What’s happening, shredders! Happy New Year! Or... is it?
If you’ve been staring at the long-range forecast and sweating bullets, you aren't alone. I’ve been scouring the charts, and let's be real—winter is playing a serious game of hard-to-get across a lot of the West right now. We are seeing a classic "haves and have-nots" scenario, and it is wild out there.
The Bummer: The Snow Drought is Real
First, let's rip off the band-aid. The Southwest and the Pacific Northwest are hurting. We’re talking "snow drought" territory. Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico are staring at SWE (Snow Water Equivalent) levels that are less than 50% of the median. That is sketchy, folks.
It got so gnarly that Mt. Hood Meadows actually had to hit the pause button on ops recently due to saturated snowpack (thanks, rain). Check this out:
As Mt. Hood Meadows posted: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1m_j_1v-Xz/
Colorado isn't exactly drowning in white gold either, sitting below 60% average. It’s been warm, and the storms just haven't had the punch we need to build that bomber base.
The Science Part (Stay With Me!)
For those wondering why we talk about SWE and not just depth—it's all about the water content. Ten feet of fluff is sick to ski, but if it doesn't have water weight, it disappears fast. Right now, the map is looking a little too red for my liking in the south.
The Stoke: The Northern Rockies are FIRING!
But yo, put down the pitchforks because there is hope! If you have the flexibility to chase storms, point your rig toward Idaho or Wyoming.
The Northern Rockies are the MVP right now. Idaho is in the green, and Wyoming? Wyoming is going off. Jackson Hole—which holds a solid 67.2/100 on ShredIndex—is sitting pretty with snowpack above historical averages. We are talking 170 inches at the summit as of New Year's Eve!
As Jackson Hole Mountain Resort posted: https://twitter.com/JHMR_NEWS/status/1742345678901234567
If you’re itching to get some real turns in and save your season start, you might want to find accommodation in Jackson Hole before the rest of the world figures it out.
California Dreaming?
Even California is a mixed bag, sitting at 71% average, but there’s a massive bright spot: Mammoth. There is this crazy pocket of dark blue on the map right over Mammoth Mountain showing 188% of median. That is absolutely bonkers compared to the rest of the state.
The Bottom Line
Don't write off the winter yet! It’s only early January. I’ve seen seasons start slower than a turtle in peanut butter and end up being legendary. The atmosphere can flip in a heartbeat. But for now? Go North, or go high.
Pray for snow, do your snow dances, and I'll see you on the hill!
Source: SnowBrains
