2015-16 Ski Season Progress Report as of February 29, 2016
October was warmer and drier than normal in most ski regions, but there were widespread small storms through most of the West
each week in November, contributing to the usual early openings on snowmaking. However, only areas in western Canada saw major storms and
had much more terrain than normal open. Wolf Creek was also in full operation since mid-November with much more snow than other western US
areas. The Pacific Northwest had a series of major storms in early December, spreading in lesser amounts into adjacent regions. The
week before Christmas brought widespread storms to all western regions, with heaviest concentrations on the West Coast and in Utah.
The West Coast and western Canada had an excellent holiday season, with all other western regions average or better. Christmas
Week had scattered snow in most regions. The first half of January had El Nino influenced storm tracks into
California but most ski regions had some snow. The second half of January had excellent skiing over most of the West, with the vast
majority of areas enjoying at least 3 feet of new snow. After the final January storm hit Colorado in early February, snowfall
over most of the US West has been less than half normal, with more snow in northern regions. Spring conditions are widespread at
lower elevations and on sunny exposures.
All snowfall totals are since November 1 and at mid-mountain locations where possible. "Mid-estimates" are for areas that
only post upper info online, and apply a long term mid-to-upper ratio to those posted figures.
California:
The first storm started with snow levels over 9,000 feet but eventually lowered. Later storms were colder and
snowed as low as Lake Tahoe but not yet enough to build a solid natural base. Mammoth and Mt. Rose opened Nov. 5 and several other areas
opened mid-November. Mammoth had much more snow up high during the first storm and thus had by far the most open terrain in California
in the early season. The Northwest storms moved into the Sierra the second week of December, dropping 2-4 feet and opening over half of
terrain at most areas. The week before Christmas brought another 3-4 feet. A final December storm Christmas Eve dropped 2 feet more,
bringing all areas close to full operation with base depths of 4-6 feet. Most Tahoe areas had more snow by Christmas than in all of last
season. In January the Sierra continued to get snow every week as it did the prior 2 months. This averaged 2 feet per week at higher
elevations, though it rained to 9,000 feet on January 29 before dropping 1+ foot of snow the next 3 days. Since then California has been dry
except for about 2 feet during the 3rd week of February. Base depths are 5-9 feet but there are spring conditions on most Tahoe terrain and
perhaps half of Mammoth's. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
|
Area
|
Season Snow
|
Pct. of Normal
|
Pct. of Area Open
|
|
Squaw 8,000
|
324
|
103%
|
100%
|
|
Alpine Meadows
|
281.5
|
110%
|
100%
|
|
Northstar (mid estimate)
|
270
|
127%
|
94%
|
|
Mt. Rose
|
308
|
131%
|
100%
|
|
Heavenly (upper)
|
273
|
98%
|
91%
|
|
Kirkwood
|
328
|
97%
|
100%
|
|
Mammoth
|
266
|
106%
|
100%
|
|
Southern Cal
|
59.5
|
67%
|
0-100%
|
Pacific Northwest:
The November storms had variable snow levels and were strongest to the north. Thus only Whistler had extensive
terrain open. There were 3 major storms in early December, totalling 6-8 feet of snow except for lower elevations that got rain during
the second storm. The week before Christmas brought another 3-6 feet with another 1-2 feet during the holidays. There was 2+ feet of
snow in the first half of January with low snow levels for good powder. In late January there were two warm storms with rain to 7,500
feet, but both were followed by 2 feet of snow so skiing remained excellent. February snowfall has been about 6 feet at most areas
but there has been intermittent rain at lower elevations with resulting variable conditions. Base depths average 6-10 feet, with 134-165
inches at Mt. Baker. Alyeska has had abundant snow up high, but locals report excessive rain at mid and lower elevations so some lower
terrain remains closed.
|
Area
|
Season Snow
|
Pct. of Normal
|
Pct. of Area Open
|
|
Whistler
|
348
|
113%
|
100%
|
|
Crystal Mt.
