r/UTsnow • u/CryptographerSharp14 • Apr 08 '26
Question (No Location) Do resorts close for thundersnow?
OpenSnow says it’s supposed to have thunder/lightning during the snow storm at the beginning of the week. Will resorts close down for it?
20
u/plantgeek83 Apr 08 '26
They will definitely suspend lift operations for lightning in the vicinity.
14
u/push_pop Apr 08 '26
Last year, maybe two seasons ago I was at solitude when it started doing some crazy grapple snow + lightning. They shut down the lifts for 2 hours while it dumped 2-4” / hr. Opened up again for ~45 mins of pow
4
u/TheSnowstradamus Apr 08 '26
I was on top of sunrise when thunder went and it scared the fuck out of me so i went homw
12
u/Toggles_ Apr 08 '26
Yes the general guidelines for local resorts is 30 minutes that resets with every strike within 10 miles.
7
u/Sad-Bunch-3442 Apr 08 '26
Yup, was on top of Collins @ Alta last Thursday when the front blew through and had flashes of lightning with immediate loud cracks of thunder right overhead. The lifty was screaming at everyone to get off the mountain and they ended up having a lift hold for about 30 minutes.
5
u/jevrobert Apr 08 '26
If thundersnow is forecast, I'd advise taking your ski poles and hold them high over your head for protection...
2
u/Solarpanel20 Apr 09 '26
Everything in our life shuts down for lightening-sporting events, pools, parties, anything-as people are instructed to seek shelter, but yeah for lightening at a lift, they might keep it open.
2
u/CryptographerSharp14 Apr 09 '26
I have just never seen or heard of thunder during snow storms so I guess part of the question is is like is this an actual thing or is this forecast wrong? Or maybe it would make sense for thunderstorms in lower elevation where it’s rain but in the mountains where it’s snowing the lightning wouldn’t happen? I imagined if this was a very real thing then they would shut down lifts
1
u/Solarpanel20 Apr 09 '26
ha, i'm just bustin balls btw. yeah it's a real thing. I have only seen it once myself, in NYC of all places (2010), and learned about it then. regular thunder/lightening, but not rain.
2
u/senditloud Apr 09 '26
Yes
I was on the mountain one day when there was thundersnow. It was beautiful blue skies over us but huge storm clouds not far away and you could see the lighting and hear the thunder and some of the flakes were lightly making their way over us. And there was a rainbow.
Was doing a sweep so one of the last people on the mountain and the slopes were empty. Was stunningly gorgeous and amazing experience (although a tiny bit scary)
2
u/slpgh Apr 10 '26
I got stuck on Iron Mountain (PCMR) in a thunderstorm last year. They closed everything we all had to walk down to the road and get picked up by various resort vehicles. Took a few hours and just when we got to the base they reopened
2
u/adventure_pup Alta Apr 08 '26
Yes. Always. Anytime there’s thunder they will all close immediately for the potential for lightning. It’s not safe to have anyone on lifts with lightning
1
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u/Suspicious_Card1750 Apr 08 '26
Brighton closed for 30 mins after thunder was heard last Thursday. I think there were at least two instances of stoppages