can be tricky, but accurate predictions are vital for everything from ski trips to avalanche safety. An AI forecast tool developed at the University of Utah might help.

The warm autumn put Salt Lake City on track for its second-warmest year on record. It’s running 3.3 degrees hotter than its historical average.

Ski Mountaineering will make its debut at February’s Milano Cortina Winter Games. The Dec. 6-7 races at Solitude Mountain Resort will determine if Team USA or Canada heads to the Olympics.

Northern Utah has a small fraction of the snowpack it typically has this time of year. That’s bad news for ski season and water supplies.

October set the stage for Utah to have a solid spring snowmelt runoff. That is, if the state can catch enough snow this winter.

The mountains that feed the Colorado River with snowmelt are strikingly dry. Many ranges are less than 50% of their average snow for this time of year.