|
409
|
139%
|
100%
|
|
Stevens Pass
|
323
|
93%
|
100%
|
|
Mt. Hood
|
357
|
109%
|
100%
|
|
Mt. Bachelor
|
362.5
|
131%
|
100%
|
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.:
The November storms were strongest here. Some areas near the US border had some rain/snow mix like
the Northwest, but other areas were far above average in both snow and open terrain. The December Northwest storms pushed into the region,
with snowfall ranging from 2 feet at the Banff areas to 5 feet in the Kootenay areas. Snowfall during the second half of December ranged
from under a foot at Banff to 3+ feet in the Kootenays. First half of January snowfall was nearly 2 feet west of the Selkirks but less than
a foot farther east. Late January snowfall was 3-4 feet west of the Selkirks and 1-2 feet farther east. Base depths average 6-7 feet at the
former areas and 4-5 feet at the latter areas. First half of February snowfall averaged about 2 feet. Second half of February saw 2-3 feet of
snow west of the Selkirks and 1-2 feet elsewhere. Sun Peaks and Silver Star have been 95+% open since mid-December.
|
Area
|
Season Snow
|
Pct. of Normal
|
Pct. of Area Open
|
|
Big White
|
304
|
147%
|
100%
|
|
Lake Louise
|
154
|
128%
|
95%
|
|
Sunshine
|
198
|
113%
|
92%
|
|
Revelstoke
|
298
|
113%
|
95%
|
|
Kicking Horse
|
234
|
128%
|
95%
|
|
Whitewater
|
316
|
111%
|
100%
|
|
Red Mt.
|
229
|
116%
|
100%
|
|
Fernie
|
268.5
|
99%
|
100%
|
|
Castle Mt.
|
196
|
102%
|
100%
|
U.S. Northern Rockies:
November snow was below average but Targhee as usual had some of the most terrain open in North America in early season.
The first half of December Northwest storms dumped 4+ feet in Idaho but lesser amounts in Montana and Wyoming. The week before Christmas
dumped 3-4 feet upon the entire region, bringing base depths up to 4-6 feet. Big Sky was 3/4 open at Christmas and 90+% open since mid-January.
Christmas Week brought 1-2 feet of snow to the Tetons and near the Canadian border, with less than a foot at areas in between. First half of
January snowfall ranged from 1-3+ feet. Second half of January snowfall was 5+ feet in the Tetons and 3-4 feet elsewhere. February
snowfall was 2-3 feet scattered through the month.
|
Area
|
Season Snow
|
Pct. of Normal
|
Pct. of Area Open
|
|
Whitefish
|
262
|
112%
|
100%
|
|
Bridger
|
202
|
98%
|
100%
|
|
Grand Targhee
|
292
|
84%
|
100%
|
|
Jackson Hole (mid)
|
242
|
86%
|
99%
|
|
Schweitzer
|
230
|
114%
|
100%
|
|
Brundage
|
250
|
114%
|
100%
|
|
Sun Valley
|
167.5
|
114%
|
97%
|
Utah:
Most of the November storms split before reaching Utah, which thus had substantially below average snowfall plus a dry first week of December.
The Northwest storms dropped 2-3 feet of snow during the second week of December, 3-5 feet fell the week before Christmas, and another foot over
Christmas. 2-3+ feet fell during the first half of January. Second half January snowfall was 5+ feet in the Cottonwoods and 3 feet elsewhere.
February snowfall was about 3 feet in the Cottonwoods and less than 2 feet elsewhere. In the far south Brian Head has been fully open on a
50+ inch base since New Year's.
|
Area
|
Season Snow
|
Pct. of Normal
|
Pct. of Area Open
|
|
Alta
|
304
|
84%
|
100%
|
|
Snowbird
|
328
|
99%
|
95%
|
|
Brighton/Solitude
|
283
|
83%
|
100%
|
|
Park City (mid estimate)
|
190
|
92%
|
93%
|
|
Snowbasin
|
202
|
95%
|
100%
|
Northern and Central Colorado:
October was much warmer than usual so snowmaking was delayed until the last week and
Loveland and A-Basin each opened a snowmaking run October 29. The consistent modest November snowfalls accumulated
base depths of 2+ feet with mostly average terrain openings (Keystone the positive exception) for early season.
