Strengthing La Nina - What does it mean for Utah snow

[berkshireskier]

I've read where meteorologists believe that the "La Nina" in the Pacific is strengthening (and may continue to strengthen). Anyone have any thoughts what this might mean for snow and temperatures in Utah and the northern Rockies this winter?

 

[Skidog]

The consensus i've heard from most meteorologists is that the La nina pattern will bring normal snowfall totals and slightly above average temps to Utah. This is good...average is like over 500inches... NOICE..

M

 

[Tony Crocker]

Sensitivity of North American ski resorts to El Nino/La Nina here: http://bestsnow.net/MEI_corr.htm . Click through to the MEI table and you will see that La Nina more than doubled its previously modest strength between JUL/AUG and AUG/SEPT. So maybe I can blame the dry weather since August 20 at Portillo/Valle Nevado on that.

Impact on Utah and Colorado (except Steamboat in the north and Brian Head in the south) is minimal.

Washington State, interior Canada and many of the U.S. Northern Rockies are favored by La Nina.

With regard to Utah, it had its 3rd lowest snowfall year last season and skiing was quite good on an absolute scale as we know here by reading admin's reports. El Nino/La Nina are total nonevents in the Wasatch.

 

[Admin]

Anyone have any thoughts what this might mean for snow and temperatures in Utah and the northern Rockies this winter?

Keep in mind that's two different questions. Technically Utah's skiing is in the Southwest. Lumping that in the same pot as Northern Rockies is akin to lumping Virginia's weather with Vermont's.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Brian Head is part of the Southwest. The Wasatch front is slightly north of the other two big western ski area clusters, Tahoe and I-70 Colorado.

Wasatch weather patterns bear no more relationship to the Southwest than they do to the Northwest. The central location seems to help in that the Wasatch usually gets something from both northern and southern storm tracks. There are rare seasons like 2003 when lots of storms have gone around instead of through the Wasatch. But in general when the Wasatch has a low snow year (like last year) you will find widespread drought with some adjoining regions (California and much of the U.S Northern Rockies last year) in even worse shape.