October 2019 was exceptionally cold in the Northern Rockies of both US and Canada. There were several small storms in northern regions and particularly in Colorado. The first half of November was bone dry in the western US with no area receiving more than 3 inches snow and most getting zero. During the past week a moderate 1-2 foot storm came mostly through the Southwest while a few inches fell in some northern regions. While western weather is moving into a more typical winter pattern, the season can be considered 2-3 weeks behind schedule in many regions. Postponed openings at historically reliable areas like Alta, Grand Targhee and Mt. Bachelor are big red flags. Significant storms over Thanksgiving weekend will help some regions, though terrain expnasions will not come until after the holiday. Stats below are all through Nov. 23.
California: Mt. Rose opened its beginner lift weekends starting Oct. 25 and Mammoth opened Nov. 9. The first natural
Sierra snow Nov. 20 was only 2-6 inches but 1-2 feet are predicted next week and cold weather will aid snowmaking.
Arizona Snowbowl had 22 inches last week and is 17% open. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details
on Southern California and Mammoth. Two storms over Thanksgiving may bring 4-5 feet of snow. Terrain may still be limited as
much of the new snow will be low water content falling on zero base.
Pacific Northwest: In October Hood Meadows had 31 inches snow and Mt. Bachelor had 13 inches but the base
melted out by mid-November. Last week's Northwest snow was 2-4 inches and next week's storm is predicted to be 5-10 inches.
Even Whistler has only a 5 inch base. This region has a great historical record in December but the current situation
calls for caution and deferring advance commitments. Thanksgiving storms may being 2-3 feet to Oregon but less than a
foot farther north.
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: October snowfall was widespread in this region but November snowfall has been significant
only well north of the US border. October + November snowfall and base depths: Big White (19+16 inches, 8 inches), Fernie (33+9, 14),
Castle Mt. (82 mostly at the end of September +10, 22), Kicking Horse (44+24, 28), Revelstoke (47+31, 34). Lake Louise (23+23, 26)
opened a week early on November 1, and is now 57% open, most in North America. Sunshine (24+25, 25) is 38% open.
U. S. Northern Rockies: Grand Targhee had 40 inches October snowfall but has postponed opening with just the 4 inches last week since then.
Targhee has a 26 inch base. Other October + November snowfall and base depths: Mid-mountain Jackson Hole (26+3, 10), Brundage (19+1, 1).
Whitefish had 9 inches last week. Snow is expected this week but it will take time to make up the deficit of the past 3 weeks.
Utah: The October cold reached as far south as Utah, setting records near the end of the month. The Snowbird SNOTEL's 40 inches of
October snowfall shrunk to a 9 inch base before last week's modest snow. Other October + November snowfall and base depths: Brighton,
now 8% open (33+8/18), Snowbasin (20+4/8). Park City is 2% open on snowmaking plus the 7 inches last week. Brian Head got 21 inches from
the Southwest storm and is 8% open. Thanksgiving storms may being 3-4 feet, but Utah's season should be considered at least 2 weeks
behind schedule.
Northern and Central Colorado: Early openings on snowmaking were A-Basin Oct. 11 (now 9% open), Keystone Oct. 12 (8% open) and Loveland
Oct. 25 (now 6% open). October/November (all in the past week) natural snowfalls were 48/15 inches at Breckenridge (now 13% open), 36/17 at Copper
(now 6% open), 44/11 at Keystone, 40/18 at Loveland, 63/8 at Steamboat (now 2% open), and 41/19 at Winter Park (now 5% open).
Most of the October snow was lost during the dry first half of November. Open terrain at TYhanksgiving should be about average now on
base depths of 18-26 inches and up to a foot of new snow.
Southern and Western Colorado: The Rocky Mountain Biological Lab at Gothic (between Crested Butte and Aspen)
had 20 inches October snowfall but lost its base during the dry first half of November. Wolf Creek had 22 inches October snowfall
and Monarch 38 inches, so both opened by Nov. 1. This was the region most favored by last week's storm, snow totals:
Aspen (16 inches, 21% open), Monarch (24, 35%), Wolf Creek (23, 37%). Purgatory got 14 inches, Telluride 23 and Taos 30.
Aboiut 2 feet of snoiw is expected over Thanksgiving.
Northeast: October snowfall totals: Jay 3 inches, Killington 4, Sugarbush 2, Whiteface 12. The first openings were
Killington Nov. 3, Mt. St. Sauveur Nov. 8 and Sunday River Nov. 9. November weather has been favorably cold with these snow totals:
Jay 37 inches (10% open) Sugarbush 20 (6%), Killington 18 (16%), Whiteface 13 (8% open), Cannon 13 (21%), Le Massif 31, Stratton 7 (26% open).
Hunter is 21% open, Sunday River 10% and Sugarloaf 6%.
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