2018-19 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 8, 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 got off to a strong start in the Northeast and in some western regions and was only seriously deficient in the Pacific Northwest. There was moderate snow from California to Colorado during the first week of December but mostly dry farther north.

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. After another foot of snow in early December, base depths are 3-4 feet, Mammoth and Kirkwood are in full operation with most other areas over half open. 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. Late November brought 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. Mt. Baker and Stevens Pass are not yet open, rare for Dec. 8. At least 1-2 feet of snow are expected next week though.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: There was 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. The first week of Decembe was dry. Silver Star is 52% open and Sun Peaks 68%.

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 64% open with a 24-37 inch base. Wyoming's start is above average but Idaho and the interior Northwest are well below average. Only the Tetons had snow up to a foot the first week of December.

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. 1+ foot of early December snow opened the majority of terrain in the Cottonwoods, but skiing is still more limited at other areas.

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 with another foot+ in early December and further terrain open.

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. 1+ foot of early December snow has brought most areas close to average. Wolf Creek's base is 41-46 inches with other areas still under 3 feet. Taos is 31% 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 cut most trail counts by half but there was some recovery over the past cold week, particularly in northern Vermont with up to 1.5 feet of new snow. Percents open: Okemo 54%, Cannon 65%, Hunter 31%, Sunday River 39%, Sugarloaf 47%, Tremblant 34%, Mont St. Anne 86%.

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