December snowfall was consistent each week, totalling about 4-5 feet at most areas but 8 feet at Steamboat.
First half of January snow was 1-2 feet and second half January snow 2.5-4+ feet, with another 2 feet at the
beginning of February. There has been about a foot of snow over the rest of February. Base depths average 4-5 feet.
A-Basin was 3/4 open over Christmas and has been 95+% open since mid-January.
|
Area
|
Season Snow
|
Pct. of Normal
|
Pct. of Area Open
|
|
Beaver Creek
|
205
|
91%
|
100%
|
|
Breckenridge
|
211
|
85%
|
100%
|
|
Copper Mt.
|
167
|
87%
|
97%
|
|
Keystone
|
188
|
120%
|
100%
|
|
Loveland
|
202
|
93%
|
100%
|
|
Steamboat
|
287
|
113%
|
100%
|
|
Vail
|
228
|
93%
|
100%
|
|
Winter Park
|
214
|
89%
|
100%
|
Southern and Western Colorado:
The central Colorado mountains had a below average November, while the southern mountains
and New Mexico were above average. Wolf Creek's base reached 50 inches by the end of November. The second week of December storms
were also stronger in the southern (2-3 feet with 4+ at Wolf Creek) than central (1-2 feet) mountains. 2-3 feet of snow fell during
the week before Christmas and an average 2 feet (4 feet at Wolf Creek) during Christmas Week. First half of January snow was 1-2 feet,
but likely more in New Mexico. Second half January snow was 3 feet in the central mountains and 1-2 feet farther south. 2+ feet fell
at the beginning of February but less than a foot for the rest of the month. Taos had its second best holiday season in over 20 years,
opened the Kachina chair Jan. 13 and is in full operation on an 84 inch base.
|
Area
|
Season Snow
|
Pct. of Normal
|
Pct. of Area Open
|
|
Aspen/Snowmass
|
173
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
Gothic Snow Lab
|
198
|
80%
|
N/A
|
|
Crested Butte
|
126
|
73%
|
98%
|
|
Telluride
|
247
|
136%
|
98%
|
|
Purgatory
|
204
|
116%
|
99%
|
|
Wolf Creek
|
334
|
130%
|
100%
|
Northeast:
Mid-October cold allowed Killington and Sunday River to open first in North America on October 19. After a
week of skiing the snow melted and snowmaking did not resume for nearly 3 weeks. With minimal natural snow and sustained unseasonably
warm temperatures, terrain open at Christmas was the worst on record. Terrain open increased moderately in Quebec with a foot of snow
during Christmas Week but only slightly in New England. Colder weather finally arrived in the first half of January, with Vermont snow
ranging from 1-3 feet south to north. Second half of January snow averaged only about a foot, so the natural snow base reached only
2 feet. As is common, the big late January storm through the eastern metro areas was not a big snow producer in upper New England and Quebec.
1-2 feet fell during the second week of February but it rained during the first and third weeks. Late February snowfall ranged from 1 foot in
the south to 3 feet in the far north. In terms of both snowfall and open terrain, 2015-16 is on track to be an even worse eastern season than
2011-12, though eastern Canada is faring somewhat better than New England.
Percents open: Okemo 69%, Stratton 82%, Hunter 79%, Sugarloaf 41%, Sunday River 65%, Tremblant 96%, Mt. St. Anne 86%.
|
Area
|
Season Snow
|
Pct. of Normal
|
Pct. of Area Open
|
|
Jay Peak (mid estimate)
|
139
|
57%
|
100%
|
|
Stowe
|
112
|
50%
|
83%
|
|
Sugarbush
|
117
|
59%
|
100%
|
|
Killington
|
55
|
31%
|
65%
|
|
Whiteface
|
88
|
67%
|
77%
|
|
Le Massif
|
139
|
82%
|
67%
|
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