During the third week of October a widespread western storm hit many regions of the West with up to 3+ feet of snow. No areas opened to the public from this storm. This October snow is not counted in season totals except for a few higher and colder places that were at least half open for Thanksgiving weekend. Overall western November snowfall has been average or better with the conspicuous exception of Colorado, which has had less than half normal snow and has very limited skiing. Best bets for early and holiday season are the highest altitude areas in the Northwest, Western Canada, Utah and California plus perennial snow-sure Grand Targhee. There is an ongoing storm along the West Coast with much snow at high elevation but rain lower down.
California: North Tahoe had some of the most October snow, with 37 inches at Squaw Valley which opened a couple of runs for a one-day
private event. Farther south Kirkwood got 24-31 inches and Mammoth 17 inches. Mammoth and Kirkwood preserved the early base and with 3 feet of
dense new snow were 60% and 50% open for Thanksgiving. So far the current storm series has dumped 3+ feet of snow at 9,000+ feet but has been nearly
all rain below 7,000. Season snowfall at Squaw's base has been only 1/4 that of the upper mountain. With the ongoing storm skiing is limited this
weekend but I would expect most high elevation terrain to open next week at Mammoth, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose and the upper half of Heavenly. 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 |
80 |
140% |
16% |
|
Northstar |
43 |
111% |
16% |
|
Mt. Rose |
74 |
171% |
60% |
|
Kirkwood |
97 |
159% |
46% |
|
Mammoth |
90 |
174% |
60% |
|
Southern Cal |
1 |
12% |
0-10% |
Pacific Northwest: The entire region got 3-5 feet of snow during Thanksgiving week. This week's snow has been mostly rain at base elevations
and mostly snow above ~5,000 feet. Whistler, Bachelor and the upper part of Crystal have the best skiing with ~4 foot bases. Mt. Baker's 51-70 inch base
is about the same as at Thanksgiving.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Whistler |
95 |
123% |
50% |
|
Crystal Mt. |
72 |
110% |
60% |
|
Stevens Pass |
55 |
77% |
46% |
|
Mt. Bachelor |
83 |
129% |
27% |
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: October snow fell over most of these areas, topped by Revelstoke's 69 inches, some of which was in September.
November snowfall was at least average through most of the region. Base depths are in the 3-4 foot range and much more terrain than normal is open early.
Big White is 29% open, Silver Star 30% and Sun Peaks 40%. This past week's storm has brought rain to low elevations near
the US border, but overall this region is having a strong early season.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Lake Louise |
64 |
183% |
76% |
|
Sunshine |
91 |
199% |
92% |
|
Revelstoke |
95 |
130% |
50% |
|
Kicking Horse |
56 |
103% |
39% |
|
Whitewater |
97 |
152% |
Dec. 7 |
|
Red Mt. |
49 |
109% |
Dec. 8 |
|
Fernie |
52 |
87% |
5% |
|
Castle Mt. |
35 |
80% |
Dec. 14 |
U. S. Northern Rockies: Overall November snowfall was average but as in other regions high elevation areas have had more snow, less rain and have more open terrain. The ongoing West Coast storm should bring some more snow to the region by early next week. As usual Targhee is the standout early season area.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Grand Targhee |
103 |
148% |
58% |
|
Jackson Hole |
69 |
103% |
4% |
|
Bridger |
33 |
74% |
Dec. 7 |
|
Schweitzer |
52 |
115% |
11% |
|
Sun Valley |
48 |
148% |
49% |
|
Brundage |
40 |
80% |
Dec. 14 |
Utah: The northern areas in Utah got the most October snow, 45 inches at Powder Mt. and 36 at Snowbasin, but the Cottonwood areas got a
4+ foot mid-November dump. Since then Utah has been dry and less than a foot is expected when the current West Coast storm moves mostly north of Utah.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Alta |
80 |
99% |
59% |
|
Snowbird |
60 |
86% |
28% |
|
Brighton/Solitude |
70 |
91% |
74% |
|
Park City |
45 |
96% |
8% |
|
Snowbasin |
23 |
125% |
5% |
|
Brian Head |
25 |
51% |
15% |
Northern and Central Colorado: This region has had a near record dry November, even worse than last year. All areas are less than 10% open
and it is a big red flag to see historical snowfall leaders Steamboat and Vail 4% and 2% open on Dec. 1. The region is at least 3 weeks behind normal
snow accumulation and should be avoided before mid-January.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Beaver Creek |
29 |
49% |
6% |
|
Breckenridge |
19 |
37% |
8% |
|
Copper Mt. |
8 |
16% |
8% |
|
Keystone |
20 |
50% |
7% |
|
Loveland |
8 |
15% |
9% |
|
Steamboat |
17 |
26% |
4% |
|
Vail |
29 |
42% |
2% |
|
Winter Park |
25.5 |
37% |
5% |
Southern and Western Colorado: The Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen (snowier climate than either) had 10 inches in October and 19.5 in November, the driest start in its 39 years of records. Snowfall leader Wolf Creek has had only 22 inches, so it must be very thin on the open 30% of terrain. Elsewhere no one is more than 4% open, and with snow accumulation at least 3 weeks behind normal the region should be avoided before mid-January.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Gothic Snow Lab |
19.5 |
35% |
N/A |
|
Telluride |
17 |
39% |
2% |
|
Durango |
15 |
35% |
3% |
|
Wolf Creek |
22 |
36% |
31% |
Northeast: Hurricane Sandy was all rain in New England and eastern Canada so Sunday River missed a Halloween opening for the first time
in 5 years. Killington was open 2 days earlier in October but then closed. The snow from Sandy was in the Appalachians, where 2 North Carolina
areas opened with snowmaking assistance but none in West Virginia where over 2 feet of snow fell. Northeast snowfall was less than a
foot through Thanksgiving, but there has been up to a foot of snow in the past week.
Percents open: Okemo 23%, Stratton 28%, Hunter 7%, Sunday River 21%, Sugarloaf 15%, Tremblant 19%, Ste. Anne 6%
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Jay Peak (mid) |
22 |
70% |
14% |
|
Stowe (Mansfield Stake) |
19 |
43% |
23% |
|
Sugarbush |
21 |
62% |
19% |
|
Killington |
11 |
35% |
24% |
|
Cannon Mt. |
12 |
83% |
7% |
All content herein copyright © 1996-2012 Bestsnow.net
All Rights Reserved.
No copies or reproductions may be made in whole or in part without express permission by Tony Crocker.
Prices for commercial users will be determined based upon intended use and distribution.