October 2021 precipitation was heavy along the West Coast, though mostly with very high rain/snow lines. The Oct. 24-25 storm opened Mammoth and Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) on Oct. 29. Substantial snow has also accumulated in the Whistler alpine. Grand Targhee and Utah's Cottonwood Canyons have had the most snow through mid-November. But overall first half of November snowfall (generally reported here through November 13) has been below average, which combined with warm temperatures have postponed some scheduled opening dates. Delayed opening dates are a red flag for early season skiing. Avoid these resorts until there is significant new snow.
California: There were small snowfalls in mid-October. A major atmospheric river dumped several inches of rain up to
10,000 feet before dumping 3+ feet of heavy snow Oct. 24-25. On Oct. 29 Mammoth opened 22% of terrain and Palisades Tahoe 13%
but only for 3 days. It's been warm the first half of November with 7-11 inches new snow above 8,000 feet and much snow melting out
lower down. Only Mammoth is open (27%) on a 10-30 inch base with 40 inches snowfall. Tahoe season snowfalls: Palisades 49, Mt. Rose
48 inches, Alpine Meadows 37, Sugar Bowl 57. Northstar and Heavenly have delayed their openings.
Pacific Northwest: The entire month of October was very wet but the rain/snow line was high. November has continued the warm
but wet pattern. A solid snowpack is accmulating at 6,000 feet at both Whistler and Blackcomb. Mt. Baker got 4 feet of snow last
week but heavy rain reduced its base to 14 inches. Mt. Bachelor has had 18 inches snowfall but has postponed its opening, as has Crystal.
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: October snowfall was average and the Banff areas opened a week into November. Snowfall in inches,
base depths and percent open if applicable, updated as of Nov. 17 due to last weekend's storm: Kicking Horse (62, 38), Revelstoke (107, 42),
Lake Louise (51, 33, 11%), Sunshine (76, 43, 23%), Castle Mt. (35, 13), Red Mt (21,0).
U. S. Northern Rockies: Snowfall and base depths: Grand Targhee (77, 30), Jackson (29, 12), Brundage (10, 0), Schweitzer (8, 0),
Lookout (19,3).
Utah: Utah had well above average October snowfall, but it was gradual so no one opened. Warm and dry November weather has delayed
Park City's opening. Snowfall and base depths: Alta (81, 31), Snowbird (72, 27), Solitude (69, 24), Snowbasin (43, 6), Brian Head (27, 0).
Northern and Central Colorado: October snowfalls were modest, so the openings (A-Basin Oct. 17, Keystone Oct. 23 and Loveland Oct. 31)
were all less than 2% of terrain on snowmaking. Snowfall, base depths and percent open if applicable:
Beaver Creek (32,18), Breckenridge (32, 18, 2%), Keystone (29, 18, 4%), Loveland (60, 21, 5%), Vail (36, 18, 1%). A-Basin is 6% open on a
22 inch base. Steamboat's opening has been postponed.
Southern and Western Colorado: Snowfall and base depths: Gothic Snow Lab (26, 2), Monarch (26, 13). Wolf Creek is 10% open on a
12 inch base with 31 inches snowfall. Telluride's opening has been postponed.
Northeast: No one reported new snow in New England or eastern Canada until the seocnd weekend of November. Killington opened Nov. 6
and remains at 2% open. Snowfalls from the recent storm: Jay 14, Stowe 13, Killington 10.
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