California's Ski Season Set to Last into Summer After Unprecedented Snowfall—Is This Beneficial?

Even a climatologist couldn't have foreseen this year's record snowpack. This past winter in the western United States showcased extreme weather patterns, reminding us that global warming encompasses more than just rising temperatures.

This winter, resorts like California’s Mammoth Mountain, Heavenly, and Kirkwood, along with Utah’s Alta, Snowbird, and Brighton, received over 800 inches of snow, marking a record-breaking snowpack across numerous ski areas. Mammoth has extended its ski season through at least July, with skiing still happening at Palisades Tahoe on Independence Day, and many other resorts in the West are continuing operations for additional weeks and months.

In addition to promoting longer ski seasons that could boost the tourism economies of mountain towns, the exceptional snowpack has other benefits. After nearly two decades of drought in western Colorado and California, the melt is replenishing critically low reservoirs. California has just recorded its lowest drought level since the drought's onset, although groundwater reserves are still in recovery.

Furthermore, Ben McDonald from the Reno Tahoe tourism authority states that “the increased snow levels will provide ideal conditions for watersports in Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River.” While the added moisture might cause grass to grow longer before drying out in the summer heat—potentially increasing fire risk—the snow accumulation will postpone the wildfire season in certain regions, according to Kim Wells from the Utah Department of Natural Resources.

What’s Behind the Massive Snowfall in California?

After enduring years of drought and yearning for significant snowfall, how did the western U.S. experience such a drastic shift from dry conditions to an overwhelming snowpack? California was on track for its fourth consecutive year of drought due to a persistent high-pressure system that stalled, blocking weather patterns and limiting storm activity. However, when this system weakened, a historic series of storms swept in from the Pacific and the Gulf of Alaska, compounded by rising river levels, resulting in a generational snowpack across the Sierra Nevada.

According to California's state climatologist, Michael Anderson, who is affiliated with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, “The intense storms in January didn’t align with typical La Niña patterns and may have been influenced by sub-seasonal climate variability in combination with a weakening La Niña around Christmas.” He adds, “This year is out of the ordinary and illustrates the impacts of climate change in a warmer world, which provides more energy for storms, leading to new extremes.”

One thing is certain: the winter of 2022–2023 will be remembered. “The immense snowfall brings both challenges and excitement, but we’re anticipating the best spring conditions we’ve ever experienced,” says Lauren Burke from Mammoth Mountain.

Skiers and snowboarders are thrilled. Meanwhile, ecologists hope that the record snowfall will help mitigate wildfires after a lengthy drought. However, it’s not all smooth sailing from here.

The Downsides of Record Snowfall

In California, Utah, Oregon, and Colorado, the accumulation of up to 70 feet of snow has introduced expensive and hazardous obstacles. “While this much snow is a dream for skiers and snowboarders, it certainly brings its own set of challenges, which become increasingly difficult to manage as the snow continues to build,” states Michael Reitzell, president of Ski California.

Flooding may postpone the hiking season, and the excessive snowfall is already disrupting wildlife migration, leaving deer in Colorado and Utah struggling to find enough grass to survive.

In northwest Colorado, drivers are being warned to be on the lookout for wildlife that is now weak due to restricted access to fresh grass covered by snow, low on calories from the fall, and migrating away from deep snow in the backcountry. Elk, deer, and pronghorn are facing starvation. “We are starting to see deaths among these species in the regions where the situation is most dire,” reports John Livingston from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Utah plans to decrease hunting licenses and is initiating emergency feeding programs to combat deer losses in the northern part of the state.

Meanwhile, avalanches are prevalent. On April 6, one swept across the highway into Utah’s Snowbird Resort, obstructing access to the mountain, temporarily shutting down trails, and triggering a shelter-in-place order for guests who chose to remain. As of April 13, mountain operations were limited and the road remained closed. In California, a stretch of U.S. Route 395, connecting Mammoth and Tahoe, as well as State Route 168, was closed in March due to an avalanche, with further avalanches and warnings issued throughout the western mountain areas as temperatures begin to rise.

In the Sierra Nevada, where the Central Sierra Snow Lab at the University of California Berkeley recorded the highest snowfall since 1952 this spring, simply clearing roads, unearthing a chairlift, or creating a 40-foot snow tunnel out the front door has taken a significant toll on residents, resorts, and snow removal crews.

“Navigating through town feels like a maze; the snow is reaching the third story of many buildings, street signs are buried, and locals are shoveling snow down to their rooftops,” remarks Burke from Mammoth.

The hope is for temperatures to rise gradually this spring, which would help prevent water from rushing down the mountainside too quickly and overflowing streams, creeks, rivers, and other low-lying areas. “Our waterways are already beginning to fill up,” states Reitzell.

Conversely, if the region experiences a rapid melt with a high water content in the snowpack, flooding could severely impact aquatic wildlife, disrupt waterways relied upon by landowners, or even worse.

“Flooding can inflict serious damage on properties and infrastructure, and it can even pose a threat to lives,” warns Wells. Flash floods have the potential to carry heavy sediment, sweeping away anything in their path, especially in regions with burn scars from recent wildfires.

For those planning to visit Tahoe this summer, additional precautions are recommended, according to McDonald from Reno Tahoe. With snow blanketing the mountains and the risk of flooding potentially leading to higher and faster-moving water, the accumulation “will certainly affect the hiking and mountain biking seasons at higher elevations, and the Truckee River might not be safe [without a guide] for inexperienced kayakers and tubers until late June or early July,” he advises.