Jim Steenburgh says that for many who come to our state, powder is more than snow. It is a way of life.
Utah has long claimed to have the greatest snow on Earth—the state itself has even trademarked the phrase. In Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth: Weather, Climate Change, And Finding Deep Powder in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains and Around the World (Utah State University Press) Steenburgh investigates Wasatch weather, exposing the myths (the famous “lake effect” is, he says, the most misunderstood Wasatch weather phenomenon) and revealing how and why Utah’s powder lives up to its reputation. (One section of the book is titled “Mother Nature’s Five-Step Plan for a Snowstorm.”)
Steenburgh also examines ski and snowboard regions beyond Utah, serving as a meteorological guide to mountain weather and snow climates around the world. (He investigates Utah’s closest competitor for the “Greatest” title: Japan’s Hokkaido island.) Steenburgh also explores mountain weather, avalanches and snow safety, historical accounts of weather events and snow conditions, and the basics of climate and weather forecasting, and explains what creates the best snow for skiing and snowboarding.
Jim Steenburgh is professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Utah. An avid backcountry and resort skier and creator of the blog Wasatch Weather Weenies, he is an authority on mountain weather and snowstorms and led the numerical weather prediction team for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. His research on snow, winter storms, and forecasting has been featured by The Weather Channel, New York Times, USA Today, and Salt Lake Tribune.
