There was a widespread western storm at the start of October, but that snow is gone. Snow from a late October storm of 1+ foot in some of the West probably persists in well preserved locations or those with good November snow. November snowfall was below average in the western coastal regions but well above average at many areas in the Rockies. Most western areas got 1-2 feet in early December, but the middle weeks were more erratic. The western coastal regions continued to be shortchanged through the holidays, when storms flowed through Canada, Montana and northern Colorado. During the second week the storm track moved far enough south to bring the first big dumps to the Pacific Northwest, continuing on to the Northern Rockies, Utah and most of Colorado. The entire West is predicted dry for the next week. Snow totals exclude October for most areas, though for some whose online reporting starts at area opening it's not possible to separate it out.
California: Minimal snow was left from 2 October storms after the first 3 dry weeks in November. There was
less than one foot of snow in late November, about a foot in early December and up to 2 feet of light snow mid-month
and a few inches before Christmas. The drought has continued through the first half of January with no relief in sight.
Currently less than a quarter of terrain is open, nearly all on snowmaking with variable coverage and surfaces. The
Sierra should be avoided until there is a substantial dump to restore surfaces and open more terrain. Conditions are so bad
that skiers scheduled in the next few weeks should bail out and go somewhere else, even with cancellation penalties.
See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Alpine Meadows |
36 |
26% |
18% |
|
Squaw 8,000 |
36 |
20% |
11% |
|
Northstar |
38 |
31% |
15% |
|
Mt. Rose |
35 |
25% |
22% |
|
Heavenly |
49 |
36% |
12% |
|
Kirkwood |
56 |
29% |
9% |
|
Mammoth |
35 |
24% |
17% |
|
Southern Cal |
12 |
30% |
0-50% |
|
Arizona Snowbowl |
59 |
62% |
90% |
Pacific Northwest: The early storm caused Crystal and Stevens to open for one day each in early October. November snowfall
was below average and there was about 2 feet in early December. There was average only a foot the rest of the month, so the region had
a poor holiday season. Conditions have greatly improved with 4+ feet in the past week, thouigh surfaces can be variable with a
fluctuating rain/snow line. Base depths are now 4-6 feet.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Whistler |
120 |
60% |
98% |
|
Crystal Mt. |
127 |
67% |
88% |
|
Stevens Pass |
164 |
74% |
98% |
|
Mt. Bachelor |
99 |
56% |
34% |
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: November snow was well above average in most of this region. The Okanagan and Kootenay areas
had over 4 feet in December and most had excellent holiday skiing. Base depths are 6+ feet at the upper elevations at
Revelstoke, Fernie and Whitewater. Silver Star and Sun Peaks are 100% open with 4-5 foot bases. Farther east was
sketchier through most of December, with bases 3 feet or less, but conditions improved with 2+ feet of snow in late December. Most areas
are having an excellent January with 4 feet of new snow so far.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Big White |
155 |
108% |
91% |
|
Lake Louise |
120 |
149% |
77% |
|
Sunshine |
155 |
136% |
86% |
|
Revelstoke |
202 |
114% |
98% |
|
Kicking Horse |
133 |
107% |
89% |
|
Whitewater |
196 |
108% |
96% |
|
Red Mt. |
95 |
75% |
89% |
|
Fernie |
185 |
107% |
100% |
|
Castle Mt. |
110 |
90% |
97% |
U. S. Northern Rockies:Targhee opened 3/4 of terrain the weekend before Thanksgiving and Whitefish shared the early storms
in Canada. Elsewhere in the region November was about average. December snow ranged from 6 feet in much of Montana to only 2.5 feet
at most Idaho areas. Base depths were 5 feet at Whitefish, Bridger and Targhee for the best holiday skiing. First half of January
snow has been 4 feet in Montana and Wyoming and 3 feet in Idaho.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Grand Targhee |
197 |
93% |
100% |
|
Jackson Hole |
163 |
94% |
98% |
|
Whitefish |
168 |
112% |
100% |
|
Bridger |
167 |
132% |
100% |
|
Schweitzer |
106 |
82% |
100% |
|
Brundage |
83 |
58% |
98% |
|
Sun Valley |
43.5 |
48% |
57% |
Utah: The Wasatch got the early October storm but it melted out. November snowfall was half of normal,
and first half of December storms were 2-3 feet. A mid-December storm of almost 2 feet brought Cottonwood Canyon base
depths close to 4 feet. Advanced skiing was limited elsewhere during the holidays with base depths no more than 3 feet.
Conditions are now greatly improved with 3-4 feet during the first half of January.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Alta |
157 |
70% |
95% |
|
Snowbird |
158 |
85% |
85% |
|
Brighton/Solitude |
130 |
60% |
85% |
|
Park City group |
125 |
101% |
91% |
|
Snowbasin |
116 |
88% |
84% |
|
Brian Head |
62 |
48% |
76% |
Northern and Central Colorado: A-Basin and Loveland opened their first snowmaking runs on October 13 and 14.
Early snowfall was above average and December slightly below average. Steamboat and Winter Park have had most terrain open
since mid-December, while most other areas passed the half open mark just before Christmas. A-Basin is 59% open. Most base depths
are in the 4+ foot range after an excellent first half of January with 3-5 feet of snow. Some areas are reporting snow totals
including early October snow that I exclude below.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Beaver Creek |
129 |
91% |
96% |
|
Breckenridge |
171 |
122% |
79% |
|
Copper Mt. |
136 |
114% |
80% |
|
Keystone |
85 |
88% |
75% |
|
Loveland |
148 |
109% |
71% |
|
Steamboat |
190 |
118% |
100% |
|
Vail |
167 |
109% |
86% |
|
Winter Park |
163.5 |
110% |
95% |
Southern and Western Colorado: Early October snow melted out, but late October snow was built upon in November. A strong
southern storm came through during the week before Thanksgiving, followed by another 2 feet in early December and up to a foot
mid-December, so base depths are well above average at 3.5 feet, and 5.5 feet at Wolf Creek. Taos had its best opening since 1996-97,
but has had only 6 inches in the past month with other southern areas getting somewhat more. Aspen and Crested Butte have done
better, with 3 feet of snow in the first half of January.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Gothic Snow Lab |
135 |
93% |
N/A |
|
Aspen/Snowmass |
135 |
134% |
96% |
|
Crested Butte |
131 |
130% |
61% |
|
Telluride |
117 |
108% |
98% |
|
Durango |
113 |
107% |
100% |
|
Wolf Creek |
167 |
109% |
100% |
|
Taos |
96 |
88% |
83% |
Northeast: Killington and Sunday River opened at the end of October on snowmaking. November and early
December were above average for snowmaking though mostly below average for snowfall. There were 2-3 feet of snow
mid-December but it rained at least to the Canadian border the weekend before Christmas. The holiday week was
been cold with up to a foot of snow, with another foot in early January. However trail counts have been reduced by
a severe rain/freeze.
Percents open: Okemo 68%, Stratton 81%, Hunter 69%, Sunday River 62%, Sugarloaf 32%, Tremblant 90%, Ste. Anne 45%
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Jay Peak (mid) |
118 |
86% |
41% |
|
Stowe |
98 |
81% |
50% |
|
Sugarbush |
83 |
72% |
53% |
|
Killington |
67 |
63% |
46% |
|
Cannon Mt. |
59 |
91% |
52% |
|
Whiteface |
55 |
67% |
52% |
|
Le Massif |
67 |
66% |
58% |
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