logo
This Utah resort just exceeded 500 inches of snow for the year

This Utah resort just exceeded 500 inches of snow for the year

Yahoo02-04-2025

The past couple days of heavy snowfall in Little Cottonwood Canyon pushed Alta Ski Area over the 500-inch mark for the season just before Utah resorts begin to wind down for the year.
As of Wednesday, Alta, renowned for its deep powder skiing, had 505 inches of snow for the 2024-25 season, joining a handful of North American resorts that have reached that benchmark this year. The total, though, is still short of its average of 547 inches annually.
Snowbird, also in Little Cottonwood Canyon, isn't far behind at 493 inches to date, according to data compiled by Ski Utah.
Alta picked up 22 inches in the past two days, while Snowbird reported 20 inches.
The Big Cottonwood Canyon resorts, Brighton and Solitude, total 378 inches and 377 inches, respectively, for the season. All other Utah resorts are under 300 inches as of Wednesday.
Alta and Snowbird rank among the snowiest resorts in North America so far this season. Others include:
Alyeska Resort, Alaska, 597 inches
Mt. Baker Ski Area, Washington, 551 inches (as of March 24)
Timberline Lodge, Oregon, 502 inches
Mt. Hood Meadows, 452 inches
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, 442 inches
Skiers and snowboarders have enjoyed some spring powder days but more could be on the way before the lifts stop spinning for the season over the next few weeks. Here are the closing dates for Utah resorts, per Ski Utah:
Alta — April 20
Beaver Mountain — April 6
Brian Head — May 4
Brighton — May 18
Cherry Peak — closed
Deer Valley Resort — April 20
Eagle Point — April 6
Nordic Valley — closed
Park City Mountain — April 21
Powder Mountain —TBA
Snowbasin — TBA
Snowbird — May 26
Solitude — May 11
Sundance — April 6
Woodward Park City — TBA

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

This Is Going To Be A Buckwild Hurricane Season
This Is Going To Be A Buckwild Hurricane Season

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

This Is Going To Be A Buckwild Hurricane Season

Heading into the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, National Weather Service forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting 'above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.' The season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, is estimated to dish out between 13 and 19 total named storms, with six expected to be hurricanes and three to five of those to be major (category 3 or higher) hurricanes with winds exceeding 111 mph. For the record, NOAA is more often right than wrong, with 70 percent confidence. 'NOAA and the National Weather Service are using the most advanced weather models and cutting-edge hurricane tracking systems to provide Americans with real-time storm forecasts and warnings,' the Administration's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is quoted saying in a late-May press release. 'With these models and forecasting tools, we have never been more prepared for hurricane season,' Lutnick posited. In some sense, that is certainly true. These days, NOAA is equipped to provide a staggering 6.3 billion observations each day, according to WPLG (ABC Miami) hurricane specialist and storm-surge expert Michael Lowry. Despite all the technology and preparation, NOAA's recently (and severely) shortened staff isn't exactly running at full bore, and 24/7 operations are reportedly becoming untenable at many local stations. A recent New York Times op-ed penned by Lowry, titled 'A Hurricane Season Like No Other,' paints a picture of the agency as a husk of its former, pre-DOGE termination of some 800 roles. 'NOAA put out a mayday on May 13 asking remaining staff members to temporarily vacate their posts to salvage what was left of the nation's critical warning network,' Lowry writes. 'Nearly half of local forecast offices are critically understaffed, with a vacancy rate of 20 percent or higher, and several are going dark for part of the day, increasing the risk of weather going undetected and people going unprotected and unwarned,' he adds, citing staff reshuffling as a symptom of the agency's of existential throes. While this all might be, like, a total bummer for our up-to-the-minute surf forecasts this season, it could also be downright deadly for those of us living seaside and in hurricanes' paths. Weather balloons, which, even with the advent of satellites have remained a primary source of hurricane data collection for more than 60 years, are running at reduced rates. Typically launched twice daily from 100 North American, Caribbean, and Pacific sites, 'weather balloons have been shown to markedly improve forecast accuracy, so much so that twice-daily launches are commonly supplemented with up to four launches a day ahead of major hurricane threats,' according to Lowry. They also critically inform 'time-sensitive decisions like evacuation orders.' Meanwhile, nationwide, balloon launches are down between 15 and 20 percent nationwide as we face what will likely be an especially active hurricane season. In some places, skeleton-crew staff at the National Weather Service are so preoccupied with other priorities that weather-balloon flights are suspended altogether. During hurricane private equity toys with the idea of turning public services like weather forecasting into cash cows, it's reported that the National Weather Service—which our tax dollars are still supposedly funding—costs the average American $4 per year. What's your peace of mind worth? Hell, at base level: What's a half-decent, subscription-free surf report worth? When there is no hint of a blueprint, no modicum of a foundation for an alternative weather-forecasting system, administration, and/or agency, is hastily scrapping the one that's in place—and which our very livelihood and lives, let alone recreation depend upon—in anyone's best interest? Could the private sector drum up a service to supplement or perhaps even supplant NOAA and the National Weather Service while doing it better and cheaper, as Project 2025 and its proponents propose? In a perfect world, why not? But then, 'If the private sector could have done it better and cheaper, it would have,' summates Lowry, and the fact of the matter remains: 'it hasn't.' How long do we want to wait? And how long could we have to wait for a reimagined weather service? The first one only took 155 years. Don't hold your breath, though it might not hurt to keep an eye on the Is Going To Be A Buckwild Hurricane Season first appeared on Surfer on Jun 7, 2025

