UTAH'S WATER

Utah’s record snow is so deep it buried measuring equipment

Mar 24, 2023, 5:43 PM | Updated: 7:35 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — The record-breaking snowfall this winter has been phenomenal, maybe even more so in the eyes of those who study it closely.  

The director of the Snow Hydrology Research to Operations Lab at the University of Utah said she could have never predicted that her equipment at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon would ever be buried by snow.  But that’s exactly what happened. 

“The snow really has not stopped,” said McKenzie Skiles, an assistant professor at the University of Utah, and head of the Snow Hydrology Research to Operations Lab. “This winter we’ve just been getting storm after storm after storm, and we have finally just matched the record for peak snow water equivalent that was set in 83.“

That record was later eclipsed in the afternoon. We caught up with her today in the midst of a snow squall, which seemed like the perfect setting.

“I don’t think you ever see a season like this coming,” Skiles said. “You kind of experience it as it’s coming through, and we didn’t know even a few weeks ago, that it was going to be record-setting.“

Skiles and her team have installed instrumentation at the Atwater Study Plot, across from Alta Ski Resort, to study the processes that control snow accumulation and snow melt. 

A photo taken at the plot last summer with her graduate students from the snow hydro lab shows them standing next to the towering equipment, surrounded by green grass.  Another pic taken yesterday shows the top of the equipment sticking out of the snow. 

Greatest snow on Earth: Utah’s snowpack hits record high

“We are at the deepest that we’ve ever been,” Skiles said. “We are over 4m, which is 13 1/2 feet of snow. The snow just actually just hit the instrumentation platform. Which means that currently all of our instrumentation is buried.“

She said they will work to get that equipment back above the snow.

“It’s never been deeper. We’re setting records there, and across the state of Utah.”

The water in that snowpack is as good as gold for our communities. 

“If you were to melt all of that snow out, the water level would actually be up to about their shoulders.“

Skiles pointed out that even this phenomenal year won’t solve all of our water problems. But we can certainly be grateful for this one and hope for more big ones in the future.

KSL 5 TV Live

Utah's Water

Deer Creek Reservoir...

Ladd Egan

Deer Creek, Jordanelle nearing capacity; releasing extra water

Those heading outdoors this holiday weekend will notice that many of Utah’s reservoirs are nearing capacity.

4 days ago

Big Cottonwood Creek...

Jed Boal

High mountain snow melt fills rivers and creeks as peak runoff nears

The high-elevation snowpack in Utah is melting quickly. The low-elevation and mid-elevation snow has already melted and run off into creeks and rivers.

4 days ago

Washed out road...

Mike Anderson

Flood warning for Logan River through Friday morning

A flood warning was issued for the Logan River on Tuesday and it's expected to last through late Friday morning.

6 days ago

Orton Park overflowed with water...

Andrew Adams

North Ogden’s Orton Park overflows, neighbors show up with paddle boards, pets

Orton Park was overflowing Friday as city leaders said the detention basin was functioning properly and neighbors arrived with paddle boards, pets, and kayaks to take advantage of the unique conditions.

11 days ago

Causey Reservoir spillway...

Mike Anderson

Problematic Causey Reservoir water release to continue for weeks

The Causey Reservoir has been an impressive sight as it spills over. At the same time, it’s the reason behind flooding along the south fork of the Ogden River.

14 days ago

Pineview Reservoir is pictured at 40% capacity in Weber County on May 8. Utah's reservoir system is...

Carter Williams

Half of Utah’s record snowpack is gone. How are the state’s reservoirs faring?

Utah's reservoir system is quickly closing in on its mid-May average now that more than half of the state's record 30 inches of snowpack has melted.

14 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Asian little girl playing arcade game on the computer machines at the shopping mall outlets...

Get Out Pass

Family Fun Activities in Utah You Have to Try This Summer

These family fun activities will entertain you all summer, so if you ever feel stuck in a rut wondering what to do, refer to this guide!

Woman IT specialist in elegant suit working on notebook computer in data center next to server rack...

Les Olson

Your Complete Guide to Outsourcing IT Services

This guide covers everything you need to know about the different benefits of outsourcing IT services to meet your small business needs.

diverse group of friends dance outside under string lights...

Lighting Design

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Lighting

Read for the most frequently asked questions about outdoor lighting to help narrow the search for your home.

Stack of old laptops with dark background...

PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...

BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.

Close up of an offset printing machine during production...

Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.

Utah’s record snow is so deep it buried measuring equipment