As the crisp air of November 2025 settles in and the 2025-2026 ski season looms on the horizon, it’s that time of year when skiers and snowboarders like us start dreaming big. Will this be another record-breaking season? To get us in the mood, OpenSnow meteorologist Alan Smith just dropped a killer video ranking the top 10 deepest winters in the Western U.S. and Canada since 1980. It’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane for anyone who’s chased fresh snow in the Rockies, Sierras, or Cascades.
If you’re a data nerd or just love geeking out over snow stats, Alan breaks down the methodology with crystal-clear precision. They crunched snowfall totals, snowpack metrics (like SNOTEL water equivalent on April 1st), and even temperature trends across major ski regions—focusing on seasons that delivered widespread dumps, not just isolated jackpots. Bonus points for consistent storms, epic December starts, and cold temps that kept the snow pristine. (Pro tip: Pre-1980 winters were legends too, but spotty data made fair comparisons impossible.)
Grab your hot drink, fire up the video here, and let’s count down Alan’s list. These aren’t just numbers—they’re the seasons that built legends, broke shovels, and changed lives forever.
10. 1994-1995: The El Niño Slow-Burner
Kicking off the list is this moderate El Niño year, which played coy early on before unleashing a February-March frenzy. Snowpack hit 150%+ of average in the Southwest and Sierras, with Alta (UT) logging its third-snowiest season ever at 746 inches. Wolf Creek (CO) also notched a top-five deep winter via SNOTEL data. Mild temps kept it fun, but the second-half surge made it unforgettable. If you skied dry spells into glory, this one’s for you.
9. 2005-2006: The Steady La Niña Workhorse
No fireworks, just reliable powder days. This weak La Niña blanketed most of the West in above-average snow, with 150%+ packs in California, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah’s Wasatch. Colder-than-average temps preserved the goods, and Red Mountain (BC) set an all-time record with 307 inches (records start in 2004, but hey, it’s a start). Mammoth (CA) tallied 579 inches, Jackson Hole (WY) 507. Solid from bell to bell—perfect for consistent groomer lovers.
8. 1996-1997: ENSO Neutral’s Deep April Surprise
Above-average across the board (with a few NorCal dips), this neutral winter crushed April 1st snowpack records at Stevens Pass (WA), Lookout Pass (ID), and Big Sky (MT)—all deepest on record at SNOTEL sites. The Northwest got steady storms all season; the central Rockies front-loaded December-January. Colder temps in the PNW and Rockies added quality. Jackson Hole hit 577 inches (top five), Steamboat (CO) 448 (tied for second). A balanced beast.
7. 2016-2017: Weak La Niña’s Tahoe Takeover
Tahoe went nuclear: Mount Rose set its all-time record at 768 inches, while Revelstoke (BC) and Sun Valley (ID) also claimed crowns with 491 and 318 inches, respectively. Mount Baker (WA) dumped 866 inches, Sugar Bowl (CA) 795. Snowpack soared 150%+ in California and central Rockies. Early-midseason dominance in the Sierras and Rockies, with a PNW comeback in late winter. Temps were a grab-bag—cold up north, mild in the south. Epic for East Side shredders.
6. 2007-2008: Strong La Niña’s Rocky Rampage
Virtually the entire West feasted, with 150%+ packs in Oregon, southern CO, NM, and AZ. Cold and consistent early (December-January heavy), then a slight taper. Central Rockies records galore: Jackson Hole 605 inches, Silverton (CO) 550, Steamboat 489, Whitefish (MT) 426—all all-timers. Alan notes it could’ve ranked higher, but lacked the ultra-extreme outliers. Still, a coast-to-Rockies crusher.
5. 1998-1999: Strong La Niña’s Northwest World Record
The toughest ranker: Mount Baker’s 1,140 inches still holds the world record for seasonal snowfall (as of 2025). Whistler (BC) hit 643, Brundage (ID) 430—both records. Timberline Lodge (OR) deepest pack ever. Consistent NW dumps with subzero temps; Sierras held strong too. But Utah, Colorado, and the Southwest? Warm and dusty. This one’s for Cascades diehards who’ll forgive the regional split.
4. 1982-1983: Strong El Niño’s Snowpack Monster
Second-deepest overall pack on the list (200%+ in CA/NV, 175% in UT). Early ’80s data is sparse, but what’s there dazzles: Sugar Bowl (CA) 880 inches (still the record), Kirkwood 700, Central Sierra Snow Lab 671. Consistent storms bookended by strong starts and finishes. Temps mixed—chilly Southwest, warmer NW. A broad-brush epic that set the bar high.
3. 1981-1982: ENSO Neutral’s Gold Standard
The OG benchmark until recent monsters stole the show. 150%+ packs across huge swaths, with cold temps and non-stop action from a powder-packed December. Alta’s 748 inches (second all-time), Central Sierra Snow Lab 624 (top five since 1950), Snowbasin (UT) 475 (second-ever). Many records from this season stood for decades. Pure, unadulterated West-wide bliss.
2. 2010-2011: Strong La Niña’s Widespread Wrecking Ball
Covered massive ground (minus NM), with 150%+ in CA, NV, UT. All-timers at Mount Bachelor (606 inches), Crystal Mountain (WA) 600, Loveland (CO) 595. Seconds at Snowbird (783), Mammoth (669), Whistler (622), Revelstoke (488). December and March storms bookended the barrage; subzero temps ruled. A top-three stunner at resorts from sea to summit.
1. 2022-2023: Weak La Niña’s Unavoidable Apex
Recency bias? Nah— the data doesn’t lie. Extreme packs (200-300% in CA-UT), highest regional averages ever. Alta’s 903 inches shattered its record (deepest in Rockies history), Brighton 861, Park City 628 (all-timers). Sierras went berserk: Palisades Tahoe 710, Kirkwood 708, Mammoth base 715/summit 870. Jackson Hole 595 (second), Steamboat 448 (second). Nonstop from November to April, with cold temps for premium quality. The king, no contest.
Quick Recap: The Powder Pantheon
| Rank | Season | Standout Stat |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1994-95 | Alta: 746″ (3rd all-time) |
| 9 | 2005-06 | Red Mtn (BC): 307″ record |
| 8 | 1996-97 | Jackson Hole: 577″ (top 5) |
| 7 | 2016-17 | Mt. Rose: 768″ record |
| 6 | 2007-08 | Jackson Hole: 605″ record |
| 5 | 1998-99 | Mt. Baker: 1,140″ (world record) |
| 4 | 1982-83 | Sugar Bowl: 880″ record |
| 3 | 1981-82 | Alta: 748″ (2nd all-time) |
| 2 | 2010-11 | Mt. Bachelor: 606″ record |
| 1 | 2022-23 | Alta: 903″ (Rockies record) |
Honorable Mentions: 1983-84, 1984-85, 1995-96, and 2018-19. Close calls that could’ve cracked the top tier.
Watching Alan’s breakdown is like flipping through a scrapbook of storm chasers’ triumphs—reminders that the West’s weather gods can still deliver miracles. As we gear up for this season, who’s betting on a repeat? Download the OpenSnow app for hyper-local forecasts, pro insights, and maps that’ll have you plotting your next deep day before the first flake falls. Subscribe to their channel for more vibes like this.
What’s your all-time favorite powder winter? Drop it in the comments—let’s swap stories while we wait for the chairlifts to spin. Bluebird sends to all! ⛷️❄️