2011-12 Ski Season Summary

The following major weather patterns affected the ski season.
Late October and November: Only Wolf Creek had significant October snow to open early. November snowfall was strong in Washington State, Schweitzer and western Canada. Other U.S. western ski areas ranged from half to 2/3 of normal snowfall.
December to Christmas: This was one of the most severe midwinter drought periods of the past 30 years. California was totally dry and most western ski regions averaged only 1-2 feet of snow. The exception was the far Southwest, where Arizona and New Mexico got about 4 feet and Wolf Creek 7 feet.
Christmas to mid-January: The drought's second phase was most severe in southern regions, with no snow at all in the Southwest or California and less than half normal elsewhere in the U.S. Rockies. As in November snowfall was stong in Washington, Schweitzer and western Canada.
Second half of January: The heavy snow continued in the northern regions but spread and broke the drought in Oregon, Utah and the U.S. Northern Rockies. Snowfall was average elsewhere but significant terrain was still lacking adequate cover in California and I-70 Colorado at the end of the month.
First half of February: This was a milder version of the early December pattern, with 4+ feet of snow in the Southwest and no more than 1-2 feet elsewhere.
Second half of February: This was the best overall part of the season. All regions except California had above average snow and the I-70 areas of Colorado reached and maintained full operation.
March: Snowfall was huge in the Pacific Northwest and western Canada, over twice normal. California had about 150% of normal and at last reached and maintained full operation. The U.S. Northern Rockies were average and Utah below average. Colorado had its driest ever March so the I-70 areas that had started slowly lost coverage prematurely and were in limited operation by late March.
April/May: Spring was warmer and moderately drier than normal.
The early part of the season continued the La Nina of 2010-11, but only had a positive effect in Washington State, Schweitzer and western Canada. Elsewhere it was the worst early season since 1980-81. In the Northeast only the overall 1979-80 season was as bad and while not that many areas have complete data from that season to compare it is likely that the 4 record lows listed here are worse. In I-70 Colorado Berthoud and Winter Park were lower than the previous 1980-81 records, but from scattered monthly data it's evident that the other I-70 areas had worse seasons in either 1976-77 or 1980-81. On a positive note Lake Louise and Sunshine set record highs going back over 40 years. For more detail on snow incidence by month and region, see 2011-12 Ski Season Analysis.

2011-12  SKI  SEASON  SNOWFALL  SUMMARY
               
RECORD  HIGH  (10 Years Minimum)   6+ Powder RECORD  HIGH  (10 Years Minimum)     6+ Powder
 Lake Louise, Alb.  6,700 277 10%          
 Sunshine Village, Alb.  7,028 400 17%          
               
HIGH       HIGH      
 Mt. Fidelity (Selkirks), B. C.  6,150 590 25%    Revelstoke, B.C.  6,429 329 Dec.-Mar. 19%
 Mt. Bachelor, Ore.   6,350  513 23%          
 Whistler Roundhouse, B. C.   6,000       543 22%          
 Crystal Mtn 2, Wash.   6,100 568 25%          
 Schweitzer, Idaho   4,700   380 16%          
               
ABOVE  AVERAGE       ABOVE  AVERAGE      
 Mt. Rainier Paradise, Wash. 5,420 666 29%    Big Mountain, Mont.   6,700     285 Dec.-Mar. 17%
 Alyeska, Alaska   1,400   639 33%          
 Mt. Hood Meadows, Ore.   5,400 551 27%          
 Fernie, B. C.  5,400    450 21%          
 Mt. Baker, Wash.   4,300 804 38%          
 Stevens Pass, Wash.   4,061 562 27%          
 Sun Valley, Idaho   8,800  196 9%          
 Sun Peaks, B. C.  6,100 216 6%          
 Wolf Creek, Colo.   10,642 396 15%          
 Whitewater, B. C.  5,500 474 21%          
 Castle Mt., Alb.  5,700 276 11%          
               
