Schweitzer breaks all-time resort record with more than 34 feet of snow

Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort broke an all time resort snowfall record Wednesday.

The Idaho resort has 417 inches of total snow, surpassing the previous record of 412 inches during the 1998/99 season. The resort measures its total snowfall at the base, said Dig Chrismer, Schweitzer’s marketing manager.

“There is weather coming in this weekend so we expect to see that number rise before all it’s said and done,” she said.

The resort’s snow pack at the base is 80 inches. On the upper mountain it’s 143 inches. The resort extended its season until Sunday, April 15. Chrismer said the season has been a good one with consistent snow throughout.

“When there is snow in the city it keeps people thinking about skiing and snowboarding,” she said.

Lookout Pass in Idaho has received 483 inches of snow so far this year. Silver Mountain, also in Idaho, has 375 inches.

In Washington 49 Degrees North has received 343 inches of total snowfall.

Mt. Spokane doesn’t keep track of total snowfall, said Brad McQuarrie, the resort’s general manager. Still, he said “we had an above average year for sure.” He said the average total snowfall for the mountain is about 300 inches. The NOAA SnowTel site on the mountain reports a season total of 354 inches.

Overall the pacific northwest received above average amounts of snow although other areas of the country suffered.

According to a report prepared by the National Resource Conservation Service’s National Water and Climate Center much of Northern Idaho received about 120 percent of the median snow pack for the area.

The Spokane-area received 118 percent of the normal snowfall while some places in Montana received as much as 150 percent the median snowfall.

However, throughout much of the west areas lacked snow, including Oregon, California and the Southwest.