They (understandably so) have very different definitions for storm criteria.

NWS in Salt Lake City. Wrote:WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
546 AM MST FRI NOV 30 2007

...SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM MST
SATURDAY..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SALT LAKE CITY HAS ISSUED A SNOW
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM MST
SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA THIS
AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL THIS EVENING.
PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AND ON THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING. SNOW SHOWERS WILL LINGER INTO THE
AFTERNOON...THOUGH LITTLE ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED.

TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 8 TO 15 INCHES IS POSSIBLE. THE HEAVIEST
SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE PROVO MOUNTAINS SOUTH TO MOUNT
NEBO IN THE SOUTHERNMOST WASATCH RANGE.

A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND
LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

I was expecting big things from this storm as was a little disappointed when I saw the Snow Advisory. Then I actually clicked on the thing and my jaw dropped. Snow Advisory for 8-15 inches.

Jeeze that is crazy. What would be a crippling snow storm here gets a snow advisory out there. Oh well, things are looking better for my ski trip coming up soon. Just wanted to share the differences in climates and how the NWS has to respond.

What makes me even more happy is that this is going to be heavy, wet snow. Perfect for building a base out there and opening up terrain

n1vek Wrote:They (understandably so) have very different definitions for storm criteria.

I was expecting big things from this storm as was a little disappointed when I saw the Snow Advisory. Then I actually clicked on the thing and my jaw dropped. Snow Advisory for 8-15 inches.

Jeeze that is crazy. What would be a crippling snow storm here gets a snow advisory out there. Oh well, things are looking better for my ski trip coming up soon. Just wanted to share the differences in climates and how the NWS has to respond.

What makes me even more happy is that this is going to be heavy, wet snow. Perfect for building a base out there and opening up terrain

That is a bit odd ... I guess I could MAYBE see a 6-10" being an advisory in the mountains but up to 15" ... that is a little odd to me too.

Yeah this CO bomb should help you out a bit

EDIT: Thinking about it ... I wonder if they are saying the PEAK will get 8-15" but the road area's will only see advisory snow conditions not warning conditions.

MI-Tstorm-n-Snow Wrote:That is a bit odd ... I guess I could MAYBE see a 6-10" being an advisory in the mountains but up to 15" ... that is a little odd to me too.

Yeah this CO bomb should help you out a bit

EDIT: Thinking about it ... I wonder if they are saying the PEAK will get 8-15" but the road area's will only see advisory snow conditions not warning conditions.

That is very probable. This is a very warm system so snow levels will be fairly high and major accumulations will be limited at lower elevations.

Even Wolf Creek/Telluride in CO with their bases at about 10k feet may have mixing problems at the onset! Talk about a pineapple express! Luckily that doesn't look to be the case in the northern Utah mountains. Good thing too, as most of the resorts' bases are at about 7k feet.