The first major snowstorm of the season pushed into the Northern Rockies and Intermountain West, yesterday, dumping up to a foot of snow. While this may seem premature to many Americans, the snowfall is actually a bit late this year; snowstorms commonly occur in this region by mid September (occasionally by late August).
Considered a nuisance in many parts of the country, snow is absolutely vital to the American West; with the exception of the Northwest Coast, this region is arid or semiarid, receiving less than 15 inches of precipitation in the course of a year. Rain, which is generally limited to isolated, seasonal thunderstorms, is not sufficient to support the natural habitats and human communities that occupy the region. Rather, it is the snowpack of the higher mesas and mountains that feeds the streams, diversifies the ecology and allows man to inhabit this dry, sunny landscape.
Accumulating faster than it melts, the snowpack will build through the winter and early spring, generally peaking in late February or early March. In shaded cirques or on high, north-facing slopes, snow may persist through the summer and, over many years, develop into mountain glaciers. Today, as our climate warms, these glaciers are retreating and the annual snowpack has become even more important. Snow is always welcome in the West!
