With Tuesday’s storm, Solitude now has 519 inches of snow for the 2022/23 season. That’s a lot. Not just because it’s more than 40 feet, it’s also more than Solitude’s annual average (and last time I checked, it’s still only February). Utah ski resorts often have some of the most snow in the country. It’s no secret that Big Cottonwood Canyon is one of the snowiest regions in the state of Utah. Solitude skiers and riders have high standards when it comes to snowfall, so how does all this snow stack up to past seasons?
Solitude has had some major winters, but this is still just the second time in the last twenty years that they’ve received 500+ inches before the beginning of March.
Why all this snow matters for Utah ski resorts
Ultra-deep pow days and free refills haven’t been the only perks that come with all this snow. More snow at Utah ski resorts means more terrain, open sooner. Thanks to heavy snow and ski patrol’s hard work, we were dropping into Honeycomb Canyon the day after Thanksgiving. Expert skiers and riders have had their pick of big mountain terrain at Solitude all winter long.
How did we get here?
We kicked the winter off with an exceptionally active preseason weather pattern that dropped 92 inches of snow. This led to our earliest opening day since 2013. Since October, it feels like this season has been non-stop pow days and we’re certainly not complaining. Aside from a lull at the beginning of February, we’ve seen consistent snowfall all winter long. We saw our heaviest 24-hour snowfall on February 22 with 28 inches of snow followed by a series of storms that pushed Solitude over the 500-inch mark.
How good will spring snow conditions at Utah ski resorts be?
After near-record snowfall, skiers and riders can expect this season to last well into the month of May. Live music and on-hill events are spring staples at Solitude, but this season the good times will be paired with great conditions. Coverage should be great across the mountain whether you’re here for groomers, bumps, corn snow, or just a goggle tan.
Current Snow Totals
Utah Open Snow Forecast
Solitude Mountain Resort Blog