Utah Snow Water Equivalent is 68% of Normal

 

Utah Snow Water Equivalent is 56% of normal

 

Record heat in Salt Lake City?

Here we go again with more record heat for the official Salt Lake City airport (KSLC) observation location. Salt Lake City is setting record heat at a much faster rate than other locations in Utah for the reasons below.

The current airport location has undergone significant changes in ground cover since it was installed in 2010. In September 2011 (see below image) it was a grassy/weedy area with less pavement/buildings around, the observation site now (see May 2023 image below) is surrounded by dirt/gravel with more buildings/pavement encroaching on the site. Nothing can be done to eliminate the urban heat island effect which is one reason for the warmer temperatures. The second and likely bigger reason for the warming temperatures is the change in ground cover directly around KSLC which something could be done about.

For how 2 meter temperatures are affected by ground cover check out this article https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0187-62362008000200002 that includes a comparison (article 3.2) of the 2 meter air temperatures on 15 calm, sunny, dry days. The study looked at the air temperature difference over three different surface types including asphalt/concrete, soil, & grass. This study can directly relate (but not as dramatic) to what is going on at KSLC on sunny light wind days with the change in ground cover around the station changing from a weedy/grassy area to dirt/gravel area.

*Of note is the official observation site was located in downtown Salt Lake City until 1928 before being moved to the airport. The airport location was then moved in 2010 to the current location in the image above.

Alta ski season snowfall record!

The Alta ski season (October 1st-April 30th) snowfall record of 748" from the 1981-1982 season has been destroyed and replace by 903" from the 2022-2023 season! This record is from the Alta Collins study plot at 9662' in elevation.

*According to the Western Region Climate Center the maximum winter (October 1st- September 30th) snowfall record for the town of Alta is 846.8" during the 1982-1983 season, we need to wait until September 30th to see if that record will be broken as well. 

Utah Snow Water Equivalent is 214% of Normal

Here is today's Utah statewide snow water equivalent (30.0" which is a record) chart and basin map which might be the peak for the year.

Snow cover April 6th 2023

 

Alta snow depth record!

 On April 5th 2023 Alta hit its all time snow depth record of 248"! The previous record was 236" on May 19th 1983.

Utah Snow Water Equivalent is 196% of Normal.

 

Looking at the above chart is shows an average of 28.0" of snow water equivalent from all of the SNOTEL stations around Utah which is a record!

Alta snowfall record?

With all of the snowfall record talk this year at Alta I wanted to clarify things a little due to some confusion. The all time Alta ski resort record for snowfall has been smashed (800"+ and counting) this year with one month to go. The Alta ski resort snowfall season includes all snowfall between October 1st and April 30th at the Collins study plot which is at 9662' in elevation.

The all time season (includes all months) snowfall record for the town of Alta is 846.8" from the 1982-83 season. For this record the snowfall data was taken from a study plot at or near the current Alta guard study plot which is at 8799' in elevation.

This is just an educated guess but if someone had been around to measure snowfall at the Alta Collins study plot for the entire water year in 1982-83 and 1983-84 one or both could have topped 900".

Photo credit Jim Steenburgh.

Utah Snow Water Equivalent is 159% of Normal