SnowPack Fest

03/20/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15tz4SJBzG/

03/20/2025

Here's an update from Snow Today by the NSIDC
February 2025 snow summary

-The snow-covered area across the western United States was 87 percent of average for February, ranking sixteenth in the 25-year satellite record. On February 18, snow-covered area reached its maximum for the season.
-Snow cover duration was just above the twenty-fifth percentile of the 25-year satellite record.
-Snow albedo, also known as snow brightness, was low in early-February. By mid-month, snowstorms increased the brightness, only to rapidly decrease to a seasonal low at month's end.
-Snow water equivalent (SWE) was below average for 76 percent of stations at the beginning of the month and 59 percent at the end of the month.
-Nearly all SWE stations across the western United States reported gains in February, except for a few low-elevation stations primarily in the deserts of the Southwest.

https://nsidc.org/snow-today/monthly-insights/widespread-snow-limited-water

07/10/2024

Giving a TEDx talk alongside my 10-year-old daughter, Madrona, was a truly meaningful experience for both of us. It stands out as the highlight of my career. Watch the talk here: https://youtu.be/LZ5DM-T9S6Q?si=yr3TiTlSZBAFvoZi

Explore climate change impacts with Dr. Spruce Schoenemann as he discusses warming trends, shrinking glaciers, and escalating wildfires in Montana and beyond. Discover actionable steps towards a sustainable future through renewable energy adoption and personal carbon reduction.

Explore climate change impacts with Spruce Schoenemann as he discusses warming trends, shrinking glaciers, and escalating wildfires in Montana and beyond. Di...

05/12/2022

Following several dry months, cool temperatures and precipitation in April increased snowpack percentages in all of Montana’s major river basins.

03/14/2022

Here are two short films showcasing two awesome female skiers for the 4th SPF selection. Elyse Saugstad On My Own Terms https://youtu.be/Av0XM-wu3Lg and Amie Engerbretrson kicking up her heels in Boots Over Brim https://youtu.be/atHhv9ydTH4. Fellas, you might need to take some tips.

After winning the Freeride World Tour title in 2008, Elyse Saugstad felt it was time to pursue her dream of filming for the big screen. But even with impress...

03/05/2022

Here is the 3rd SPF film selection for winter 2022! If you are jonesing for more snow and dreaming of heading north to Canada for some pow turns, check out "Beyond the Powder Highway" by . Deep backcountry skiing and a little history along the way. https://youtu.be/DWEuMFZ_hHo

02/20/2022

Here in southwest MT we have continued to have a high pressure ridge post up over the northern Rockies, and the heatwaves have been melting the mid-elevation snowpack. We need more snow, and cooler temps. Next cold snap begins Monday with highs of 14˚F, but it'll be short-lived. Here is the 2nd SPF film of the season: Return To Vermont: Celebrating the Birthplace of Snowboarding https://youtu.be/62DoJF4zljA by Teton Gravity Research. There are deep snowboarding roots in VT!!

02/13/2022

Like last year, SnowPack Fest will not be occurring in-person this winter (2021-22), rather we will post a series of snow-related films over the winter to stoke your love for the white stuff and inform you of new snowpack/avalanche/climate research! We have had a belated started to this winter but hope you will enjoy these hand-picked films and engage with the content and information.

Here is the 1st SPF film of the season: In Pursuit of Soul https://youtu.be/ifbKVYn4UCg by Teton Gravity Research

“In 1934 the first rope tow opened up in the United States. By 1970 there were over 1,000 independent mountain resorts across the country. But in 2021 the number of ski areas has shrunk below 400” Much of this loss is due to consolidation, a thin margin, and changing climate.

02/13/2022

Here is the first post of 2022 for Snowpack Fest. Late December and early January delivered great early season powder, but since then the typical La Nina storms have been AWOL and numbers are consistently below average in the Western US. On Feb 9th, we got an excellent update from the NSIDC’s Snow Today: https://nsidc.org/reports/snow-today

January 2022 snow summary
• Snow-covered area was the second lowest in the 22-year satellite record.
• All western states and large river basins had below average snow cover.
• As of January 31, snow cover days hit a record low, surpassing the previous record low year of 2015.
• Snow water equivalent (SWE) was below average at 30 percent of stations on January 1; by January 31, half of all stations reported below average snowpack.
• Relative to average conditions, both snow cover and SWE declined over the last three weeks of January because of a persistent atmospheric ridge that diverted storms north into Canada and Alaska.
• As a percent of average, SWE increased at a historically high rate through December but decreased in January; this abrupt shift was the most dramatic in the 43-year record.

12/07/2021

Although November was quite dry in Montana, the 3 month forecast is still looking like a moderate La Nina. The impacts of a La Nina in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rocky Mountains can vary depending on the phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, which is currently in a negative phase (cooler than average ocean temperatures along the West Coast). This bodes well for higher than average precipitation and cooler temps. Bring it on La Nina, whenever you're ready!
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/enso/november-2021-la-niña-update-movie-night

PDO: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/teleconnections/pdo/