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 widespread storms hit the West first weekend of November, with South Tahoe, Utah and Wolf Creek being the big winners. During the second week of November the Northwest and US Northern Rockies got 3-4 feet, with lesser amounts in adjacent regions. Wolf Creek is 98% open with a 4 foot base and Grand Targhee will open Nov. 20 with comparable snowpack.
California: There was no snow in October. The early November storm was 8-10 inches in North Tahoe and peaked SW of the
lake with 20 inches at Sierra-Tahoe. Mammoth opened 5% Nov. 13 with 14 inches new plus cold temperatures for snowmaking.
See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
Pacific Northwest: Crystal, Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor reported minimal snow through the first week of November. But last
week's snowfall was 64 inches at Mt. Bachelor, 48 at Hood Meadows, 40 at Crystal and 27 at Whistler. Upcoming storms will be
rain/snow mix but a few areas might open by Thanksgiving.
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: October snowfall was significant only in this region, with gradual additions so far in
November. Snowfall and base depths in inches: Kicking Horse (69, 26), Sunshine (70, 31), Lake Louise (50, 24), Fernie (46, 13),
Revelstoke (66, 40), Big White (39, 27, open 11/28). Lake Louise opened Oct. 31 and is now 49% open by trail count. Sunshine is 41% open.
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. Last week it snowed 3-4 feet in
Montana and Wyoming and 2 feet in Idaho. Snowfall and base depths in inches: Grand Targhee (79, 42, open 11/20), Jackson (59, 35, open 11/26),
Whitefish (50, 35, open 12/10), Brundage (24, 13).
Utah: Utah was extremely dry in October but got 2+ feet over the first weekend of November and a similar amount through last week.
Snowfall and base depths in inches: Alta (57, 24, open 11/20), Snowbird SNOTEL (58, 30, open 11/30), Snowbasin (42, 30, open 11/26).
Brian Head got 19 inches from the first storm but none after that.
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 (now 5%).
A-Basin opened 1% Nov. 9, Breckenridge 2%, Loveland 2% and A-Basin 1% Nov. 13. Snowfall since Nov. 1: Breckenridge 27 inches, Keystone 23,
Loveland 20.
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 41 so far in Novmeber to reach 98% open on 45-50 inch base. Other November snow totals:
Gothic 18 inches, Crested Butte 15, Monarch 16.
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 it has since been very warm. Snowfall totals: Killington 24 inches, Sugarbush 13, Jay 18, Le Massif 5.
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