ENVIRONMENT

Alta Ski Area passes 800 inches of snow for first time ever

Mar 31, 2023, 6:35 AM | Updated: 9:31 am

Alta 800 inches of snow...

Alta Ski Area obliterated its all-time snow record this season, and the resort passed the 800-inch mark for the first time on March 31, 2022.(KSL TV)

(KSL TV)

ALTA, Utah — Alta Ski Area has obliterated its all-time snow record this season, and the resort passed the 800-inch mark for the first time on Friday.

Alta also became the first North American resort to reach the 800-inch mark, with Brighton Resort likely to hit that mark later in the day, according to KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson.

The 2022-2023 season is in “elite company” Alta Ski Area told KSL.com, as only five snow seasons in the past 43 years reached 700 inches of snowfall — none of which reached that milestone before April.

Alta’s previous record of 748 inches was broken last week.

(Screenshot from Alta’s website on Friday, March 31, 2023)

Higher record on the way?

Since 1980, Alta has received an average of 80 inches in April, meaning a season with 900 inches of snow is not out of the question quite yet.

Alta has received 20 inches of new snow over the last 24 hours, bringing its base to 224 inches. More snow is expected to fall through Friday night and another storm is set to move in early next week.

Utah’s statewide snowpack jumped to 27.5 inches of water by Thursday morning, 1.5 inches higher than the previous record set in 1983 and 3.4 inches higher than the statewide snowpack collection of the 2021 and 2022 seasons combined. That number is expected to continue to climb as more storms impact the state.

Cities and counties across Utah are taking advantage of the extra water this winter to replenish aquifers, and no parts of the state are listed in extreme drought for the first time in nearly three years, according to a new report issued by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

While the update is welcome, experts warn the drought and its resulting extensive impacts aren’t over just yet.

“We’ve come a long way but there’s still a ways to go to become more drought resilient as a state,” water resources officials tweeted Thursday, in reaction to the latest drought report. “Your conservation efforts play a huge role in that.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Environment

An artemia shrimp in a tank. (KSL TV)...

Jeff Dahdah, KSL TV

Great Salt Lake preservation key for global food security

A valuable food resource that supplies the world, could disappear with the Great Salt Lake if water levels are not maintained.

2 days ago

Motorists drive in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Dec. 1. The upper Cottonwood canyons could receive up t...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Another winter storm warning issued as more snow arrives in Utah

A winter storm arriving in Utah has the potential to deliver up to another 2 feet of snow in Utah's mountains by the end of Friday.

3 days ago

An eight-week-old sea otter rescued from Seldovia, Alaska, peaks out of his enclosure at Shedd Aqua...

Erin Hooley, Associated Press

A sea otter pup found alone in Alaska has a new home at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium

A northern sea otter who was found alone and malnourished in the remote Alaska town of Seldovia in October has a new home in Chicago.

4 days ago

A drone is taking the place of a tractor, for a Box Elder County farmer. (KSL TV)...

Mike Anderson

Making farm work a lot easier with the use of a drone

A drone is taking the place of a tractor, for a Box Elder County farmer.

4 days ago

A bird flies over the Great Salt Lake as seen from Antelope Island at sunset on Monday, June 5, 202...

Dan Rascon and Mary Culbertson, KSL TV

West Jordan water district offers locals help amid Great Salt Lake water crisis

Jordan Valley Water Conservative District is working to improve water conservation for cities, developers, and local residents to help improve Utah's water crisis problem, after Salt Lake City's population boom.

6 days ago

In this photo provided by the Soundwatch Boater Education Program the dorsal fin of a young humpbac...

Manuel Valdes, Associated Press

Photographs capture humpback whale’s Seattle visit, breaching in waters in front of Space Needle

Pictures released by a conservation group Soundwatch Boater Education Program show a young humpback whale breaching in front of the Space Needle as it visited the waters off Seattle last week, capturing a rare display of wildlife next to a major city.

6 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Users display warnings about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), access to malicious software ...

Les Olson

How to Stay Safe from Cybersecurity Threats

Read our tips for reading for how to respond to rising cybersecurity threats in 2023 and beyond to keep yourself and your company safe.

Design mockup half in white and half in color of luxury house interior with open plan living room a...

Lighting Design

Lighting Design 101: Learn the Basics

These lighting design basics will help you when designing your home, so you can meet both practical and aesthetic needs.

an antler with large horns int he wilderness...

Three Bear Lodge

Yellowstone in the Fall: A Wildlife Spectacle Worth Witnessing

While most people travel to this park in the summer, late fall in Yellowstone provides a wealth of highlights to make a memorable experience.

a diverse group of students raising their hands in a classroom...

Little Orchard Preschool

6 Benefits of Preschool for Kids

Some of the benefits of preschool for kids include developing independence, curiosity, and learning more about the world.

Alta Ski Area passes 800 inches of snow for first time ever