Powder Compass

Atlas · Southwest · UT

Brian Head

10,970′ summit · 1,370′ vert · 650 acres · avg 360″/yr

Solid odds — Mar 16–31

Delivered 30″+ in 7 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 10 of 20 · typical 31", most land 18"–41"

Before you book

This bet missed 3 of the last 10.

1 of the last 10 came in under 10″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Brian Head · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 20 40 60" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 7 busts Long shot 8" 93" 2022 0" 2019 · 3 of 20
Nov 16–30 24″+ 6 of 10 · 3 busts Solid odds 17" 168" 2019 0" 2021
Dec 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 5 busts Long shot 21" 86" 2021 0" 2017
Dec 16–31 30″+ 5 of 10 Coin flip 31" 148" 2010 1" 2011
Jan 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 3 busts Solid odds 17" 150" 2023 0" 2014
Jan 16–31 30″+ 6 of 10 · 3 busts Solid odds 32" 89" 2010 2" 2022
Feb 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 30" 171" 2019 0" 2015
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 29" 93" 2023 1" 2025
Mar 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 27" 109" 2019 2" 2007
Mar 16–31 30″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 31" 102" 2023 0" 2015
Apr 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 20" 67" 2026 4" 2015
Apr 16–30 24″+ 6 of 10 Solid odds 22" 51" 2019 0" 2012 · 2 of 20

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

Southern Utah's altitude cheat code — a base near 9,600 feet holds cold, dry snow when everything else at this latitude is suffering. Two connected peaks: the Navajo side for cruising families, Giant Steps for the steeper, more interesting lines and small glades.

The posted snowfall average is real but boom-bust — check the base depth before committing early season. Lodging in Brian Head town is walkable and cheap by ski-town standards, with Cedar City down the canyon as the fallback. Lift lines are rare.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Brian Head's odds move on the Mar 16–31 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.