Big Sky ended up right at 90% of historical snowpack on April 18th. Just an FYI, snowpack is the amount of snow on the ground, or snow depth, for that particular day measured against 30-year averages. Arguably, the more revealing number is the cumulative snowfall amounts reported by the mountain using their snow stakes and Snotel sites on Andesite and Lone Mountain. This number was 174 inches, which in comparison to a 10-year average of roughly 260 inches, brought the snowfall percentage to 67%. This was well below average, even for a La Nina winter.

Going into opening day on Thanksgiving the snowpack was slightly above average, the result of a big October dump and several early to mid-November storms, along with below average temperatures. The storm track in December tended to direct storms just to the south of our region with Big Sky on the fringe of these storms with 9 days reporting snowfall of 3 inches or less. There were 12 total days with reported fresh snow in December, with 5 inches being the deepest on the 23rd. Things off piste were a bit boney to say the least.

The new year rolled in and immediately the snow started flying with the first week of January netting 18 inches. A few high-pressure systems then went to work diverting storms north, or south before several weak systems rescued the month dropping a few sporadic inches here and there. The month of January ended with a meager cumulative snowfall of 34 inches, leaving the snowpack average at 70%.

Talks of a low-tide year were already being overheard in the tram line when February roared in on an active storm track that brought fresh snow on 20 of the months’ 28 days. 66 cumulative inches fell in February with memorable dumps of 8 to 10 inches on the 5th and the 17th. The snowpack on February 28th was back to 98% of average. Moods were elevated as we approached March in anticipation that the active weather would continue.

So much for being optimistic as March opened with several stubborn high-pressure systems that largely dried things out and elevated temperatures to well above average. Looking back at the snow reports, a cumulative 4 inches of new snow were reported over the first 19 days of March, most of those were one inch days. A dramatic shift occurred on March 20th when a moist SW flow developed over the Northern Rockies that helped usher in an extended period of snowfall dropping 31 inches in 10 days. Smiles were back as were the tram lines. Snowpack average on March 31st was at 94%.

April is always a bit schitzo in the weather department, and delivered as advertised, just with less snowfall than normal. Two distinct high-pressure runs brought temperatures to near record highs, interrupted only by the occasional spring storm system with a stand-out pow day on the 9th with 7 cold inches.

All in all, April added 14 inches to the final snowfall total of 174 inches. The snowpack on the ground ended up at 90% of average on closing day, this largely the result of a colder than average February. Better than the shortened 19/20 season, but way less than any season since 14/15. Thanks for reading, have a great summer, and let’s hope we get back to normal next season, and I’m not just talking about the weather!

   ++  Powder Out  ++

 Bob

Below: Snowpack graphs depict a season always playing catch-up...

Below: Memories from one of the better days, February 5th...