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   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   December 11, 2022 - Snow in the Western United States   
      
      Snow   
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      Snow continued to create a wintery scene across much of the Western   
      United States through early December 2022. On December 8, the National   
      Weather Service National Snow Analysis maps showed more than 40 inches   
      of snow had already accumulated across most of the high ranges of the   
      Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and Cascades. The Utah Avalanche Center   
      reported 50 avalanches in the state from December 1 through December   
      10, with 40 of those occurring before December 10. Many of the reported   
      avalanches were located in the Wasatch Mountains southeast of Salt Lake   
      City and near Park City. Across most of the Utah mountains, avalanche   
      risk remained “Considerable” on December 10. According to local news   
      media, as of December 8 the Utah statewide snowpack contained 4.6   
      inches of water, which was 157% of normal for this point in the season,   
      and the current snowpack was nearly six times higher than the same time   
      in the previous year.   
      
      On December 8, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer   
      (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a false-color image of   
      snow and cloud in in the Western United States. This type of   
      false-color image helps separate snow from cloud. Both appear white in   
      true-color images, but here snow looks electric blue while cloud   
      remains white. In addition, vegetation looks green, open land is tan or   
      brown, and water is deep blue.   
      
      The Great Salt Lake, Utah is located near the center of this image.   
      Starting from the north and moving clockwise around Utah, other states   
      seen in this image include Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New   
      Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon. Snow is widespread in   
      most of the mountain ranges, but patches of snow also sit in lower   
      elevations, particularly in Colorado. Cloud, possibly bringing   
      additional snow, is also widespread.   
      
      Another major snowstorm is expected to begin in the Western United   
      States and roll eastward from December 11 through 13. According to the   
      National Weather Service, the storm will start across the Pacific   
      Northwest, Northern Rockies, Great Basin, and California, with snowfall   
      totals through the weekend generally ranging between 12-24 inches,   
      locally higher, for higher elevations in the mountains. The heaviest   
      snowfall is expected for the Sierra Nevada. Extreme snowfall could   
      occur in the Sierra and northern California, including snowfall rates   
      of three inches per hour. Some forecasts are predicting more than five   
      feet of snow in parts of the Sierra Nevada by December 11 before the   
      storm pushes eastward.   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Terra   
      Date Acquired: 12/8/2022   
      Resolutions:  1km (590.7 KB),  500m (827.5 KB),  250m (6.7 MB)   
      Bands Used: 7,2,1   
      Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC   
      
      
      
   https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2022-12-11   
       
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