2002-03 Ski Season Progress Report as of February 28, 2003

The I-70 corridor of Colorado had near record snowfall in the first half of November. After a dry month over most of the West, major storms hit the West Coast during the 3rd week of December and spread into much of the Rockies reduced intensity. Starting around Christmas the storm track finally moved north to help out many areas which had started the season very slowly. This January was one of the driest in history over most of the West, with many areas receiving less than half normal snow and only a handful with close to normal snowfall for the month. The first week of February finally broke the drought in Utah and also improved conditions in Colorado and the Northern Rockies. The next week's tropical storm drenched Southern California but produced some snow for the southern and central Rockies. As of mid-February many regions had subpar conditions, but over the last 2 weeks there has been sufficient new snow to improve conditions at most areas to what we would expect at this prime part of the season, with Colorado receiving the lion's share of snow during this time.

California: After 2-4 feet of snow in early November the Sierra received no snow at all for a month. During the 3rd week of December the Sierra got up to 10 feet of snow, setting up North America's best holiday ski conditions. There was another 2-4 feet of snow during the holiday period. Year-to-date snow totals are now below average only about 2 feet new snow since New Year's. Low elevations and sunny exposures turned to spring conditions in January but coverage remained solid on a 3-9+ foot base and a powder/packed powder surface has been restored by several small February storms totalling 2-3 feet at most areas. Season snowfall is now 220 inches at Mammoth (86% of normal), 328 at the top of Kirkwood and 241 at Squaw 8,200 (74% of normal) and 115 at the base. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
RSN December Snow: Northstar 133, Heavenly 125.
RSN January Snow: Northstar 10, Heavenly 8.
RSN February Snow: Northstar 19, Heavenly 24.

Pacific Northwest: Normally the most reliable region by early December, the Northwest had a tough start this year, much drier and warmer than normal. Only Mt. Baker reached full operation in mid-December. Whistler was headed for its worst Christmas in over 20 years until Santa delivered 4.5 feet of snow December 24-25. Mt. Bachelor gradually accumulated snow through Christmas but had 6 feet of snow before New Year's to bring its base up to 8 feet. Only the Whistler alpine had close to normal snow in January, with excessive rain throughout the region at lower elevations. Hardpack and spring conditions were widespread during the dry first half of February, but there has been 2-4 feet of new snow since then to bring the best conditions of the season so far in Washington and Oregon. Whistler has been short on snow in February and conditions are adequate but well below usual standards.
RSN December Snow:Whistler 118, Mt. Bachelor 127.
RSN January Snow:Whistler 80, Mt. Bachelor 35.
RSN February Snow:Whistler 20, Mt. Bachelor 52.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: This region had a very poor start but gradually accumulated a snow base since mid-December. Lake Louise (94 inches snowfall, 59% of normal) has it usual low year rock problems, but recent conditions are reported much better than in January. Sunshine, Big White, Red and Fernie reached full operation by mid-January, but the latter two areas were hit by Northwest rain to 7,000 feet in late January. Like the Northwest, the first 2 weeks of February were dry with variable surfaces, but everything has been greatly improved by 2+ feet of new snow in the past 2 weeks.
RSN December Snow: Sunshine 32.
RSN January Snow: Fernie 50, Red Mt. 55, Sunshine 36.
RSN February Snow: Fernie 30, Red Mt. 19, Sunshine 55.

U. S. Northern Rockies: Jackson has had 292 inches of season snow (101% of normal), including 2 feet last weekend. Powder was abundant and conditions excellent from mid-January to late February, almost unique in the West during this time. Targhee has been similarly blessed since mid-December in its usual drought-resistant mode. Big Sky and Bridger received only moderate snows in January, but a 3-4 foot storm in early February brought decent coverage to much of their expert terrain for the first time this season. Kootenay areas had a similar dry start to western Canada, with consistent snowfall commencing only in mid-December, and the same setback of the late January rain. Big Mountain (132 inches snow YTD, 55% of normal) has had 2+ feet of new snow since, and is well-covered due to its base elevation near 5,000 feet. Schweitzer did not open until just before Christmas but has since been in full operation on a base now 5-8 feet. Sun Valley benefited from December storms moving northeast from California but now has total snowfall of 130 inches, 90% of normal.
RSN December Snow: Big Sky 30.
RSN January Snow: Schweitzer 54, Big Sky 37, Targhee 93.
RSN February Snow: Schweitzer 23, Big Sky 57, Targhee 95.

