NorCal Ski Resorts Boast the Deepest Snowpack in North America

Photo by Ben Arnst

During this year’s fall months, the Farmer’s Almanac predicted the winter of 2018/2019 to be cold and wet in Northern California. So far, their prediction is spot on.

In the current list of snowpack in North America, NorCal ski resorts are looking good. Like, really good. Typically, this list is dominated by the mountains of Colorado, Utah and Whistler, but currently sitting at the top of the list is Mammoth Mountain, with a whopping 70 inches of snowpack at the summit. 

As the list continues, Sierra-at-Tahoe sits in third place with 53 inches, followed by a tie at tenth place between Squaw Valley and Kirkwood with 46 inches. Here is the full list, with all the numbers cited from the homepage of the resorts’ websites:

  1. Mammoth Mountain – 70″
  2. Grand Targhee, WY – 55”
  3. Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA – 53″
  4. Snowbasin, UT – 48”
  5. Smugglers Notch, VT– 48”
  6. Steamboat, CO– 48”
  7. Aspen Highlands, CO – 48”
  8. Brighton, UT, Wolf Creek, CO – 47″
  9. Squaw Valley, CA– 46″
  10. Kirkwood, CA – 46″
  11. Alta, UT– 46″
  12. Snowbird, UT– 46″
  13. Solitude, UT– 44”
  14. Snowshoe, WV– 44”
  15. Jay Peak, VT – 44”
  16. Winter Park, CO – 43″
  17. Jackson Hole, WY – 42″

These numbers are somewhat abnormal for NorCal resorts at this point in the season, but they are consistent with what meteorologists predicted would be an El Nino winter – AKA heavy precipitation.

In case you’re wondering, here’s what a deep snowpack looks like at Sierra-at-Tahoe:

Who knows if this type of snowfall will last for the coming months, but it’s fun to enjoy right now. If you want to experience an epic day on the mountain, don’t play with your luck. Go sooner rather than later.

Active NorCal

Telling the Stories of Northern California

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