Colorado had some early snow opening Wolf Creek October 13 and assisting the Loveland and A-Basin openings a week later. In early November it snowed across the northern Rockies but strongest around the Continental Divide in Colorado. There was widespread snowfall over the West during Thanksgiving week. Due to earlier storms the season is off to a strong start in the Rockies of both US and Canada, but is progressively more deficient moving toward the West Coast.
Snowfall totals below are since November 1 except for a few areas which opened early or with snowpacks that indicate substantial snow in October.
California: Mt. Rose opened opened its 200 vertical beginner lift most weekends since Oct. 19.
Mammoth delayed its snowmaking opening from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10. There was no natural snow until 1.5 - 2 feet
fell over Thanksgiving weekend. Skiing is extremely limited now but another moderate storm is expected next week.
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 |
25 |
55% |
4% |
Alpine Meadows |
21 |
65% |
2% |
Mt. Rose |
15 |
44% |
15% |
Heavenly |
22 |
55% |
1% |
Kirkwood |
25 |
52% |
9% |
Mammoth |
19 |
55% |
19% |
Southern Cal |
0 |
0% |
0-9% |
Pacific Northwest: The region had just a few inches in October and almost none in November until Thanksgiving
week. Very little is open yet, but as in California more snow is expected next week.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Whistler |
29 |
47% |
2% |
Crystal Mt. |
15 |
29% |
4% |
Stevens Pass |
22 |
36% |
Closed |
Mt. Hood |
28 |
49% |
1% |
Mt. Bachelor |
17 |
33% |
1% |
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: There has been widespread scattered snowfall in both October and
November. The most snow has fallen between Revelstoke and Banff with lesser amounts farther south and west.
Louise and Sunshine have significant terrain open early, but other areas are more restricted or not yet open
due to remote location.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Big White |
38 |
85% |
14% |
Lake Louise |
54 |
189% |
46% |
Sunshine |
63 |
168% |
60% |
Revelstoke |
66 |
116% |
Dec. 1 |
Kicking Horse |
40 |
92% |
Dec. 7 |
Red Mt. |
17 |
49% |
Dec. 8 |
Fernie |
30 |
63% |
Dec. 1 |
U. S. Northern Rockies: Central Montana got off to an excellent start with Discovery 21% open on Nov. 16
and half open for Thanksgiving. Bridger opened for Thanksgiving, two weeks ahead of schedule. Big Sky is 19% open
but its 30-45 inch base is very high for November. Wyoming's start is above average but Idaho and the interior
Northwest are well below average.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Grand Targhee |
82 |
148% |
100% |
Jackson Hole |
51 |
104% |
19% |
Bridger |
77 |
214% |
100% |
Schweitzer |
16 |
45% |
1% |
Brundage |
21 |
55% |
1% |
Sun Valley |
8 |
31% |
9% |
Utah: Utah had 2+ feet of early October snow but it only snowed a foot from mid-October up to Thanksgiving. The
Thanksgiving weekend storms dumped 2.5 feet in the Cottonwoods and about half as much elsewhere. Skiing is very limited now but
more snow is expected next week.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Alta |
37.5 |
54% |
9% |
Snowbird SNOTEL |
32 |
54% |
6% |
Brighton |
43 |
63% |
38% |
Park City (mid estimate) |
12 |
32% |
4% |
Snowbasin |
26 |
63% |
10% |
Brian Head |
21 |
57% |
11% |
Northern and Central Colorado: Cold early October weather and scattered snow allowed Loveland and A-Basin
to open October 19. In late October/early November it snowed 4+ feet over much of this region. Ongoing modest snowfalls
have led to a well above average Thanksgiving including early openings of Vail's original Back Bowl and Horseshoe/Imperial
Bowl at Breckenridge. A-Basin is 25% open. Base depths are in the 3 foot range.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Beaver Creek |
66 |
144% |
28% |
Breckenridge |
80 |
218% |
46% |
Copper Mt. |
54 |
138% |
31% |
Keystone |
59 |
185% |
33% |
Loveland |
82 |
185% |
17% |
Steamboat |
49 |
95% |
9% |
Vail |
71 |
142% |
41% |
Winter Park |
61 |
110% |
25% |
Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek opened October 13 after a 30-inch storm. November's snow has been below
average, so Wolf Creek's base is 25-32 inches even though it is now 90% open. Aspen/Snowmass is 24% open.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Gothic Snow Lab |
23 |
74% |
N/A |
Crested Butte |
31 |
99% |
14% |
Telluride |
25 |
73% |
5% |
Purgatory |
6 |
18% |
12% |
Wolf Creek |
67 |
138% |
90% |
Northeast: Killington and Sunday River opened on snowmaking October 19. November through Thanksgiving was much colder than
normal with some snow. Thus open terrain at Thanksgiving is similar to a week into December of an average year. Surfaces were
degraded by rain at the end of the weekend but some new snow is expected next week. Percents open:
Stowe 33%, Okemo 33%, Stratton 29%, Hunter 35%, Sunday River 44%, Sugarloaf 40%, Tremblant 14%, Mont St. Anne 31%.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Jay Peak (mid estimate) |
39 |
159% |
37% |
Smuggler's Notch |
41 |
94% |
40% |
Sugarbush |
30 |
113% |
34% |
Killington |
30 |
125% |
22% |
Whiteface |
22 |
89% |
16% |
Cannon |
22 |
204% |
29% |
Le Massif |
37 |
171% |
Dec. 1 |
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