Utah: Alta has had 230 inches of snow since November 1 (64% of normal), after 43 inches in October and currently reports a 80-inch base. With base depths in the 4-foot range, only Alta and Brighton likely had decent coverage with during the busy Christmas season. After equalling the previous driest January in the past 36 years, Utah finally was hit with a 2-4 foot dump in early February plus 2-3 feet since then. I would still expect conditions in the Cottonwood Canyons to be better than in the Park City region. Utah's total snowfall is still well below average, though February was close to average.
RSN December Snow: Snowbird 43, Park City 36.
RSN January Snow: Snowbird 25, Park City 25.
RSN February Snow: Snowbird 77, Park City 57.

Northern and Central Colorado: After a few lean early seasons this region had near record snowfall in November. Most areas had more terrain open at Thanksgiving than they did at Christmas 3 of the past 4 years. That snow got chewed up over the ensuing dry month and was gradually refreshed by about 1 foot new per week from mid-December to mid-February. But over the last 2 weeks there has been 3-5 feet of new snow to put the whole region into great shape, with more predicted. Vail has had 286 inches snowfall (114% of normal) and 98% of its 5,100 acres open since before Thanksgiving. Winter Park has had 257.5 inches (103% of normal), Breckenridge 211 (109% of normal) and Steamboat 273.5 (106% of normal). Season snow totals are back above average after the recent dumps.
RSN December Snow: A-Basin 24, Copper 21, Keystone 19.
RSN January Snow: A-Basin 32, Copper 43, Keystone 19.
RSN February Snow: A-Basin 53, Copper 75, Keystone 40.

Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek can claim another year as North America's early season leader. It reached full operation as of November 9 after 6 feet of snow in October. After over 3 months of barely half normal snow, there has been over 4 feet of snow in the past week, bringing the total since November 1 to 201 inches (80% of normal). The rest of the region had 2-3 feet of snow last week, finally securing all the expert terrain on base depths of 7+ feet at Taos and 5+ feet elsewhere. March is historically the best month in this region, and this is likely to be the best March in at least 5 years.
RSN December Snow: Aspen 22, Crested Butte 22, Durango 40, Telluride 34, Taos 19.
RSN January Snow: Aspen 24, Crested Butte 26, Durango 11, Telluride 18, Taos 34.
RSN February Snow: Aspen 54, Crested Butte 63, Durango 57, Telluride 51, Taos 84.

Northeast: Northern New England had a nice run of cold weather at the start of November plus over a foot of natural snow. As a result Killington was 30% open and Okemo 15% November 9, likely records for that early. After a one week thaw melted out half of that terrain, cold and snowy weather over the next month brought the major Vermont areas to 80+% open. Mid-December rain and variable weather degraded surface conditions between storms but did not reduce the number of open runs. From Christmas through mid-January there were several major storms in New England, with southern areas benefiting the most and January snowfall exceeding most of the West. Late January weather was mostly dry but very cold, and during the first half of February the northern areas received 2-3 feet of new snow. The big President's weekend storm hit mainly the southern areas, similar to early January. Last weekend the south received heavy rain, while the north got rain/snow mix. Jay's season snowfall is 230 inches. I strongly recommend checking First Tracks Online Ski Magazine No-Bull Ski Reports for up to date information in this region, where both weather and surface conditions can change so rapidly.
RSN December Snow: Stowe 58, Killington 68, Stratton 53, Sugarloaf 7.
RSN January Snow: Stowe 65, Killington 59, Stratton 40, Sugarloaf 13, Snowshoe 54.
RSN February Snow: Stowe 51, Killington 33, Stratton 39, Sugarloaf 27, Snowshoe 53, Mt. St. Anne 35, Mt. Tremblant 33.

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