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 was average or better with the conspicuous exception of Colorado, which has had less than half normal snow and still has very limited skiing. There was a substantial storm along the West Coast at the start of December with much snow at high elevation but rain lower down. Late last week a big Pacific Northwest storm moved into most of the Rockies with more moderate snows. Best bets for early and holiday season are the Northwest, Western Canada, Grand Targhee, Sun Valley, Mammoth and Utah's Cottonwood Canyons.
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. The late November/early December storms dumped 4+ feet of snow at 9,000+ feet but mostly
rain below 7,000. Season snowfall at Squaw's base has been only 20% of the upper mountain (average is 60%). As a result Mammoth and Kirkwood are
in full operation, Mt. Rose and the upper tier of Heavenly have some good skiing, but elsewhere Tahoe skiing remains limited with variable conditions.
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 |
103 |
131% |
18% |
|
Northstar |
59 |
111% |
20% |
|
Mt. Rose |
110 |
185% |
50% |
|
Kirkwood |
112 |
135% |
100% |
|
Mammoth |
107.5 |
162% |
100% |
|
Southern Cal |
1 |
7% |
0-10% |
Pacific Northwest: The entire region got 3-5 feet of snow during Thanksgiving week. Late November snow was mostly rain at base elevations
and mostly snow above ~5,000 feet. Early December snow ranged from 2+ feet in Oregon to 4-5 feet in Washington and at Whistler. Mt. Baker's base is
over 100 inches and the entire region should be in full operation before too long for an excellent holiday season.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Whistler |
144 |
145% |
68% |
|
Crystal Mt. |
130 |
150% |
88% |
|
Stevens Pass |
175 |
171% |
70% |
|
Mt. Bachelor |
111 |
135% |
45% |
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 3-5 foot range and much more terrain than normal is open early.
Big White is 58% open, Silver Star 47% and Sun Peaks 77%. This past week has brought 2-4 feet of snow, including to the areas that had low elevation rain
the previous week. Most of these areas should be in full operation for an excellent holiday season.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Lake Louise |
75 |
175% |
91% |
|
Sunshine |
118 |
204% |
96% |
|
Revelstoke |
131 |
143% |
50% |
|
Kicking Horse |
86 |
129% |
72% |
|
Whitewater |
140 |
166% |
55% |
|
Red Mt. |
78 |
131% |
68% |
|
Fernie |
89 |
172% |
70% |
|
Castle Mt. |
50 |
86% |
Dec. 14 |
U. S. Northern Rockies: Overall November snowfall was average but as in other regions high elevation areas had more snow, less rain and have more open terrain. Most areas had 2-3 feet of snow last week. Sun Valley had 4 feet in November and 3 feet more last week for one of its best early starts. The Tetons are also on track for a strong holiday season.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Grand Targhee |
130 |
138% |
77% |
|
Jackson Hole |
59 |
85% |
23% |
|
Whitefish |
59 |
85% |
23% |
|
Bridger |
54 |
91% |
50% |
|
Schweitzer |
75 |
125% |
34% |
|
Sun Valley |
84.5 |
199% |
64% |
|
Brundage |
53 |
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. The next 2 weeks Utah was dry but in the last few days there have been 1-2 feet of snow. The Cottonwood areas are in majority
operation but skiing is quite limited elsewhere.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Alta |
101 |
95% |
90% |
|
Snowbird |
80 |
89% |
42% |
|
Brighton/Solitude |
90 |
90% |
80% |
|
Park City group |
56 |
91% |
13% |
|
Snowbasin |
37 |
60% |
10% |
|
Brian Head |
25 |
40% |
18% |
Northern and Central Colorado: This region had a near record dry November, even worse than last year. Despite 1+ foot of snow during the past
few days all areas are less than 15% open and it is a big red flag to see historical snowfall leaders Steamboat and Vail 4% and 11% open on Dec. 9.
The region is about 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 |
48 |
66% |
13% |
|
Breckenridge |
32 |
50% |
8% |
|
Copper Mt. |
18 |
29% |
11% |
|
Keystone |
28 |
56% |
8% |
|
Loveland |
22 |
31% |
12% |
|
Steamboat |
30 |
36% |
4% |
|
Vail |
46 |
55% |
11% |
|
Winter Park |
41 |
50% |
6% |
Southern and Western Colorado: The Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen (snowier climate than either) had 10 inches in October, 19.5 in November and is still having the driest start in its 39 years of records. Snowfall leader Wolf Creek has had only 26 inches, so it must be very thin on the open 30% of terrain. Elsewhere no one is more than 8% open, and with snow accumulation about 4 weeks behind normal the region should be avoided before late January.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Gothic Snow Lab |
32 |
45% |
N/A |
|
Telluride |
25 |
46% |
2% |
|
Durango |
17 |
32% |
7% |
|
Wolf Creek |
26 |
34% |
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 was been up to a foot of snow in late November. There has been little further progress in snowfall or open
terrain so far in December.
Percents open: Okemo 24%, Stratton 39%, Hunter 16%, Sunday River 31%, Sugarloaf 17%, Tremblant 29%, Ste. Anne 10%
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Jay Peak (mid) |
24 |
51% |
13% |
|
Stowe (Mansfield Stake) |
19 |
33% |
27% |
|
Sugarbush |
26 |
54% |
11% |
|
Killington |
11 |
25% |
21% |
|
Whiteface |
13 |
33% |
22% |
|
Cannon Mt. |
14 |
60% |
11% |
|
Le Massif |
6 |
14% |
11% |
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