Cold and snow?

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

By Lisa Van Sciver

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Several years ago during the month of November, my car would not start for over a week due to below-zero temperatures. This year, I spent many November days rock climbing in the warm sun. Is Jackson not as cold as it use to be or is this just a different year?

In the past month temperatures have only dropped into the single digits a hand full of days, making it hard for the low elevation, man-made snow to stick around. Rendezvous Bowl’s depth maintains just above twenty inches and local skiers hope the snow will soon fly. At least Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Grand Targhee have started running some lifts for us.

The change in weather could be caused by El Nino’s warm equatorial Pacific temperatures, global warming, or any number of crazy theories; at any rate, Jackson’s local mountains are looking a bit dry. Luckily, this could quickly change with a cold storm’s sudden arrival. The few days before Thanksgiving, several inches of new snow loaded on the upper elevation snow pack. During this storm, skiers reported powder turns and enough snow to ski all the way down Mt. Glory. The avalanche warning increased, as new snow transported onto leeward slopes. Later in the week warmer temperatures stabilized the snow, but also kept it limited to the high country.

Even though little snow exists in Jackson’s surrounding mountain ranges, there can still be avalanches. Whenever there is snow, it could slide, so always be aware.
For now, let’s hope for cold and snow, just like in Alaska’s Chugach Range where last week five feet fell in 48 hours. JHW
– Lisa Van Sciver
PERMALINK:
Cold and snow? | Planet JH News Article: Snow Report Column

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