Alta Ski Area saw an average of 5.3 inches of snow per day.
February 2024 has been wet and wild as the Collins Study Plot has received 154.5 inches of snow from 14.16 inches of water. In fact, this February will go down in the books as the wettest and third-snowiest February in the 43-year history of the Collins Study Plot.
For the month, Alta Ski Area saw an average of 5.3 inches of snow per day. This snowy February is a continuation of a snowy start to 2024.
Since January 1st, Alta Ski Area has averaged 4.9 inches of snowfall per day.
This month delivered some of the best ski days of the season, providing wall-to-wall skiing between storms. Simply put: if you can see it, you can ski it.
February 2024 | 154.5 inches of snow
On the heels of a Not So Dry January, seven feet of snow fell in the first 10 days of the new month, ushering in one of the best stretches of powder skiing this season.
February 7th: Georgie Knox comes up for air in Westward Ho | Photo: Chloe Jimenez
February 9th: Todd Ligare tries to find the bottom after seven feet of snow fell in 10 days | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Once the snow stopped, blue skies rolled in and our crews went to work opening terrain. On Sunday, February 11th, Alta Ski Area opened Devil's Castle and the Apron Booter. On Tuesday, February 13th, Alta Ski Patrol opened Mount Baldy and East Castle—our first wall-to-wall opening of the season.
February 11th: A bluebird Super Bowl Sunday in Devil's Castle | Photo: Photo-John
By Valentine’s Day, Alta had received 88 inches of snow in the first two weeks of the month. Alta skiers were loving all of the new snow on the slopes and the wintry outlook in the end-of-the-month forecast.
February 14th: The McLoughlin sisters love the new snow | Photo: Chloe Jimenez
On February 16th, Alta's season-to-date snowfall at the Collins Study Plot surpassed the 400-inch mark for the season following a series of graupel-dropping storms.
Graupel behaves as little ball bearings that roll around with the wind, constantly filling in skier tracks between laps—free refills were in effect.
February 16th: Graupel girl Syd Ricketts enjoys the free refills | Photo: Chloe Jimenez
The powder snow and graupel kept falling as over 30 inches of snow fell during Presidents’ Week. The graupel smoothed out the terrain before a colder storm dropped a few inches of stellar dendrites on top. Just in time for the weekend, the skies cleared, Alta Ski Patrol opened Mount Baldy and East Castle and Alta Ski Area was open wall-to-wall for the second time this season. It was a weekend filled to the brim with bluebird rope drops and powder turns.
February 22nd: Spaniard Abel Moga gets a taste of Alta Magic between Freeride World Tour stops | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
February 24th: Wall-to-wall skiing on Mount Baldy | Photo: Photo-John
As we approached the final week of February, a hard-hitting cold winter storm delivered the final foot of snow for the month. It was a cold, windy day that had even the hardiest Alta skiers seeking refills of hot cocoa between laps. The sun eventually broke through, providing a couple of days of bluebird powder skiing to end a wet and wild month.
February 27th: Mac Conolly savoring the last drop of the month | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
February 28th: Abby Stanislaw refills her cup | Photo: Chris Pearson
Alta Ski Area received 154.5 inches of snow for the month—173% of Alta's 43-year average February snowfall (89.28"). The 14.16 inches of water recorded at the Collins Study Plot doubled (205%) the 43-year average for February (6.89").
To view the entire collection of images from this season, check out Alta's Photo of the Day gallery.
February 2024 Fun Facts
- Wettest February in the 43-year history of the Collins Study Plot
- Ninth-wettest single month in the 43-year history of the Collins Study Plot
- Third-snowiest February on record
Wettest Februarys since 1981
- 2023–24: 14.16”
- 2018–19: 12.36”
- 2016–17: 10.96”
- 1997–98: 10.78”
- 2020–21: 10.75”
Wettest Months since 1980–81
- December 1983: 19.18”
- December 1981: 17.53”
- March 2023: 17.20”
- March 1998: 15.14”
- January 2008: 15.43”
- October 2004: 14.85”
- December 2010: 14.82”
- April 2011: 14.19”
- February 2024: 14.16”
- January 1996: 14.09”
Snowiest Februarys since 1981
- 1997–98: 165.5”
- 2020–21: 162.5”
- 2023–24: 154.5”
- 2018–19: 131.0”
- 2003–04: 130.0”
Due to warmer storms and higher-density snowfall, the wettest February corresponded to the third-snowiest February in the past 43 years, eight inches shy of the snowfall record for the month.
