2015-16 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 8, 2015

October was warmer and drier than normal in most ski regions, but there were widespread small storms through most of the West each week in November, contributing to the usual early openings on snowmaking. However, only areas in western Canada saw major storms and had much more terrain than normal open. Wolf Creek was also in full operation since mid-November with much more snow than other western US areas. The Pacific Northwest is having a major storm in early December, and that storm is expected to spread into adjcent regions soon.

California: The first storm started with snow levels over 9,000 feet but eventually lowered. Later storms were colder and snowed as low as Lake Tahoe but not yet enough to build a solid natural base. Mammoth and Mt. Rose opened Nov. 5 and several other areas opened mid-November. Mammoth had much more snow up high during the first storm and thus has by far the most open terrain in California including a few of the upper steeps. There has been little snow so far in December, but cold temps have allowed snowmaking terrain to expand. The NW storm is expected to bring major snow over the next few days. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: The November storms had variable snow levels and were strongest to the north. Thus only Whistler had extensive terrain open. The early December storms have dumped 3+ feet so far, and while it's raining quite high now, it's expected to cool off and snow another 2+ feet. Whistler's base depth is already 58 inches and the alpine should be fully open after this weekend. Washington and Oregon coverage after these storms will vary considerably by elevation.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: The November storms were strongest here. Some areas near the US border had some rain/snow mix like the Northwest, but other areas were far above average in both snow and open terrain. The December Northwest storms have added another 2 feet at many of these areas, with base depths now near 5 feet at Big White, Whitewater and Revelstoke. Sun Peaks is 75% open and Silver Star 53%.

U. S. Northern Rockies: November snow was below average but Targhee as usual had some of the most terrain open in North America in early season. This region is well below average with base depths under 3 feet except for central Idaho, but the Northwest storms are expected to bring more snow soon. Big Sky is 19% open.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Grand Targhee	63	69%	78%
Jackson Hole	46	59%	20%
Schweitzer	42	74%	14%
Sun Valley	41	102%	25%

Utah: Most of the November storms split before reaching Utah, which thus had substantially below average snowfall plus a dry first week of December. Base depths are only about 2 feet even in the Cottonwood areas, and skiing is limited to a few snowmaking runs. Some relief is expected as the Northwest storms move in by this weekend.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	56	52%	20%
Snowbird	57	61%	18%
Brighton/Solitude	55	54%	28%
Park City group	42	72%	7%
Snowbasin	30	47%	13%

Northern and Central Colorado: October was much warmer than usual so snowmaking was delayed until the last week and Loveland and A-Basin each opened a snowmaking run October 29. The consistent modest November snowfalls accumulated base depths of 2+ feet with mostly average terrain openings (Keystone the positive exception) for early season. A-Basin is 31% open.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	72	104%	58%
Breckenridge	60	101%	28%
Copper Mt.	57	96%	23%
Keystone	67	139%	73%
Loveland	75	111%	16%
Steamboat	69	88%	24%
Vail	65	86%	38%
Winter Park	82	103%	57%

Southern and Western Colorado: The central Colorado mountains had a below average November, while the southern mountains and New Mexico were above average. Wolf Creek's base reached 50 inches by the end of November but there have only been a few inches of snow so far in December over the entire region. Taos is 26% open.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Aspen/Snowmass	33	69%	33%
Gothic Snow Lab	42	61%	N/A
Crested Butte	29	60%	13%
Telluride	75	142%	22%
Purgatory	43	84%	40%
Wolf Creek	116	156%	100%

Northeast: Mid-October cold allowed Killington and Sunday River to open first in North America on October 19. After a week of skiing the snow melted and snowmaking did not resume for nearly 3 weeks. With minimal natural snow and only intermittent month snowmaking, terrain open is very limited: Okemo 14%, Stratton 9%, Sugarloaf 7%, Sunday River 18%, Tremblant 13%, Mt. St. Anne 1%.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Jay Peak (mid)	10	21%	4%
Stowe	11	17%	16%
Sugarbush	14	30%	8%
Killington	4	9%	16%
Whiteface	12	33%	10%
Le Massif	32	7%	10%

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