VIDEO: Why Does Mammoth Get So Much Snow?

Apr 1

Mammoth Mountain, located in California, is known for its heavy snowfall during the winter months. Thanks to endless atmospheric rivers smashing into California this winter the ski resort has seen well over 800” (20m) at the summit of the resort and there is still more of the season to go. Mammoth Mountain is situated in the Eastern Sierra Nevada range, which is known for its cold, dry air masses. When moist Pacific air collides with this cold, dry air, it can create a phenomenon known as orographic lift. This occurs when the moist air is forced up and over the mountain, where it cools and condenses into clouds. As the clouds continue to rise, they release moisture in the form of snow, which falls on the mountain. In addition to its geographic location, Mammoth Mountain's high elevation of over 11,000 feet also plays a role in its heavy snowfall. As air rises to higher elevations, it cools and can hold less moisture. This causes the moisture in the air to condense and fall as snow.

In this short film, a NASA scientist, a weather forecaster, a long-time Mammoth Mountain ski patroller and a professor of snow hydrology talk through the science of how California’s big mountain home continually tops the snowfall charts.