Where’s the snow?

Even though the parking lots of Bridger Bowl remain full, the ski area is experiencing an uncharacteristically low amount of snowfall.

 As of press time there are 40 inches of settled snow at the alpine chairlift weather station. Compared to recent history, that is very little snow. On Feb. 2, 2020, the same weather station reported 63 inches, and in 2019 it read 59 inches.

 There has been a concerning trend of Montana mountain ranges getting less snow as the years go on. According to its website, Bridger Bowl receives an average of 300 inches a season. However, according to onthesnow.com, the last time Bridger had a 300+ inch snowfall was the 2012-13 season. The average snowfall in the past nine years (not including this season) is roughly 222 inches.

Where Bozeman is located, we are very prone to droughts because we are in a semi-arid climate. On average, Bozeman receives 16 inches of precipitation annually and because the climate is warming, more of that precipitation will fall as rain. This will have a negative impact on the snowpack in the mountains around Bozeman because less snow will fall to replenish what was melted during the warmer months in a given year. According to the Montana Climate Assessment, Montana is very likely to experience reduced winter snowpack in the coming century. This has ramifications for more than just skiers and snowboarders, rather but for everyone in the Gallatin Valley as city and county officials tackle a potential water shortage crisis. 

Before you regret buying your Bridger pass, Big Sky doesn’t have much better conditions. The bottom of the Headwaters lift only has a base of 42 inches, and at Andesite Mountain, there are only 22 inches.

 With less snow, the avalanche danger also decreases. According to the Gallatin Valley Forest Avalanche Center, “The snowpack is generally stable and avalanches are unlikely” in the Bridger, Gallatin and Madison Mountain ranges. They remind us that “unlikely does not mean impossible.” Still, if you’re looking to skip the lines and are tired of fighting for parking spaces, try alpine touring. There still might not be that much snow, but none of it will be skied out.

 Remember, avalanche danger can change quickly. As of press time, the primary problem is wind-drifted snow. If you choose to explore avalanche terrain, travel with someone who knows what they are doing. Always carry proper avalanche rescue gear and check the most current avalanche forecasts, which you can find athttps://www.mtavalanche.com/forecast.

 Despite the conditions so far, there is still hope for plentiful snow in February. Last year, Bridger started February with a 35-inch base, much like this season. However, at the end of February, it had a 71-inch base. This means Bridger Bowl gained 36 inches of settled snow in February alone.

According to Climate.gov, “La Niña shifts the Pacific jet stream, the fast-moving river of air that steers storms across North America.” The Jet stream pushes cold, wet weather south from the Gulf of Alaska. La Niña weather patterns are predicted to drop temperatures and increase precipitation in Montana. A perfect combination for a February full of powder days.