SnowBrains Forecast: British Columbia, Northern Washington on Tap for Major Snow This Weekend SnowBrains Forecast by Clay Malott 10:00 p.m. MST – November 5th 2021 Summary: This weekend, a major winter system will push into Washington and British Columbia, delivering major snow totals to elevations above 3,000 feet. Localized maximum totals could climb up to as high as 60″ on the upper peaks by Monday morning, but snow accumulations closer to 30-40″ are likely on most […] Weather Clay Malott | November 5, 2021 0 Comments
Brain Post: What is Lake Effect Snowfall? Two ingredients are necessary for snow: moisture and lift. Vertical lift cools the air, condensing the moisture and forming precipitation. Moisture provides that necessary moisture for snow or rain. A special phenomenon known as lake effect provides abundant amounts of both necessary ingredients, leading to huge snow events. Lake effect revolves around the critical concept of specific thermal capacity, essentially how […] Brains Clay Malott | November 3, 2021 0 Comments
Brain Post: What is the Snow Liquid Ratio? Skiing is a wonderful activity that wouldn’t be possible without snow. To put it simply, snow is very complex. It can do all sorts of things once it has hit the ground: turn into different shapes, gain and lose stability, and more. Something that comes up a lot when talking about snow before and while it’s falling is the snow liquid ratio (SLR). Snow […] Brains Clay Malott | November 3, 2021 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Halloween Storm for Colorado, 4-6″ For Northern Resorts, 10-12″ Above 14,000-Feet | Stormier Pattern on the Way Summary Two small troughs are forecasted to bring stormy conditions and moderate snowfall to Colorado this week before a stormier pattern sets up going into next week. Accumulations should be between 4-6″ at most elevations above 8,000 feet in the northern region of the state. Localized totals of up to 10-12″ are possible above 14,000 feet. Sunday-Monday The first storm will […] Weather Clay Malott | October 29, 2021 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Massive Snow Totals Forecasted for California This Weekend, 30-40″ of Snow Likely in Lake Tahoe Area Forecast Summary: A moisture-rich atmospheric river event associated with a powerful mid-latitude cyclone is forecasted to bring significant precipitation to California this weekend. Most of Northern California will see rainfall totals between 3-12″ with the possibility of upwards of 60-70″ of snow in the High Sierra. Friday-Saturday: A preliminary band of moisture pushed through Northern California Thursday evening and Friday morning, dropping […] Weather Clay Malott | October 22, 2021 8 Comments
What is a Bomb Cyclone? This week, the term “bomb cyclone” has dominated the front pages of the weather world. With two powerful bomb cyclones hitting the Western US in quick succession this weekend, let’s take a look at what the term “bomb cyclone” actually means. “Cyclogenesis” describes the process of storm formation and intensification. Cyclogenesis leads to decreasing pressure and higher wind speeds, leading to […] Weather Clay Malott | October 22, 2021 0 Comments
Ensemble vs Deterministic Forecasts: What’s the Difference? One of the most frustrating aspects of skiing can be the weather forecast. Your favorite weather app forecasts 12″ overnight, and you wake up the next morning, excited for a great day of powder skiing. However, much to your dismay, only 3″ has fallen! So, what went wrong? Weather models take inputs from satellites, weather stations, and other forms of meteorological […] Weather Clay Malott | October 20, 2021 0 Comments
Brain Post: When is the Most Dangerous Time of Year for Avalanches? Avalanches are typically at the forefront of any backcountry skier’s mind when it comes to backcountry skiing. After all, they can be the difference between life and death in the mountains. However, some times of the year can be more dangerous than others. Snowpack stability fluctuates throughout the season in reaction to weather events, so any snowpack could theoretically be dangerous […] Brains Clay Malott | October 18, 2021 0 Comments
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