During the third week of October a widespread western storm hit many regions of the West with up to 3+ feet of snow. No areas opened to the public from this storm. This October snow is not counted in season totals except for a few higher and colder places that were at least half open for Thanksgiving weekend. Overall western November snowfall was average or better with the conspicuous exception of Colorado, which has had less than half normal snow and still has very limited skiing. There was a substantial storm along the West Coast at the start of December with much snow at high elevation but rain lower down. Then a big Pacific Northwest storm moved into most of the Rockies with more moderate snows. The middle 2 weeks of December were very snowy over most of the West with the biggest dumps along the West Coast. Thus all areas in the Pacific Northwest, US Northern Rockies and Western Canada were close to or at full operation for the holidays along with Utah's Cottonwood Canyons and most Sierra resorts. During the holiday week there was another big storm in California and Utah, with lesser amounts in adjacent regions. During the first week of January almost no place in the western US got as much as a foot of snow and most places had less than 6 inches. Last week brought some but not a lot of snow to all western regions. The third week of Janaury was even drier than the first week. The last week of January had moderate snow in most regions, with largest amounts in the Northwest, Utah and some of the Southwest. A few Colorado areas remained in severely limited operation, very unusual for the end of January. The first half of February continued the dry pattern, with most regions getting no more than half of normal snow. Fortunately the exception was Colorado, so most areas there finally attained close to normal mid-season operation as of mid-February. Second half of February snowfall was close to average throughout the West except for California, which remained mostly dry. First half of March snowfall was overall below average with a few isolated exceptions. Storms were strongest in the pacifc Northwest and western Canada but there was some rain below 6,000 feet. Spring conditions are prevalent at many low altitude and sun exposed areas, particularly with last week being warm over much of the West.
California: North Tahoe had some of the most October snow, with 37 inches at Squaw Valley which opened a couple of runs for a one-day
private event. Farther south Kirkwood got 24-31 inches and Mammoth 17 inches. Mammoth and Kirkwood preserved the early base and with 3 feet of
dense new snow were 60% and 50% open for Thanksgiving. The late November/early December storms dumped 4+ feet of snow at 9,000+ feet but mostly
rain below 7,000. Mid-December storms were colder, dropping 4 feet of snow even at lower elevations. Thus most but not all of the
previously rained upon terrain was open by Christmas. The holiday week storms dumped another 3-4 feet so nearly all Sierra terrain was open
with base depths of 4-12 feet. After a dry early January there were some variable conditions at low elevations but conditions were refreshed
with up to a foot of snow in mid-January. Late January Sierra snow was a foot at Mammoth but only a few inches at Tahoe, while a larger storm farther
south dumped 4 feet of snow in Arizona but was mostly rain in Southern California. February was even drier than January, with no more than a foot of
snow for the entire month. The Sierra got 2 fee tof snow a week ago but it has since been warm. Surface conditions at Tahoe are variable, with some
thinning base at the lowest elevations. There is more packed powder at Mammoth. See Current California
Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Squaw 8,000 |
266 |
74% |
60% |
|
Northstar |
205 |
84% |
95% |
|
Mt. Rose |
225 |
82% |
100% |
|
Kirkwood |
285.5 |
73% |
100% |
|
Mammoth |
276 |
96% |
100% |
|
Southern Cal |
70 |
66% |
10-100% |
|
Arizona Snowbowl |
219 |
110% |
100% |
Pacific Northwest: The entire region got 3-5 feet of snow during Thanksgiving week. Late November snow was mostly rain at base elevations
and mostly snow above ~5,000 feet. First half of December snow ranged from 3+ feet in Oregon to 5-7 feet in Washington and at Whistler. The pre-Christmas
week snow was another 5 feet over the entire region and Mt. Baker's base went over 150 inches. Holiday week snow ranged from less than a foot in Canada
to 2 feet in Oregon. In early January there was 1+ foot at Whistler and northern Washington but no more than 6 inches farther south. There was 1+ foot over
most of the region in mid-January and 2+ feet in Washington and Oregon late in the month. 1+ foot in the first half of February, with more snow north than south.