What Utah ski resort had the most snow this past winter?
What Utah ski resort had the most snow this past winter?

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

What Utah ski resort had the most snow this past winter?

While past winter wasn't a banner year for snow in Utah overall, some ski areas put up solid, even impressive totals for the season. And while the state's 15 resorts closed earlier this spring, three places in North America — all in the West — remain open for at least another week. Utah resorts are now gearing up for summer activities like mountain biking and hiking. Preliminary data from the National Ski Areas Association released in May showed that the 2024-25 season marked the second-highest visitation on record at U.S. ski areas, with a total of 61.5 million skier visits, a 1.7% increase over the previous season. A skier visit is counted each time a person uses a lift ticket or pass at a ski area. Ski resorts in the Rocky Mountain states accounted for nearly 43% of all skier days nationwide during the 2024-25 season, which turned out to be nearly the biggest year ever. The data was preliminary because some areas are still open. Several resorts were close to if not above their average annual snowfall. As usual, the resorts in Little and Big Cottonwood canyons picked up the most snow among Utah resorts during the past season. (Snow totals are per Ski Utah.) Snowbird led the way with 542 inches, one of two resorts in the state to exceed 500 inches this year. 'It has been one heck of a season filled with powdery bliss, slush season frenzy and plenty of shredding to go around. The stoke was high, sometimes the vis was low, but it just meant we were getting dumped on. Where else would you want to be?' reads Snowbird's season-ending posting. Neighboring Alta Ski Area in Little Cottonwood Canyon checked in just behind Snowbird with 538 inches. In Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton Resort had 578 inches, while Solitude ended with 420 inches. With an early opening last November, Solitude totaled 183 days of operation, the most in the state. 'We've melted out! We promised to keep you skiing and riding as long and possible — and we did! We kept our lifts spinning deep into May, but Mother Nature has decided it's time to end the #LongestSeasonInUtah," according to the resort. On the Wasatch Back, Park City Mountain ended the season with 306 inches, while Deer Valley closed with 265 inches. Despite a down snow year — 169 inches total — Brian Head in southern Utah managed to pull off the longest season in its 60-year history with 181 ski days. 'Thanks to our dedicated team, an early opening in November and strategic investments in snowmaking, we've delivered our longest season yet — all while keeping skiing affordable for everyone,' Amber Palmer, Brian Head marketing manager, said in a press release. Here are totals for the other ski areas in the state, per Ski Utah. Beaver Mountain — 242 inches Cherry Peak — 186 inches Eagle Point — 190 inches Nordic Valley — 90 inches Powder Mountain — 253 inches Snowbasin — 276 inches Sundance — 213 inches Woodward Park City — 160 inches Even though Utah resorts are closed for the year, some lifts are still spinning at Mammoth Mountain in California, Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and Timberline Lodge in Oregon, per OnTheSnow.

When is the next full moon? The June Strawberry Moon is special. Here's why, what it is
When is the next full moon? The June Strawberry Moon is special. Here's why, what it is

Yahoo

time7 days ago

  • Yahoo

When is the next full moon? The June Strawberry Moon is special. Here's why, what it is

