Comprehensive snow statistics are finally available and shown in the 1997-98 Ski Season Summary. Western snowfall through mid-December favored the Southwest and was below average or worse elsewhere. January's snow was just the reverse, high in most Western regions except the Southwest. In February El Nino finally lived up to its billing, dumping on California. Western snowfall in the first 3 weeks of March was below average, but was well above average since late March. The Sierra was clearly the prime ski region in North America since late January.

California: Sierra snowfall was no better than average through December, but it picked up in January and dumped the entire month of February. A lesser storm cycle came in late March and early April, maintaining winter conditions to mid-April. Southern California and Arizona didn't get the January storms, but were hit hard from February onwards. The deep snowpack produced a long spring season through May in Southern California, at least June at Alpine Meadows, and into July at Mammoth. See 1997-98 California Detail for more details on Southern California and Mammoth. Southern California season snowfall was comparable to the record El Nino year of 1983. Sierra snowfall, while high, was only the 3rd highest season of this decade behind 1992-93 and 1994-95. Record highs marked by *.

Pacific Northwest: This region had a slower than normal start, but Whistler and Washington state areas were in decent shape by Christmas. Oregon areas were not well covered until the big January storms, but there was ultimately enough snow for the usual long spring season. In December and April, part of the jet stream was diverted far to the north, where it dumped on Alaska. Season snowfall incidence is illustrated by one area from each state or province:

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Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: All of these areas had a slow start, but the Okanagan and Kootenay areas had good coverage and conditions from January onwards. The Banff region had one of its worst ski seasons. Season snowfall incidence is illustrated by one area from each region:

U. S. Northern Rockies: These areas were at the center of a major storm track for the whole month of January, with most other months showing below average snowfall. Grand Targhee's snowfall is always more consistent and less prone to extremes.

Utah: After a slightly below average start, Utah was hit hard by both the January and February storm cycles. Season snowfall incidence is illustrated by regional leader Alta:

Northern and Central Colorado: These areas were below average through December and close to average thereafter, except for a strong April. This season illustrates Winter Park's consistency. It is influenced by several different storm patterns, and tends to do relatively well in below average years. In the big years for this region, Winter Park will not have quite the huge numbers recorded at Vail and particularly Steamboat. Winter Park's new Vasquez Cirque did not open until February because of a major avalanche in January.

Southern and Western Colorado: El Nino was expected to benefit this region, but only Ski Apache in southern New Mexico had a really big year. Some expert sections, such as Snowmass' new Cirque surface lift and Crested Butte's North Face, were not open until February. It is generally wise to preplan trips in this region for February and later months. The previous couple of seasons had unusually high early season snow. The late March and April southern storm track did hit these areas pretty well.

Northeast: While this season may be remembered for the January ice storms and the late March meltdown, ski conditions were actually pretty good the rest of the season, particularly in the far northern areas.

November and December had above average snowfall and very favorable snowmaking weather, resulting in an excellent season through the holidays. This marked contrast to the warm and dry 1982-83 season demonstrates, in my opinion, that El Nino is not particularly relevant to East Coast weather. Conditions took an abrupt turn for the worse in early January, with extensive thaw followed by rain and ice storms. Some areas were cut back to 50% open, but most areas were restored to close to full operation with extensive snowmaking and 2 feet of new snow in late January. February and most of March saw warmer than normal temperatures, but there were 1+ foot storms most weeks in the northern areas. New England skiing was devastated by the heat wave of late March. The southern areas were pretty much wiped out and the northern areas lost 4 feet of base.

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