Second half of February snowfall ranged from 2+ feet south to 4 feet in the north. In the first half of March the Whistler alpine had 4+ feet of snow, but
Washington and Oregon had less than 2 feet.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Whistler |
387 |
111% |
100% |
|
Crystal Mt. |
374 |
113% |
100% |
|
Stevens Pass |
411 |
106% |
100% |
|
Mt. Bachelor |
301 |
97% |
100% |
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: October snow fell over most of these areas, topped by Revelstoke's 69 inches, some of which was in September.
November snowfall was at least average through most of the region. Base depths are in the 4-5 foot range and much more terrain than normal is open early.
Big White, Silver Star and Sun Peaks were all 93+% open before Christmas. There was 3-5 feet of snow during the first half of December, including to the areas that had
low elevation rain the previous week. The pre-Christmas Northwest storm dumped 3 feet in the Okanagan and 4-6 feet in the Kootenays. All of the region was
close to full operation for an excellent holiday season. Base depths ranged from 4 feet in Alberta to 8 feet at Whitewater, with less than a foot of new
snow during the holiday week. Average 2+ feet during the first half of January and 1-2 feet during the second half. 1+ foot during the first half of February.
Second half of February snowfall ranged from a foot at the Banff areas to nearly 4 feet at Revelstoke, Whitewater and Fernie. The first half of March
brought over 3 feet of snow to the Banff areas and Kicking Horse, with 2 feet and some rain mix to the lower elevation areas farther west.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Lake Louise |
180 |
135% |
99% |
|
Sunshine |
277 |
143% |
100% |
|
Big White |
280 |
122% |
100% |
|
Revelstoke |
327 |
109% |
100% |
|
Kicking Horse |
218 |
105% |
100% |
|
Whitewater |
359 |
112% |
100% |
|
Red Mt. |
231 |
102% |
100% |
|
Fernie |
331 |
110% |
100% |
|
Castle Mt. |
182 |
82% |
100% |
U. S. Northern Rockies: Overall November snowfall was average but as in other regions high elevation areas had more snow, less rain and have more open terrain. Most areas had 4-6 feet of snow in December but Schweitzer has had 9 feet from the strong Northwest storm track. Sun Valley had 4 feet in November and 3 feet in early December for one of its best early starts. Big Sky was 75% open by mid-December and 92% for Christmas. Most of the region had a strong holiday season with 1+ foot of snow in the Tetons and lesser amounts further north. In early January the region averaged about 1/2 foot of snow but then 1+ foot last week. In late January snowfall varied from a few inches at Sun Valley to 3 feet at Brundage, Bridger and Targhee. There was a 2+ foot storm during the second week of February in the Tetons and southern Montana, but the rest of the region had less than a foot in the first half of February. Wyoming and Montana areas averaged 3 feet of snow in the second half of February while Idaho areas averaged 2 feet. Early March snowfall was 1+ foot throught the region with some rain at the lower Northwest influenced areas. Now there are mostly spring conditions after a warm second week of March.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Grand Targhee |
331 |
85% |
100% |
|
Jackson Hole |
256 |
81% |
93% |
|
Whitefish |
237 |
90% |
100% |
|
Bridger |
242 |
103% |
100% |
|
Schweitzer |
246 |
108% |
100% |
|
Sun Valley |
151.5 |
92% |
100% |
|
Brundage |
179 |
71% |
100% |
Utah: The northern areas in Utah got the most October snow, 45 inches at Powder Mt. and 36 at Snowbasin, but the Cottonwood areas got a
4+ foot mid-November dump. The next 2 weeks Utah was dry but in mid-December there was 3-6 feet of snow and another 2-3+ feet during the holiday week.
The Cottonwood areas were close to full operation by mid-December but the Park City group and the Ogden areas reached majority operation around
Christmas. Brian Head was limited before Christmas but got nearly 4 feet over the holidays. After about 10 dry days there was 1+ foot in mid-January,
topped by 2 feet at Snowbasin. Late January snow was 3 feet in the Cottonwood and Ogden areas and half that at Park City. First half of February snow
was 2 feet in the Cottonwoods and Brian Head but less than a foot elsewhere. 2-4 feet in the second half of February, 1.5 feet in early March and mostly spring
conditions now after a warm week.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Alta |
340 |
84% |
100% |
|
Snowbird |
298 |
85% |
100% |
|
Brighton/Solitude |
274 |
71% |
100% |
|
Park City group |
180 |
76% |
93% |
|
Snowbasin |
209 |
88% |
95% |
|
Brian Head |
218 |
85% |
94% |
Northern and Central Colorado: This region had a near record dry November, even worse than last year. Despite 2-3+ feet of snow during mid-December
most areas were half or less open during the busy holiday period. Steamboat got a 3+ foot dump at Christmas and has since been close to full operation.
