2022-23 Ski Season Progress Report as of January 31, 2023

Late October 2022 saw widespread moderate snowfall through much of the West. Some of this snowpack persisted in Utah and the Tetons as the first third of November was very snowy there as well as California. It was then mostly dry to Thanksgiving, so only Utah and the Tetons include October snowfall in the tables below. The earlier storms opened the majority of terrain at Grand Targhee, Mammoth and all 4 of Utah's Cottonwood Canyon areas on 4 foot bases. Widespread snow over most of the West through mid-December opened much more terrain. While most regions saw only modest snow the week before Christmas, many areas in the Sierra, Utah and northern Rockies were already set for the holidays on 4-6+ foot bases.

Intense atmospheric rivers hit the West Coast over the holidays with 4-6 feet of snow but also with lower elevation rain. These storms pushed into inland regions as well, particularly Utah. AR storms through the Sierra and Utah continued through January 19. During the rest of January storms were modest in the coastal regions but intense over most of the Rockies.

California: It snowed up to a foot during the first week of November, then 2+ feet at Tahoe and 4 feet at Mammoth Nov. 7-9. It snowed 3-4 feet Dec. 1-4 and another 3-4 feet Dec. 10-11. Base depths of 5-7+ feet were the deepest for mid-December since 2004. Two storms during Christmas Week dumped 3 feet plus considerable rain at low elevation and up to 6 feet above 9,000 feet, bringing average base depths up to 8 feet. During the first week of January another 4+ feet fell above 8,000 feet with 2-3 feet and some rain lower down. 6-9 feet more fell during the second week of January, bringing base depths to 10-15 feet. During these three weeks Arizona got 6 feet of snow while Southern California ski areas had mostly rain and about 2 feet of snow. The Sierra storms finished Jan. 19 with another 2-3 feet but Arizona got 6 feet more during the second half of January. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: There were three storms in late October but the last one was all rain. Early November storms started as rain but ended as snow. The Whistler alpine cams showed a considerable base Nov. 10, but opened 9% at Thanksgiving with no more new snow. After Thanksgiving it snowed 4 feet in Washington and 3 feet in Oregon with another 2-3 feet during the first half of December, yielding base depths of 5 feet at Mt. Baker (95% open) and 3-4 feet elsewhere. After another foot of new snow, Christmas weekend was ugly with freezing rain and some temporary closures. 2 feet of snow after Christmas restored surfaces, bringing base depths to 8 feet at Mt. Baker and 5 feet elsewhere. Less than a foot fell in Washington/Oregon during the first week of January but more at Whistler. During the second week of January 2 feet fell in Oregon and one foot farther north with some low elevation rain late in the week. A little under 2 feet of snow fell during the second half of January.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Late October and early November snowfall was above average but it was mostly dry for the next 3 weeks. From Thanksgiving through Christmas 4+ feet of snow fell in the Okanagan and Kootenay regions, but only half as much around Banff, which still has low tide conditions at the end of January. 1.5 - 3 feet fell during the holiday week, bringing Okanagan and Kootenay base depths to 4-5 feet. Banff was mostly dry during the first half of January while Okanagan and Kootenay areas got 1-2 feet of snow. Second half of January snowfall was 2 feet in the Okanagan, which is about average through the first half of the season. Other regions had only a foot during the second half of January so some areas are well below average. Silver Star and Sun Peaks have been 90+% open since Christmas.

U. S. Northern Rockies: Late October/early November snowfall was 4-6 feet in the Tetons and 2-3 feet elsewhere. There was 2-3 feet after Thanksgiving, another 2-3 feet during the first half of December and a foot the week before Christmas over most of the region. Jackson opened its tram Dec. 3, Big Sky is 93% open. Christmas base depths were 5 feet in the Tetons, 3-4 feet elsewhere, and it snowed another 2+ feet over the holidays at many areas. During the first week of January it snowed a foot in the Tetons but not much elsewhere. During the second week of January it snowed 2 feet in the Tetons, a foot in Idaho and less in Montana. The Tetons had an intense 4 foot dump the last weekend of January. Elsewhere late January snowfall ranged from under 2 feet near Canada to 3 feet at Bridger and Big Sky.

Utah: Late October/early November snowfall of 8 feet in the Cottonwoods and 4-5 feet elsewhere kicked off an excellent early season. From Thanksgiving to mid-December it snowed 7-9 feet in the Cottonwoods and 4-5 feet elsewhere. Christmas base depths were 6-7 feet in the Cottonwoods, and 4-5 feet elsewhere. During the holidays it has snowed 4+ feet in the Cottonwoods and 3 feet elsewhere. Alta snowfall through December was second all time to 1983-84, and it snowed another 3-4 feet during each of the first two weeks of January. Second half of January snowfall was 6 feet in the Cottonwoods and southern Utah and 3 feet elsewhere. Alta Collins' 472 inches through January blew away the prior record of 380 inches in 1992-93.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	472	184%	100%
Snowbird SNOTEL	430	187%	100%
Brighton/Solitude	408	175%	100%
Park City (mid estimate)	254	169%	100%
Snowbasin	273	173%	97%
Brian Head	210	142%	100%

Northern and Central Colorado: Snowmaking openings were A-Basin Oct. 23, Keystone Oct. 28 and Winter Park Oct. 31. Early November snowfall averaged 1.5 feet, with about 2 feet over the rest of the month. During the first half of December it snowed 5 feet at Steamboat, 3+ feet at Vail and Winter Park and 2+ feet elsewhere. Christmas base depths were 3-4 feet at the former 3 areas, which were closest to full operation for the holidays. Less than a foot fell during the week before Christmas, but an average 2 feet fell during Christmas Week. First half of January snowfall was 3+ feet at Steamboat and 2 feet elsewhere. Second half of January snowfall was 3 feet at most places but 4+ at Winter Park and Beaver Creek and 6 feet at Steamboat and Vail.

Southern and Western Colorado: Early November snowfall was almost 3 feet at Wolf Creek and about half that elsewhere. 1-2 feet fell over the rest of the month. First half of December snow was 2-3 feet and just a few inches the week before Christmas. Wolf Creek's Christmas base was 40-45 inches, but most areas had bases not much over 2 feet. 2+ feet of snow fell at most areas during the holiday week. During the first week of January it snowed 4 feet at Purgatory and Wolf Creek, and 2 feet farther north, where part of Crested Butte's North Face opened. The rest of the month brought consistent snow, totaling 5 feet over 3 weeks. Since Christmas it has snowed about 4 feet in New Mexico, most of that during the second half of January. Kachina Peak is open to hiking but not yet the chair.

Northeast: Warm weather and rain prevented any areas from opening for the first half of November. Through mid-December there was intermittent cold weather for snowmaking but storms were nearly all rain. 2-3 feet of snow fell Dec. 16-18. Rain on Dec. 23 closed some recently opened trails, but the storm ended with enough snow for some areas to remain over half open. Several rain events over the two weeks after Christmas reduced many trail counts well below half. There was some recovery but overall New England trail counts were near record low for mid-January, though Quebec had more snow and less rain. The second half of January finally opened most terrain with average 3 feet of snow and colder temperatures. Percents open: Okemo 91%, Hunter 69%, Sunday River 91%, Sugarloaf 80%, Tremblant 79%, Ste. Anne 80%.

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