State of the Snowpack
Alta Ski Area has received 449 inches of season-to-date snowfall—the most snowfall in the lower 48 states. Through February 28th, our season-to-date snowfall is 121% of average (372"). Our season-to-date water clocks in at 41.62 inches—135% of average (30.93").
Due to the density of snowfall this season (9.27%) relative to the 43-year average (8.31%), the current settled snow depth of 145 inches is keeping pace with the base depth from last season’s 903-inch winter (7.76% density).
We don’t expect that trend to keep pace as March 2023 saw 229 inches of snow and 17.2 inches of water, the snowiest single month on record.
2023–24 SNOWFALL BY-THE-NUMBERS
Season-to-date snowfall from October through February 28th compared to the past 10 seasons:
- 2013–14: 293” | Season total: 432”
- 2014–15: 231.5” | Season total: 323.5”
- 2015–16: 305” | Season total: 438.5”
- 2016–17: 437” | Season total: 596.5”
- 2017–18: 226” | Season total: 388”
- 2018–19: 403” | Season total: 626”
- 2019–20: 421.5” | Season total: 542”
- 2020–21: 363” | Season total: 486.5”
- 2021–22: 287.5” | Season total: 445.5”
- 2022–23: 582” | Season total: 903”
- 2023–24: 449” | Season total: ???
10-Year Averages
- 10-year average snowfall through February 28th: 355 inches
- 10-year average seasonal snowfall: 518 inches
- 10-year average rest-of-season snowfall: 163 inches
43-Year Averages
- 43-year average snowfall through February 28th: 372 inches
- 43-year average seasonal snowfall: 546 inches
- 43-year average rest-of-season snowfall: 174 inches
Our season-to-date snowfall currently sits at 449 inches, meaning we need less than 100 inches of snow over the next two months to reach our 43-year average seasonal snowfall of 546 inches. Comparing the 2023–24 season to recent years, this winter is off to the second-snowiest start in the past decade—trailing only last season's record-shattering 903-inch season (582").
Spring Ahead
Aside from a four-week dry spell in December, we’ve seen weekly storms all season long. As we head into spring, we don’t see any signs of the snow letting up.
The phrase “spring skiing” conjures visions of slush bumps, hot dogs, neon, jorts, glitter and goggle tans, but spring at Alta typically just means more snow, with a little bit more sun.
In fact, March is historically the snowiest month at Alta Ski Area. Over the past 43 years, we’ve seen an average of 96.76 inches of snow from 7.63 inches of water. April also delivers the goods, as we’ve averaged 77.05 inches of snow over the past 43 years from 6.82 inches of water.
Average spring snowfall would put our seasonal snowfall around 620 inches from 55.45 inches of water—well short of last season's 903-inch mark, but a very snowy season nonetheless.
Spring Events
As we enter the spring, Alta comes to life with events. Stay tuned to the Alta Events Calendar and Alta Community Enrichment (ACE) for opportunities to partake in on-hill and off-the-hill shenanigans.
- Fridays in March & April | Ski With A Ranger
- March 2nd | World Telemark Day
- March 7th, 21st & April 4th | Trees & Skis
- March 8th | International Women's Day
- March 9th | SheJumps presents Get the Girls Out
- March 14th & 28th | Birding On Skis
- March 15th | Snowshoe With A Naturalist
- March 25th–31st | ACE Snowflake Festival
- April 13th | Alta Earth Day (event page coming soon)
- April 21st | Closing Day of the 2023–24 Season
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