Ann Vinciguerra: 2020-2021 Snow Stats

2.18.2021

2020-2021 Snow Stats

It's been years eight of measuring snow stats. Although I'm primarily a backcountry skier, I refer to the ski areas to take a look at snow depths and see how the winter looks compared to others. I also remind everyone of the musings of Jim Steenburgh, a professor of atmospheric science at University of Utah (Jump to the bottom of the post to read more or click on the links throughout.) discusses sun-angle and how it influences the snowpack.

This year, winter in the Bozeman area got off to a slow start with unseasonably warm weather into January. While there was skiing to be had, early season backcountry conditions persisted, and we were wondering if "real" winter would ever get here. Luckily, it did about two weeks ago.

Bozeman's Bridger Bowl has reported 34" of snow since Monday, and two to four feet of snow fell throughout the Bozeman area last week. Our ski season received the boost it needed and ski conditions increased remarkably as did people's stoke levels. But with the snow came with increased avalanche danger and a number of fatalities throughout the Rocky Mountains. As I type this, Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah, home to Alta and Snowbird, remains closed due to historic avalanche conditions.

Additionally, a cold spell gripped the area last week, and Bozeman airport reported it had gone 96 hours without reporting a temperature above zero. A gauzy grey hazy settled over valley hiding the blue sky for days. After above average weather all winter, it was a big adjustment.

Good backcountry conditions were to be had on finicky Specimen Creek on Monday but there was already a thin crust forming on the lower reaches of a south-facing slope so It was reminder that we have six days until the Steenburgh Winter comes to an end in Bozeman.

Snow Depth (Season Snowfall to Date)

It is interesting to look at these figures and see how they compare over the years. A good ski seasons is a magic combination of snow, temperatures and wind so the numbers don't tell the full story. Click on the links to find out what was said in previous years.

Big Sky Bridger Bowl Alta Crested Butte

February 18, 2021 56"-63" (NA) 77" (171") 120" (332") 59" (150")

February 21, 2020 56"-96" (NA) 78" (227") 125" (416") 51" (156")

February 17, 2019 48"-89" (NA) 70" (192") 133" (386") 71" (186")

February 19, 2018 63"-95" (NA) 77" (210") 76" (183") 48" (112")

February 14, 2017 48"-72" (188") 45" (143")

February 12, 2016 43”-65” (277") 56” (209")

February 17, 2015 42”-63” (294") 56” (228")

February 12, 2014 57”-85” (236") 76” (166")

Introducing the Steenburgh Winter

http://wasatchweatherweenies.blogspot.com/. The Steenbrugh Winter begins when the snow stake at Alta reached 100" and ends on February 10, the day the sun first reaches 35 degrees above the horizon. (Bozeman/Big Sky area, February 24;. Crested Butte, February 4)

Each day after the end of the Steenburgh Winter, the sun begins to rise higher in the sky and has an increasingly negative effect on snow conditions. Before that, powder can linger for days and even south facing slopes can remain curst free if it's really cold. After the Steenburgh Winter ends, the south aspects will almost always suffer when sun comes out and as time goes on the sun becomes an increasingly formidable enemy to powder on all aspects.

Check out this webpage in regard to sun angle, etc http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/AltAz.php.