BELOW  AVERAGE       BELOW  AVERAGE      
 Central Sierra Snow Lab - Boreal, Cal. 7,200  305 14%    Whiteface (Lake Placid), N. Y.  3,660 132 Dec.-Mar. 7%
 Crater Lake (Mt. Bailey), Ore.   6,800 359 15%    Monarch, Colo.    154 Dec.-Mar. 9%
 Mt. Washington, N. H.  6,262 230 8%    Telluride, Colo.   11,170 185 Dec.-Mar. 11%
 Jackson Hole, Wyo.   8,250   311 14%    Purgatory, Colo.   10,000  176 Dec.-Mar. 10%
 Alpine Meadows, Calif.   7,000   286 13%    Smuggler's Notch, Vt.   1,600 210 Dec.-Mar. 12%
 Taos, N. Mex.   11,200 233 9%    Red Mt. 2, B. C.   6,650 201 Dec.-Mar. 12%
 Southern California Composite   7,000 - 8,000   113 4%          
 Cannon Mt., N. H. 1,800 131 6%          
 Grand Targhee, Wyo.   8,200 400 18%          
 Heavenly Valley, Calif.   8,400    178 8%          
 Big White, B. C.  6,200 230 10%          
 Brundage, Idaho   6,000 254 12%          
 Red Mt. Pass, Colo.   11,090 245 10%          
 Squaw Valley, Calif.   6,200      196 9%          
 Arizona Snowbowl 2, Ariz.   10,800 221 9%          
 Arizona Snowbowl 1, Ariz.   9,500 141 6%          
 Squaw Valley, Calif.   8,000      347 17%          
 Bridger Bowl, Mont.   7,100     269 10%          
 Northstar, Calif.   7,800 247 11%          
 Le Massif, Que.  2,600 186 10%          
               
LOW       LOW      
 Mt. Mansfield Stake, Vt.  3,950 159 7%    Steamboat, Colo.   9,200    178 Dec.-Mar. 10%
 Killington, Vt.  4,142 152 6%    Stowe, Vt.  3,041 199 Dec.-Mar. 11%
 Sugarloaf, Maine 3,695 105 5%          
 Alta, Utah   8,650 373 14%          
 Bear Valley, Calif.  7,750 227 9%          
 Mammoth Mtn, Calif.   9,600 or 8,900 225 9%          
 Kirkwood (Carson Pass), Calif.  8,526 265 11%          
 Gothic, Colo. 9,400   222 9%          
 Park City 2, Utah   9,300  211 8%          
 Loveland, Colo.   11,200   211 8%          
 Snowshoe, W. V. 4,848 106 4%          
 Arapahoe Basin, Colo.   10,820 184 6%          
 Jupiter Bowl, Utah   10,000 251 10%          
 Brian Head, Utah   9,770  218 10%          
 Snow Basin, Utah   7,700  199 7%          
 Mt. Rose, Nev.   8,600 190 9%          
 Sugar Bowl, Calif.   7,000     317 14%          
 Waterville Valley, N. H. 3,000  91 4%          
 Beaver Creek, Colo.   11,200 207 8%          
 Snowmass, Colo.  11,000 189 8%          
 Crested Butte, Colo.   10,150   161 6%          
 Aspen Mtn, Colo.   11,190 166 7%          
 Snowbird, Utah   10,000   275 11%          
 Vail, Colo.   11,250    211 9%          
 Copper Mtn, Colo.   11,000   168 7%          
 Breckenridge, Colo.   11,100  216 9%          
 Keystone, Colo.   11,641 112 5%          
 Heavenly Valley, Calif.   10,000    263 12%          
 Aspen Highlands, Colo.   11,100  147 5%          
               
RECORD  LOW (10 Years Minimum)       RECORD  LOW (10 Years Minimum)      
 Berthoud Pass, Colo.   11,315  179 7%          
 Mary Jane at Winter Park, Colo.   10,800      183 7%          
 Jay Peak, Vt.  3,000 224 12%          
 Sugarbush, Vt.   3,000 162 8%          
 Stratton, Vt.   3,875 78 4%          
 Okemo, Vt.   3,300 83 4%