This study involves first using a large snowfall dataset to evaluate various aspects of the SLR climatology at a mountain location. The Collins (CLN) site at Alta Ski Resort in Utah's central Wasatch Mountains provides an ideal study location, owing to a 26-year record of snowfall and liquid equivalent compiled by snow safety professionals. Temperature at crest level and observed liquid equivalent together are found to explain 57 percent of the variance in SLR. Several cases are then given a closer examination through analysis of synoptic and mesoscale features, thermodynamic profiles and radar images in order to diagnose factors responsible for the wide variations in observed SLR. The goal of this study is to develop SLR forecasting methodology for the central Wasatch, which could potentially be applied to other areas of the Rocky Mountains.
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