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Designating something as "the greatest on earth" is a pretty bold statement.
You might say that your mom makes the greatest lasagna or that you have the best dad in the world and chances are people would debate that. Most of the time, claims like that are highly subjective and are purely matters of opinion.
But when it comes to Utah claiming to have "the greatest snow on earth," it's not just a catchy tagline on a license plate or a boastful proclamation. There's actual merit to that statement. In fact, there's scientific evidence that conditions here are ideal for creating the best "flotation." According to the Utah Office of Tourism, that's when lighter snow falls on heavier snow and creates that perfect knee-deep powder that skiers kick up.
So, the next time someone argues with you about Utah having the best snow, you can present them with these facts. (Even better, take them skiing and let the evidence speak for itself.)
The Goldilocks Effect
Utah's claim to powder fame doesn't come from having the driest snow or even the most frequent snowstorms. The real reason is due to something Ski Utah refers to as "The Goldilocks Effect." That means conditions are "just right" for skiing and snowboarding. It comes down to three things: the frequency of snowstorms, the right amount of snowfall and right-side up storms.
First, Utah's storm frequency keeps the slopes nice and fresh and contributes to those perfect conditions. On average, Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons receive about one foot of snow every five days during the peak winter season.
Then there's the right amount of snowfall. Too much snow and you'll be wading in drifts up to your waist all the way down the mountainside. Too little and you risk the "dust on crust" conditions that skiers detest. Utah strikes a good balance. Ski Utah reports that the Alta resort gets about 18 storms of 10 inches or more per winter, which seems to be the perfect amount.
Finally, Utah storms are typically right-side up, meaning that the heaviest snow falls first and the lighter stuff stays on top, giving you that coveted flotation mentioned earlier.
But how and why do these conditions occur? Here's a deeper breakdown of the science.
Plate tectonics
"The greatest snow on earth" apparently got its start from events that happened nearly a billion years ago. According to Jim Davis of the Utah Geological Survey, you can sum it up in two words: plate tectonics. Essentially, when the land masses moved billions of years ago, it put Utah in the perfect location relative to the ocean. And, of course, the towering Wasatch Mountain Range helps, too.
"Tectonic plate migration has taken Utah from the equatorial latitudes and landed it squarely in the mid-latitudes," Davis said. "In this zone extratropical cyclones, weather systems some thousand miles across, pass intermittently from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, delivering blizzards."
He adds that these storms bring fresh, low-density snowflakes to the mountains every week or two in the springtime during a normal year. The higher elevations of the mountains keeps things cold enough to prolong the ski season. It's not hot enough to melt the snow, but it's not too cold that it's unbearable. Again, conditions tend to be just right.
Lake effect snow
Lake effect snow is another reason Utah snow is so unique. Davis also points out that the 1,700-square-mile lake is a product of plate tectonics. The most prominent of the Great Basin lakes, the Great Salt Lake never freezes. So, when a cold front moves through the valley, it creates snow showers that can run south, southeast and east, boosting the snowfall numbers at local resorts.
Testimonials
In case science isn't enough, testimonials from skiing professionals around the globe might provide further evidence that Utah's snow is the best. Here's what some professionals told writer Tele Tony about the state's famous powder in an article for Ski Utah.
"My lifestyle allows me to live and work anywhere in the world, and I don't have any family or historical ties that connect me to Utah," professional adventure skier and environmental activist Brody Leven says. "Yet after traveling and skiing in so many locations, I'm still choosing to live here. With the access and ease of skiing powder, it just doesn't get any better."
"Once you've skied a perfect powder day in Little Cottonwood or Big Cottonwood Canyon, it's really hard to imagine doing anything else," professional ski mountaineer Caroline Gleich says. "It's the best skiing in the world, and the snow's consistently great."
It's hard to argue with the pros.
Test it out for yourself
There you have it — scientific proof that Utah does, indeed, have the greatest snow on earth. But knowing the facts is one thing. Experiencing the thrill of carving up the fresh powder yourself is another. Hit any of the slopes along the Wasatch Front this winter and you'll see why millions of people flock to the Beehive State each year for prime skiing and snowboarding.
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