Season 18 Snow Depth Measurements: 2007 – 2024

The pattern of each winter’s snowfall accumulations and depletion is different. We know this based on our snow shoveling efforts around home. How do the Larch Hills measured snow depths in early January 2024 and early March 2024 compare with the average snow depths measured over the past 18 ski seasons? What trends can be inferred based on our measurements?

Early January 2024 measured snow depths were 47% less than the 18 seasons average at the Chalet and 35% less than the 18 season average at South Hub. Skiing to higher elevation, measured snow depths were 38% and 34% less than the 18 seasons average at Cec’s Cabin and the Summit respectively.

It was a “roller coaster ride” of January weather! From January 11 thru January 19 overnight temperatures ranged from -11C to -30C, with 4 nights below -20C. As temperatures warmed, snowfalls accumulated just in time for the January 20 Reino Keski-Salmi Loppet! A warming trend followed the day after the Loppet. A strong ice crust formed on fresh snow on Wed. morning, January 24 on the “Core Area” trails. The ice crust that morning was very challenging to ski downhill where the tracks were not set. In Salmon Arm in late January weather conditions were spring-like. Yard work in late January…,!?

Early March 2024 measured snow depths “normalized”. They were more normal than January’s measurements. Measured snow depths were still less than the 18 seasons average at all but the 1200M Cec’s Cabin elevation. February’s total precipitation in Salmon Arm was about half of January’s. The snow accumulations in the Larch Hills in February and early March made for some great ski days on the tracks with our Volunteer Track setters’ efforts and off the tracks too. Thank you!

Click to enlarge graph below.

2007 – 2024 Measured Snow Depths: Minimums, Maximums and 18 Seasons averages to April 2, 2024

  • The minimum early March snow depth measured at the Chalet were on March 4, 2010: 4 cm. Snow was trucked from Manning Park to the Vancouver North Shore mountains for the Alpine events that February for the 2010 Winter Olympics. South Hub’s minimum measured snow depth was also on March 4, 2010: 56 cm
  • The maximum early March snow depth measured at the Chalet was March 5, 2018: 106 cm. March 5, 2018 measured snow depths were also the deepest for the 2007 – 2024, 18 seasons measurement period: South Hub: 130 cm, Cec’s Cabin: 157 cm, the Larch Hills Summit: 181 cm.
  • 18 Seasons Average (2007 – 2024) early March snow depths measured at the Chalet (1000M elevation) is 58 cm. South Hub (1050M elevation) is 94 cm. Cec’s Cabin (1200M elevation) is 103 cm. The Larch Hills Summit (1400M elevation) is 126 cm.

Click to enlarge the table below then click on the magnifying lens icon to enlarge.

2007 – 2023, 18 Seasons of measured Snow Depths: Snow Accumulation and Depletion patterns each season with trend lines.

Chalet Elevation snow depths averaged 50 cm. The blue dotted trend line is flat.
The snow depth trend lines for South Hub, Cec’s Cabin and the Summit have all increasing slightly over the past 18 seasons.

Click to enlarge graph below.
January 2018 – west view from Summit Hill toward Bastion Cliffs
January 2018 – near Larch Hills 1400M Summit, north view toward Anstey Range with east arm of Shuswap Lake covered in cloud

Reports:

Contacts:

If you have questions or would like to participate in one of four Winter 2024 / 2025 snow depths measurements skis to the Summit or part way please contact George at 250-832-9335 or Keith at 250-832-7768. Skiing time to the Summit and back to the Parking Lot including measurements, breaks and lunch at the Summit is about 4.5 to 5 hours, depending on snow conditions.

Snow Gnome sighting along south Willow Switch – Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

March 1, 2024: Snow Depth Measurement Skiers taking a break on the way to the 1400M Summit snow stations.