2025-26 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 16, 2025

Mid-October 2025 saw widespread moderate snowfall. Late October and early November storms were confined to northern regions, with the most snow in western Canada. There was not an inch of snow south of Oregon/Wyoming during the first half of November. Third week of November storms spread from California into the Southwest but much of it was warm with a high rain/snow line. Snowfall totals in italics are estimates from Open Snow. Due to the very lean November, October snowfall is excluded from totals below. Delayed openings at areas like Alta, Snowbird, Grand Targhee, Palisades and Mt. Bachelor were red flags for December commitments nearly everywhere in the western U.S. Utah and Colorado had decent storms during the first week of December, but not enough to save Christmas with the ensuing 10+ day dry spell. Farther north in the U.S there were mid-December storms but nearly all rain in the Northwest and rain/snow mix farther inland. Western Canada has abundant snow above 5,000 feet with rain/snow mix lower down from storms over the past 3 weeks. The only western U.S areas with meaningful natural snow terrain open are Mammoth, Arizona Snowbowl, Grand Targhee, Whitefish and Wolf Creek, and even those have base depths of 3 feet maximum. For the next month western destination skiing is recommended only in Canada. At U.S. areas other than those 5 listed above, I strongly recommend cancelling or postponing trips scheduled before second week of January. Storms are predicted later in December, but it is still questionable how far south they will push and how high the rain/snow line will be.

California: The November storm had a rain/snow line about 9,000 feet, so only Mt. Rose and Heavenly barely opened at Tahoe. Mammoth opened 30% Nov. 20 with snow after the rain at Main Lodge and a 3+ foot base above 10,000 feet. Arizona Snowbowl was the big winner, opening 63% by Nov. 22. Since then it has been bone dry with warming temps. Tahoe looks like a near wipeout for Christmas. This weekend's storm has predicted rain to 9,000+ feet and the larger storms starting Christmas may or may not snow any lower than 8,000. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: Rain/snow lines in November and first half of December have been high with almost no snow in Oregon and rain diminishing Washington's, so all areas in those states remain closed. Second half of December storms are predicted colder but Oregon/Washington areas are starting from nothing, so they will need to be massive to get much terrain open by New Year's. Crystal and Stevemns also have road damage from the recent floods. The Whistler alpine base is deep but the top Peak and Glacier lifts have not yet opened. Whistler has had getting mostly rain below mid-mountain but should improve with the cooler forecast.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: As in the Northwest lower elevations got a lot of rain, but this region is in by far the best shape in December with ongoing storms. The Banff areas are high and cold enough to have received all snow, while Panorama and Kicking Horse avoided most of it. These areas have 4-5 foot bases and are the best bets in the West for holiday skiing. Big White and Whitewater have high base elevations and are also in majority operation. Limited open terrain at Fernie and Silver Star plus Red Mt. still not open reflect the impact of low elevation rain.

U. S. Northern Rockies: Most areas got 2-3 feet in early December after a very dry November. The region was on the southern edge of early December warm storms with high rain/snow lines and then was dry for a week. Only Targhee and Whitefish have enough terrain above the rain/snow line for significant December openings. Even so, Targhee has the second least amount of terrain open mid-December in the past 30 years. Meanwhile Lookout Pass' snowpack was trashed by 8 inches of rain last week. This region may improve over the next two weeks with colder storms, but most areas will take well into January to reach majority operation.

Utah: Brian Head caught the edge of the November California/Arizona storm and was the only area to open in November. Wasatch openings were delayed until 2+ feet fell in early December. With ensuing dry spell, terrain is mostly limited to runs with a manmade base. Utah is on track for its second worst Christmas ever to 1976-77.

Northern and Central Colorado: The first snowmaking openings were A-Basin (1%) and Keystone (3%) Oct. 26 and Winter Park (3%) Oct. 31. 2+ feet fell in early December but open terrain is nearly all on manmade. Snowmaking is opening more runs here due to cooler temperatures than some other regions. Nonetheless this will be among the worst 10% of holiday seasons.

Southern and Western Colorado: The November California/Arizona storm made it to Wolf Creek, so the early December snow opened the whole area on a 31-38 inch base (now 26-33). Elsewhere open runs are mostly manmade and this is the least likely forecasted region to get later December storms. Steep terrain is unlikely to open before February.

Northeast: No one opened during October in New England or eastern Canada but cold and snow arrived in November. Snowfalls were heavist in northern Vermont with more mixed precipitation farther south and east. St. Sauveur opened Nov. 9 and Killington and Sunday River Nov. 12. 2-4+ feet of December snow, again concentrated in northern Vermont, have opened the most runs this early since 2018. Percents open: Okemo 47%, Hunter 58%, Sunday River 37%, Sugarloaf 29%, Tremblant 25%.

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