Ups and downs of Utah winters
Two words that every student along the Wasatch Front yearns to hear: “Snow Day!”
However, in the past several years, Utah seems to be receiving less and less snow.
How do you figure? About 10 years ago, my family and I used to build igloos in our front yard during the winter. This took lots of hard work — and snow — but it was very fun. One year, we built two igloos right next to each other.
Recently, I was thinking about making these igloos and I realized that it has been a long time since I’ve made one. For a minute, I thought, “It’s just because I don’t have any time to make one.” But then I realized it is because we have not been getting enough snow!
I remember when I was younger, I would spend hours playing in the snow: we would climb snowbanks, go sledding, and, of course, play in our igloos. But all of that seems to be changing and it started me wondering about our state’s snow trends.
In Northern Utah, we are lucky to have the Great Salt Lake so close by. The lake is unique because it has a very high salt content. In addition, it helps us get more snow. You could call it, “The Greatest Snow on Earth!”
The “lake effect” is what gives us very nice, dense snow. When a cold breeze blows in, it will cross over the warmer waters of the Great Salt Lake. The air will then mix together and create what is known as a convergence zone. The high salt content in the lake keeps the water from freezing, which then helps the water form clouds.
The clouds get heavier and heavier, until they can’t contain all that moisture, and then the snow will begin to fall in communities near and around the lake.
Sadly, the Great Salt Lake is shrinking, which reduces the snow that we receive in the Wasatch Front area. Why is our lake shrinking? Is it because of natural or human causes?
Many have chalked it up to a couple of main suspects: increased demand by humans for drinking water and irrigation water. According to a study done by Utah State University in Logan, the Great Salt Lake has reduced 48 percent in size since the Utah pioneers arrived in 1847. This means the shoreline has receded by 11 feet!
As a result, less snowfall created by the lake means our reservoirs aren’t quite as full and I haven’t built an igloo since I was in elementary school.
While this environmental change may seem dire, there is still the possibility for change. During February, for example, we have experienced large amounts of snowfall. Several schools in the state even had their first “Snow Days” in 20 years!
The recent storms have also been very beneficial for the ski resorts and all of us living down in the valley. In the valley, we now have beautifully clean air, and in the mountains, the resorts have solid base layers of snow. As of Feb. 21, Alta ski resort had a base of 132 inches, Brighton had a base of 116 inches, Snowbird had 132 inches and Solitude had a 105-inch base.
While the recent decline of snow over the years has been a little alarming, we can always hope that it will improve — and that future winters will bring more chances for igloo building.
Sara Tesch is a senior at Roy High School. She enjoys playing tennis, traveling and chasing down the perfect photograph. Contact her at hatchtowngirl@gmail.com.