2018-19 Ski Season Progress Report as of November 25, 2018

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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