Comprehensive snow statistics are finally available and shown in the 1996-97 Ski Season Summary. Viewed overall, 1996-97 rivals 1981-82 as the best ski season in North America in at least 20 years. Only low altitude areas in California and the mid-Atlantic had poor seasons. Everywhere else was at least above average and this season was huge in the Northern Rockies, the Okanagan and the Pacific Northwest. The rest of this document analyzes the 1996-97 season by month and region.

California: The extreme volatility of Sierra weather was in evidence all season. November 1996 was a replay of December 1995: a few warm storms (snow level 8,000 to 9,000 feet), bringing Mammoth close to full operation while skiing was still limited at Tahoe. The Sierra received up to 8 feet of snow the weekend before Christmas, promising an excellent holiday. Unfortunately, from Dec. 28 to Jan. 2 the most intense tropical rainstorm on record (snow level as high as 12,000 feet) caused extensive flood damage at Squaw Valley's 6,200 foot base and removed 2 feet of snowpack even at the higher elevations. The higher Sierra resorts got some relief when the snow level fell to 7,500 feet for the last 8 hours of this storm. There was at least one day of rain from this unusual storm in ski areas as far inland as Arizona, Utah, Idaho and the Kootenay region of British Columbia. Seven feet of snow fell in the Sierra the third week of January, but there has less than 2 feet total snowfall in California since then. Spring skiing lasted through May at Alpine Meadows and into June at Mammoth. Southern California had another lousy year, with mostly rain in the early season (one 3 foot snowfall in January), and dry thereafter. In Arizona, the mid-January storm was 7 feet, so the base held up well through March. Monthly incidence at Donner Pass (Boreal) and Mammoth:

November to January was the second highest early season total for Mammoth. February to April was the lowest three consecutive ski season months ever. The lower elevations at Tahoe were well below average for the season due to much more rain and less snow in the early months. See 1996-97 California Detail for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: This was the highest snow season in over 20 years. Most areas were open for Thanksgiving and it then snowed 7 feet the first week of December. The New Year's rain bypassed this region, and January and March snowfall was far above normal. Whistler/Blackcomb had above average snow this season, though not as high as Washington and Oregon. Mt Bachelor had 2,400 vertical of skiing through July 4 even though its Summit lift is being rebuilt, and Timberline has similar vertical (but much less overall variety) for most of the summer. Season snowfall incidence is illustrated by one area from each state or province:

The 294 inches at Mt. Baker in December is a single month record for any location in my database. The former record of 277 was set at Mt. Rainier Paradise in January 1972 and matched at Kirkwood in February 1986.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: 1996-97 snowfall was high in the Okanagan areas and well above average in the Kootenay and Banff regions. Like the Pacific Northwest, snow was heaviest in the early season and again in March. Season snowfall incidence is illustrated by one area from each region:

U. S. Northern Rockies: This has been the premier ski region of 1996-97. You can live vicariously through some of the Idaho Powder Hound - Skiing - Ski Reports skier submitted reports. Season incidence is illustrated at Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee:

The season and December totals are record highs for both areas. I expect some record highs from Montana as well as Wyoming.

Utah: The Wasatch had several major dumps in late December and January with other months being closer to average. Little Cottonwood Canyon was Interlodged by a road closing avalanche Jan. 11-12. Season snowfall incidence is illustrated by regional leader Alta:

Northern and Central Colorado: Regional snowfall was high during the first half of the season, below average in February and March, with a strong finish in April. Season snowfall incidence is illustrated at Steamboat and Winter Park:

All of the Summit County areas operated through at least the first weekend of May, with A-Basin lasting into June.

Southern and Western Colorado: The southern areas, Purgatory, Wolf Creek and Taos, alternated very high and low snow months. Taos incidence:

Aspen, Crested Butte and Telluride were more like the rest of Colorado, high November through January snowfall, but low in February and March.

Northeast: Snowfall was above average this year, but conditions were at their best only from mid-January to mid-February. Sugarbush incidence:

There were extensive rains and thaws at Christmas and in late February. Thus the natural snow Castlerock area was only open from Jan. 10 to Feb. 21 and Mar. 7-31. Conditions improved in March, with up to 4 feet of snow in Maine. In New England the northern areas had both more snow and colder temperatures than those farther south, with Sugarloaf having the most consistent conditions. This season illustrates the greater importance of temperature to snowfall in the East. 1993-94, with average snowfall but consistent cold, more frequently offered better ski conditions than this year. This was actually a poor year in the warmer mid-Atlantic states.

The New England ski season finished with a truly incredible spring at Tuckerman's Ravine on Mt. Washington.

That May number is not a misprint! It exceeds A-Basin's May record of 80 inches in 1995. Mt. Washington's climate is unique and not necessarily correlated to the rest of New England. Mt. Mansfield received 25 inches snow this May and Killington only 3.