2018-19 Ski Season Progress Report as of January 31, 2019

Colorado had some early snow opening Wolf Creek October 13 and assisting the Loveland and A-Basin openings a week later. In early November it snowed across the northern Rockies but strongest around the Continental Divide in Colorado. There was widespread snowfall over most the West the last two weeks of November. Thus the season got off to a strong start in the Northeast and in some western regions and was only seriously deficient in the Pacific Northwest. There was moderate snow from California to Colorado during the first week of December but mostly dry farther north. For the next two weeks the pattern reversed, with big storms in the Northwest and western Canada bringing most areas close to full operation, and only moderate snows farther south. Big Sky, Bridger and Grand Targhee in the Northern Rockies and nearly everywhere in northern and central Colorado remained in excellent shape for the holidays based on the strong early season. Other regions were below average with some expert terrain not open for the holidays. The exceptions close to full holiday operation operation were Mammoth, Kirkwood, Aspen/Snowmass and Utah's Cottonwood Canyons. There was scattered snow over the holiday week, but only Washington and Oregon got much more than a foot.

During the first half of January, the storm track split, with the strongest ones going into Canada and California. During ther third week of January major storms pounded California and Utah with lesser amounts in adjacent regions. The last week of January was mostly dry.

Snowfall totals below are since November 1 except for a few areas which opened early or with snowpacks that indicate substantial snow in October.

California: Mt. Rose opened opened its 200 vertical beginner lift most weekends since Oct. 19. Mammoth delayed its snowmaking opening from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10. There was no natural snow until 1.5 - 2 feet fell over Thanksgiving weekend and 2-3 feet the last weekend of November. After another foot of snow in early December, base depths reached 3-4 feet. Mammoth and Kirkwood reached full operation with most other areas over half open. Open terrain was fairly stable through the holidays with the ongoing small snows refreshing surfaces but not adding much to the 2-4 foot snowpack. Over the first weekend in January most Sierra areas got 3-4 feet of snow, bringing base depths to 3-6 feet and opening most terrain. 4-6 feet of snow fell during the third week of January, being base depoths to 5-8 feet. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: The region had just a few inches in October and almost none in November until Thanksgiving week. Late November brought 2 feet of snow in Washington and 3 feet in Oregon. Open terrain was very limited through the first week of December, with Whistler having the least open on Dec. 1 in over 20 years. During the middle two weeks of December it dumped 11 feet at Whistler and Mt. Baker and 4-6 feet farther south. During Christmas week it snowed a foot at Whistler and average 3 feet in Washington and Oregon, bringing base depths to 4-6+ feet. First half of January snowfall was 2-3 feet in Washington and Oregon and 6 feet at Whistler. Second half of January snowfall ranged from just over a foot at Whistler to 2.5 feet in Oregon.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: There was widespread scattered snowfall in both October and November. The most snow fell between Revelstoke and Banff with lesser amounts farther south and west. The Banff and Okanagan regions got significant terrain open early, but other areas were more restricted. The first week of December was dry but 3-5 feet fell during the next two weeks. Silver Star was 95% open by Dec. 15 and Sun Peaks 93% before Christmas, and both 100% at New Year's. About a foot of snow fell over the holidays, and New Year's base depths were 4-5 feet. 2-3 feet fell during the first half of January. Second half of January snowfall averaged barely a foot as the main storm track was far to the south.

U. S. Northern Rockies: Central Montana got off to an excellent start with Discovery 21% open on Nov. 16 and half open for Thanksgiving. Bridger opened for Thanksgiving, two weeks ahead of schedule. Big Sky reached 83% open by Dec. 15. Wyoming's start was above average but Idaho and the interior Northwest were well below average. The Tetons got 2-3 feet in December before Christmas plus 3 feet over the holidays. The previously deficient Interior Northwest improved with 4-5 feet during the last three weeks of December. New Years' base depths were 7 feet at Targhee and 4-5 feet elsewhere. First half of January snowfall was 2+ feet in the interior Northwest but only about a foot farther south. During the second half of January snowfall ranged from 2 feet near the Canadian border to 4+ feet in the Tetons.

Utah: Utah had 2+ feet of early October snow but it only snowed a foot from mid-October up to Thanksgiving. During the rest of November it snowed 4 feet in the Cottonwoods and lesser amounts elsewhere. 3 feet of December snow opened the majority of terrain in the Cottonwoods, and another 2 feet fell during the holidays, leaving base depths of 5 feet in the Cottonwoods but still under 3 feet in Park City. There was an average of 2 feet of snow during the first half of January. During the third week of Janaury it dumped 5-7 feet in the Cottonwoods and 3-4+ feet elsewhere.

Northern and Central Colorado: Cold early October weather and scattered snow allowed Loveland and A-Basin to open October 19. In late October/early November it snowed 4+ feet over much of this region. Ongoing modest snowfalls led to a well above average Thanksgiving including early openings of Vail's original Back Bowl and Horseshoe/Imperial Bowl at Breckenridge. Another foot of snow in late November opened more terrain by Dec. 1 than is usually open by Dec. 15, including 46% at A-Basin. 3-5 feet of snow in December continued to open more terrain. This was the standout region of the early season and had excellent conditions for the holidays. A-Basin was 84% open Dec. 15, second highest for mid-December in 24 years. A-Basin is 99% open now, and regional base depths are 4-5 feet. Only a foot of snow fell during the first half of January, but the California/Utah storm track during the second half of Janaury produced 3-5 feet of snow in this region.

Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek opened October 13 after a 30-inch storm. November's snow was below average, though most of it came late in the month. In December Aspen/Snowmass had 5 feet of snow but there was less than 3 feet farther south. Elsewhere much of the steep terrain was not yet open. Wolf Creek had a 4 foot base, but base depths averaged 3 feet elsewhere. Most of the Southwest had 1+ foot of snow during Christmas Week and 2-3 feet during the first half of January, with 5 feet at Wolf Creek. About half of Crested Butte's North Face opened the first weekend of January and most of the rest later in January. Taos opened Kachina Peak Jan. 16 but closed it after an avalanche the next day. Most of the region got 3 feet of snow during the second half of January.

Northeast: Killington and Sunday River opened on snowmaking October 19. November through Thanksgiving was much colder than normal with some snow. Thus open terrain at Thanksgiving was similar to a week into December of an average year. 2-3 feet of late November snow brought open terrain to record highs for Dec. 1 across the Northeast with many areas also setting November snowfall records. Rain on Dec. 2 cut most trail counts by half but there was recovery over the next two weeks with ensuing cold weather, particularly in northern Vermont with 2+ feet of new snow. Unfortunately another major rain Dec. 21 slashed trail counts again going into the holidays. There was some mixed precipitation during the holiday week. 2-3 feet of snow during the second week of January opened most terrain. Despite one minor episode of mixed precipitation, the second half of Janaury was excellent, with 3 feet of snow in most areas and 4-5 feet in the northern half of Vermont. Percents open: Okemo 100%, Hunter 72%, Sunday River 100%, Sugarloaf 73%, Tremblant 100%, Mont St. Anne 99%.

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