Snow conditions in the Rocky Mountains vary considerably throughout the winter months. At the beginning of the season, November through to early January, the amount of snow coverage tends to be fairly thin. By late March and April, seasonal changes lead to warmer and longer days, changing the snow conditions. These changes are most affected by the melting, refreezing and expanding of snow that occurs most days from mid-April until mid-July when the snowpack is melted. This can lead to icy or slushy conditions, and a greater avalanche risk.
The snow in the forecast is not the only snow condition to be taken into consideration. The snowpack plays a role, and according to the Forest Service National Avalanche Center, is composed of "a series of different layers stacked on top of each other. These layers are formed by precipitation, varying temperatures, and wind events that occur throughout the winter." A weak snowpack, which can often occur later in the season after periods of freezing and melting, can pose a significant avalanche risk. Bulletins are issued by various authorities to warn of potential danger, such as the Canadian Avalanche Centre and the Forest Service National Avalanche Center.
The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3,000 miles across North America. With such a huge amount of area covered, it stands to reason that there are variations in snow conditions. There are also variations between the west and east sides of the mountains. Storms moving across the mountains hit the west side first, creating the deepest accumulation of snow on that side. In contrast, the east side is often left relatively dry with patchy snow cover.
Snow conditions and weather reports are accessible via the Internet for regions throughout the Rocky Mountains. Onthesnow.com and Snow-forecast.com offer snow reports based on resort name and location. Ski and snow reports, including information about snow base, recent accumulation and forecasts are available from the websites of most major ski resorts, and offer localized information. Tourist information centers, available in most towns and at the entrances of national parks, also provide forecast and snow condition reports. Avalanche risks and bulletins are available at most tourist information centers, as well as online.
