October 2020 snowfall was mostly in Canada. In late October a storm dipped down the Continental Divide into Colorado and New Mexico. Openings at some areas may be delayed until enough lifts/terrain can be opened for COVID-19 social distancing despite what is looking like an above average November for snow. The first week of November was dry but the first widespread storms hit the West this weekend, with South Tahoe, Utah and Wolf Creek being the big winners. Wolf Creek is now 85% open on a 43-46 inch base. The Pacific Northwest expects snow this week and other regions are likely to get more snow next weekend.
California: There was no snow in October. Last weekend's storm was 8-10 inches in North Tahoe and peaked SW of the lake with 20 inches
at Sierra-Tahoe. Mammoth will open Nov. 13 with 14 inches new plus cold temperatures all this week for snowmaking.
See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
Pacific Northwest: Crystal, Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor reported no October snow. Bachelor will not open until Dec. 7.
Whistler cams show snow on the ground at upper lodges but it's hard to tell how much. Hood Meadows got 3 inches last weekend,
but the entire region will get 1-2 feet this week.
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: October snowfall was significant only in this region,with modest additons in early November.
Snowfall and base depths in inches: Kicking Horse (59, 20), Sunshine (51, 21), Lake Louise (41, 19-22), Fernie (28, 15). Lake
Louise is 25% open by trail count. Big White has an 8 inch base and Revelstoke usually has a bit more snow than Kicking Horse.
U. S. Northern Rockies: Montana had October snow but mostly east of the Continental Divide, 45 inches at Red Lodge. Great Divide
opened a couple of runs with snowmaking assistance Oct. 31 but lost them to warm weather the next week. Other snowfall and base depths:
Grand Targhee (30, 14), Jackson (20, 9).
Utah: Utah was extremely dry in October but got a substantial dump last weekend: 27 inches at Alta, 20 at the Snowbird SNOTEL and
16 at Snowbasin.
Northern and Central Colorado: This was possibly the first October in over 25 years with no ski area open despite a late October
storm averaging 10 inches. The dry summer may have limited water for snowmaking at A-Basin and Loveland. Keystone opened 4% on Nov. 6.
More snowmaking should ensue with the cold weather after 10-15 inches fell this weekend. A-Basin opened one run Nov. 9.
Southern and Western Colorado: A late October storm dropped 13 inches at the Gothic Snow Lab and 22 inches at Monarch and
Taos. Wolf Creek got 39 inches in October and 37 last weekend and so is now 85% open. Other areas got 10-15 inches last weekend.
Northeast: No one has opened yet in New England. Mont Saint-Sauveur opened Oct. 30. Northern Vermont got 1+ foot at the start
of November but the ensuing week was very warm. Snowfall totals: Killington 24 inches, Sugarbush 13, Jay 18, Le Massif 5.
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