Other areas got 1-2 feet during the holiday week. Vail opened some but not all of the back bowls at Christmas. There was less than a foot snowfall during the
first 3 weeks of January, and late January snowfall approached 3 feet at Steamboat but about than half as much elsewhere. 2+ feet of snow fell during the
first half of February at most areas, with 3+ at Winter Park and Steamboat. 2-4 feet during the second half of February continued to improve conditions.
This has been the best region during the first half of March with 3+ feet in Summit County and 2 feet elsewhere. A-Basin is now 89% open.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Beaver Creek |
197 |
76% |
100% |
|
Breckenridge |
222 |
97% |
100% |
|
Copper Mt. |
157 |
72% |
99% |
|
Keystone |
139 |
78% |
94% |
|
Loveland |
176 |
70% |
99% |
|
Steamboat |
279 |
99% |
100% |
|
Vail |
220 |
78% |
98% |
|
Winter Park |
203 |
74% |
94% |
Southern and Western Colorado: The Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen (snowier climate than either) had had the driest start in its 39 years of records through early December but got 5 feet in the last 3 weeks of the month. Snowfall leader Wolf Creek was open but sketchy until it got 4 feet in the second week of December. Second half of December snow was 5 feet at Wolf Creek and 2-3 feet elsewhere. There was less than a foot of snow during the first 3 weeks of January with the usual exception of 2 feet at Wolf Creek. The late January storm dumped 2-3+ feet at the southern areas and there was another 3+ feet in the first half of February. The southern areas continued strong with 2-4 feet in the second half of February, but less than half as much farther north. Average 2 feet of snow in the first half of March. Taos reached full operation in early February and its base is now 5-6 feet. Crested Butte opened some of the North Face in early February.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Gothic Snow Lab |
173 |
61% |
N/A |
|
Crested Butte |
127.5 |
65% |
62% |
|
Telluride |
199 |
95% |
99% |
|
Durango |
186 |
90% |
97% |
|
Wolf Creek |
329 |
113% |
100% |
Northeast: Hurricane Sandy was all rain in New England and eastern Canada so Sunday River missed a Halloween opening for the first time
in 5 years. Killington was open 2 days earlier in October but then closed. The snow from Sandy was in the Appalachians, where 2 North Carolina
areas opened with snowmaking assistance but none in West Virginia where over 2 feet of snow fell. Northeast snowfall was less than a
foot through Thanksgiving, but there was up to a foot of snow in late November. There was minimal snow in the first half of December. The week before
Christmas there was 2-3 feet of snow in northern New England, the Laurentians and the Quebec City area, topped by 5+ feet at Le Massif. Christmas
week snowfall of 2-4 feet finally opened most terrain. Surface conditions remained excellent for the first 1/3 of January with 1-2 feet new.
A mid-January warmup and some rain cut back trail counts. For the rest of January they improved only slighly with very erratic weather despite
1-2 feet of snow. Early February snow was 2+ feet in most of New England with 3+ in northern Vermont. Second half of February skiing has been
good with 2-4 feet of snow. There has been up to 2 feet of snow in the first hlaf of March, but also some warm weather so trail counts have declined some.
Percents open: Okemo 85%, Stratton 89%, Hunter 84%, Sunday River 70%, Sugarloaf 61%, Tremblant 92%, Ste. Anne 75%
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Jay Peak (mid) |
263 |
95% |
78% |
|
Stowe |
231 |
104% |
85% |
|
Sugarbush |
236 |
107% |
96% |
|
Killington |
173 |
85% |
78% |
|
Whiteface |
160 |
110% |
63% |
|
Cannon Mt. |
164 |
124% |
66% |
|
Le Massif |
205 |
109% |
92% |
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