2018-19 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 1, 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 most the West the last two weeks of November. The season is off to a strong start in the Northeast and in some western regions and only seriously deficient in the Pacific Northwest.

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 and 2-3 feet the last weekend of November. Some areas are approaching half open with base depths around 3 feet. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: The region had just a few inches in October and almost none in November until Thanksgiving week. Since then there has been 2 feet of snow in Washington and 3 feet in Oregon. Open terrain is very limited, with Whistler having the least open on Dec. 1 in over 20 years.

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. The Banff and Okanagan regions have significant terrain open early, but other areas are more restricted. Silver Star is 41% open and Sun Peaks 61%.

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 42% open with a 25-38 inch base. Wyoming's start is above average but Idaho and the interior Northwest are well below average.

Utah: Utah had 2+ feet of early October snow but it only snowed a foot from mid-October up to Thanksgiving. During the rest of November it snowed 4 feet in the Cottonwoods and lesser amounts elsewhere. Skiing is still more limited than average for early December.

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 led to a well above average Thanksgiving including early openings of Vail's original Back Bowl and Horseshoe/Imperial Bowl at Breckenridge. Another foot of snow in late November opened more terrain by Dec. 1 than is usually open by Dec. 15, including 46% at A-Basin. Base depths are in the 3 foot range.

Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek opened October 13 after a 30-inch storm. November's snow was below average, though most of it came late in the month. Wolf Creek's base is 35-38 inches. Taos is 12% open.

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 was similar to a week into December of an average year. 2-3 feet of late November snow brought open terrain to record highs for Dec. 1 across the Northeast with many areas also setting November snowfall records. Rain on Dec. 2 will degrade surfaces but open terrain should remain far above normal. Percents open: Okemo 61%, Stratton 44%, Hunter 36%, Sunday River 65%, Sugarloaf 86%, Tremblant 20%, Mont St. Anne 83%.

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