HOW MUCH SNOW = "POWDER"?

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

how much new snow qualifies as powder?
our local mtn, 49N, calls all new snow "powder", even an inch.
ski area propaganda vs local savvy vs weather geek
(thanks to the tahoe crew)

[::: :::]

powder has to do with moisture content, not quantity of precip

[drstuess]

In the context of snow reports it usually is just defining the surface conditions. In that context, "powder" is just fresh light snow, usually regardless of the amount. Then the next day or so it's "packed powder" which just means tracked and packed down, but light and soft snow.

[wordbird]

By water content imo:
1:7 or higher- glue
1:8 - 1:11 - NW concrete
1:12 - 1:19 - powder
1:20 or less- epic/hero/cold smoke/420/purplesquirt/daddydank etc

[TAFKALVS]

For me: at least 6-8" and not able to feel underlying surface conditions the majority of the time. if you can feel underlying surface conditions it's still dust on crust. Density has to be low enough to not feel drag on skis or boots. If there is drag it's not a powder day, it's just new snow.

Marketing departments will call just about anything powder.

And packed powder? WTF is that?

[snoqpass]

powder has to do with moisture content, not quantity of precip

You would never make it as a snow reporter

[ill-advised strategy]

Eight inches

[SkiBall]

By water content imo:
1:7 or higher- glue
1:8 - 1:11 - NW concrete
1:12 - 1:19 - powder
1:20 or less- epic/hero/cold smoke/420/purplesquirt/daddydank etc

Is there an app for that where I can drop snow on my phone and have it read WC? derp a derp

[SKIP IN7RO]

[cmcrawfo]

100% agree with acinpdx

Powder describes the snow quality, not quantity.

6-8" of shmoo or chowder, is still not powder ... no matter how deep you stack it.

[SkiBall]

When you ski it, you just know. And if you live/stay nearby, you have a good idea beforehand.

[ACH]

powder day = can't feel the base when I make turns...

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

powder has to do with moisture content, not quantity of precip

excellent point, especially from someone who rides MHM.....

[lifelinksplit]

A thread about what qualifies as "powder"? Hey mods can we get this moved into the best Gaper qoutes of the weekend?

[::: :::]

You would never make it as a snow reporter

excellent point, especially from someone who rides MHM.....

I'm thinking there's a connection here...can't put my finger on it tho

[pipedream]

powder day = can't feel the base when I make turns...

I guess that just means we'll have to turn the subs up higher in Lot 4

(yeah, yeah wrong forum JONG, I know...)

IMO, it's a function of depth and density. But really all that matters is whether or not it's worth showing-up late to work (if at all)... in which case, I require double digits of new snowfall in the last 24 hours w/o significant freeze+thaw or wetting

[old goat]

However you define powder, expecting a ski resort to give an honest assessment of snow conditions is a foool's proposition. If you're a skier you can figure it out on your own. I'd settle for an honest assessment of what's going to be open today.

[ACH]

[snoqpass]

Ha ha

[ACH]

We received....

3 feet of snow last night.

Yeah, that's it, 3 feet of snow.

And, its light as a feather...

Yeah, that's the ticket.

[wyeaster]

too funny!

[irratator]

"Not all fresh is pow. Not all pow is fresh."

[goldengatestinx]

You would never make it as a snow reporter

Eh. He's correct though.

[Lostmyboards]

In the Poconos anything that will add body to the margarita chips the snow cats make is POW brah.

[Mofro261]

how much new snow qualifies as powder?

Sort of a trick questuon. Snowfall is measured in inches or cms. But Powder is measured by body parts- it's starts around boot deep and upward to knee deep, thigh high, ballz deep, waist deep, nipple high, and so on. Less than boot deep is dust.