June's full moon is next week and it will bring a special sight in the sky. We're in the middle of a major lunar standstill, meaning June's full moon will be at its lowest point since 2006. And it won't happen again until 2043. June's full moon, called the Strawberry Moon, will also be the first full moon of the summer. And because of how low the full moon will be positioned, it will appear larger than normal and may even appear to have a golden or orange tint. Here's when the June Strawberry Moon is, why it's called that and why this month's full moon will be special for the Northern Hemisphere. The next full moon will be on Wednesday, June 11, and is called the Strawberry Moon. The full moon will reach its peak at 3:44 a.m. ET on June 11. Don't miss June's full moon! Best Florida viewing of rare 'Major lunar standstill' The June full moon is called the Strawberry Moon because it's tied to wild strawberry harvesting, which is a spring food staple to the Native tribes in North America. 'The June full Moon got the name 'Strawberry Moon' from a number of North American native tribes, since the wild strawberry reaches peak ripeness and is ready for harvesting in June,' The Almanac says. 'Because of the importance of the wild strawberry as a spring food staple, the name 'Strawberry Moon' was given to the June full Moon by the Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota, Lakota, Chippewa, Oneida and Sioux tribes… Several tribes use other berry-related names for the June full Moon, depending on which berries are most prominent in their homelands.' Here are some other names for the June full moon, according to the Farmers' Almanac: Blackberry Moon, used by The Creek of the southeastern United States Raspberry Moon, used by The Shawnee of Ohio and Pennsylvania Berries Ripen Moon, used by The Haida tribe of Alaska Windy Moon, used by The Choctaw of the southern Great Plains Honey Moon or Mead Moon, from Anglo-Saxon traditions Rose Moon, used in much of Europe Lotus Moon, used in China In 2024, to honor the first white buffalo calf being born in Yellowstone National Park, Farmers' Almanac named June's full Moon the 'White Buffalo Moon.' June's full moon will be special. It will be the lowest full moon since 2006 and the last until 2043. And it may also appear golden or orangey in color, due to how low it will sit on the horizon. "In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be the lowest full moon seen until 2043, staying unusually close to the horizon " according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Look for the full moon at 3:44 a.m. ET June 11, about 22 degrees above the southern horizon." The last time the full moon was this low was 18.6 years ago, according to in what's known as a major lunar standstill. It won't happen again until 2043. This full moon may even appear golden, orange, or even reddish. Because June's full moon will sit so low on the horizon, pollutants in the air could make it look golden or orangey, which often happens while the moon is rising. If you've ever spotted an orange or yellow-ish moon high in the sky on a night that there isn't a lunar eclipse, it's due to pollutants in the atmosphere — like dust, or smoke from wildfires or brush fires. The particles of pollutants scatter light and can make the moon look yellow-ish, orange or even red sometimes. The moon most often appears red, yellow or orange when it's rising or setting, which is more common than seeing a discolored risen moon high in the sky. 'Atmospheric particles tend to scatter shorter wavelengths of light more than longer wavelengths. Orange and red light, which have longer wavelengths, tend to pass through the atmosphere, while shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue, get scattered,' Wonderopolis says. 'That's why the Moon — and the Sun! — look orange or red when they're rising or setting. At those times, they're low in the sky close to the horizon and their light must travel through the maximum amount of atmosphere to reach your eyes.' June's full moon is the closest full moon to the summer solstice, which falls on June 21 this year. The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Why is the moon orange? The 2025 blood moon passed in March. What to know Every year in June, the summer solstice marks the exact time when the sun reaches it northernmost point in the sky, according to EarthSky. In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice marks the shortest night and longest day of the year. The summer solstice occurs at 10:41 p.m. ET on Friday, June 20 this year. According to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, 'Every 18.6 years, our moon reaches the extremes of its orbit around the earth… The moon rises and sets at its most northerly and southerly positions on the horizon." This is called a major lunar standstill. We entered the current major lunar standstill six months ago, in December. Major lunar standstills are possible because the moon and sun don't follow the same path across our horizon. And the moon's orbit around the earth wobbles. The imperfectness of the moon's orbit around earth means that it gradually rises and sets at different points across the horizon over the 18.6-year-period between Major Lunar Standstills. In simpler terms: It takes just over 18-and-a-half years for the moon to wobble from south, to north and back. During the December full moon, known as the Cold Moon, the moon officially reached its northernmost position, where it will stay positioned for about two years – that's where the 'standstill' part of the name comes from. But that doesn't mean it will appear at the same place in the sky every night for two years, because the moon still goes through its phases. 'While this back and forth travel on the horizons occurs, we still observe the moon going through its familiar phases. That means each day the moon rises and sets in a slightly different phase and just less than an hour later in time,' The Griffith Observatory says. 'This can make observing the major lunar standstill challenging. The best standstill viewing is when the moon is full.' To see the June Strawberry Moon from Florida, look toward the southern horizon at 3:44 a.m. ET on Wednesday, June 11. Can't pull yourself out of bed? You can see it later, but that's the time it will reach its peak. Although a full moon only stays truly full for a moment, it still appears full to the naked eye for a few days. 'The moon appears full to the eye for two to three nights,' according to EarthSky. 'However, astronomers regard the moon as full at a precisely defined instant, when the moon is exactly 180 degrees opposite the sun in ecliptic longitude.' Make sure you have a clear view since June's full moon will only be positioned about 22 degrees above the horizon. There are 12 full moons each year, one in every month. Each month's full moon has a nickname or a variety of nicknames. Including the Strawberry Moon in June, there are seven full moons left in 2025. Here's a list of 2025's full moon dates: January 13: Wolf Moon February 12: Snow Moon March 14: Worm Moon April 12: Pink Moon May 12: Flower Moon June 11: Strawberry Moon July 10: Buck Moon August 9: Sturgeon Moon September 7: Corn Moon October 6: Harvest Moon November 5: Beaver Moon December 4: Cold Moon This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Full moon in June 2025 will be Strawberry Moon. Why it's special

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store