Uncategorized
Montana snowpack, at 88% of average, leads the northwest
Published
12 years agoon
Posted By
AdminBy Taylor Anderson, Explorebigsky.com Assistant Editor
Video by Chris Davis, Explorebigsky.com Video Master
http://vimeo.com/34590735
Alaska, Arizona and New Mexico above average
After six weeks of skiing in western Montana, we’ve noticed a pretty interesting winter weather cycle that has frustrated some locals and confused would-be visitors to the point of rescheduling trips.
So far, Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and Montana are the only states reporting any sites in the mountains at or above average snow water precipitation this winter.
Alaska and New Mexico lead the snowpack with snowfall at 127 and 120 percent, respectively. Arizona is at No. 3 with 105 percent of its 30-year average.
Montana’s Snotel sites report an 88 percent average, making it No. 4 in the U.S. for snowfall this year, and although some are discouraged from early-season hype over October snow accumulations, many are excited that conditions have held steady.
“Maverick got 20 inches out of last week’s storm and opened on Dec. 31 with just over three feet of cold smoke at the summit. Shredding ensued,” said David Nolt, a local skier at Maverick Mountain, in the Pioneer Mountains northwest of Dillon.
In its late fall forecast, NOAA called for a second consecutive La Niña weather pattern. When this pattern lasts for two years, the rule of thumb for forecasters is that the second year will be less severe than the first, which has happened.
Montana this time last year had a snowpack that was 106 percent of average. Only after January 17 report on Snotel did it begin to rise further above average, causing a late, snowy winter with snowpack that lasted throughout much of the summer. Runoff last summer created epic floods throughout much of the northwest.
Typically, warmer temperatures in the southern Pacific Ocean mean wetter winter weather for much of the western U.S., but so far Idaho, Colorado, California, Utah, Oregon and Nevada are all reporting less than 70 percent of their 30-year average of snow for this time of year.
Idaho has 58 percent; Colorado has 69.9 percent; California is driest at 17.5 percent; Nevada has 22 percent; Oregon has 36 percent; and Utah has 62 percent.
The NOAA predicted a 50 percent chance of “above normal total rain and snowfall” for all of Montana, most of Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The northern halves of California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado had a one-third chance of receiving precipitation that was above average.
Forecasters at NOAA called for a 33 to 50 percent chance that most of New Mexico and Arizona would receive “well below average” amounts of rain and snow.
The resorts in Alaska that currently have the largest snowpack in the U.S.—Eagle Crest and Alyeska—had an equal chance for snow this season.
Montana resorts are still hopeful that more snow will head east from the Pacific Coast, but all are happy with what they’ve received so far.
Moonlight Basin in Big Sky has a 37-inch base and three-fourths of its runs are open. Big Sky Resort has a 33- to 51-inch base and has opened 85 percent of its terrain to skiers.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd