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. Then a big Pacific Northwest storm moved into most of the Rockies with more moderate snows. The past week has brought snow over most of the West with more expected next week. Thus all areas in the Pacific Northwest, US Northern Rockies and Western Canada are close to or at full operation along with Utah's Cottonwood Canyons and Mammoth and Kirkwood in California. These areas should all have excellent holiday skiing.
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. Last week's storm was colder and dropped 1+ foot throughout the region. However season snowfall at Squaw's base has been only 24%
of the upper mountain (average is 60%). As a result Mammoth and Kirkwood are in full operation and Mt. Rose and the upper tier of Heavenly
are likely the next best bets in the Sierra. Elsewhere the terrain that was rained upon is opening gradually with snow from ongoing storms.
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 |
113 |
116% |
28% |
|
Northstar |
80.5 |
122% |
34% |
|
Mt. Rose |
123 |
167% |
65% |
|
Heavenly (mid) |
88 |
119% |
35% |
|
Kirkwood |
127.5 |
126% |
100% |
|
Mammoth |
123.5 |
155% |
100% |
|
Southern Cal |
13 |
73% |
0-30% |
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. December snow has ranged from 3+ feet in Oregon to 5-7 feet in Washington and at Whistler. Mt. Baker's base is
over 100 inches and the entire region is 90+% open now and set for an excellent holiday season.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Whistler |
159 |
134% |
89% |
|
Crystal Mt. |
151 |
143% |
96% |
|
Stevens Pass |
194 |
156% |
100% |
|
Mt. Bachelor |
124 |
121% |
100% |
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 4-5 foot range and much more terrain than normal is open early.
Big White is 64% open, Silver Star 98% and Sun Peaks 92%. The past 2 weeks have brought 3-5 feet of snow, including to the areas that had low elevation rain
the previous week. All of these areas are close to full operation for an excellent holiday season.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Lake Louise |
79 |
159% |
95% |
|
Sunshine |
131 |
192% |
96% |
|
Revelstoke |
151 |
139% |
69% |
|
Kicking Horse |
93 |
120% |
89% |
|
Whitewater |
155 |
151% |
77% |
|
Red Mt. |
91 |
126% |
80% |
|
Fernie |
99 |
103% |
91% |
|
Castle Mt. |
72 |
102% |
85% |
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 have had 3-5 feet of snow in December. Sun Valley had 4 feet in November and 3 feet in early December for one of its best early starts. Big Sky is 75% open. Most of the region is on track for a strong holiday season.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Grand Targhee |
149 |
129% |
100% |
|
Jackson Hole |
116 |
116% |
72% |
|
Whitefish |
80 |
95% |
85% |
|
Bridger |
92 |
128% |
100% |
|
Schweitzer |
89 |
122% |
100% |
|
Sun Valley |
88 |
172% |
96% |
|
Brundage |
68 |
84% |
100% |
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 2 weeks there have been 2-4+ feet of snow. The Cottonwood areas are close to
full operation but skiing is currently still limited elsewhere. Quite a bit of snow is predicted this week.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Alta |
136 |
107% |
95% |
|
Snowbird |
111 |
103% |
73% |
|
Brighton/Solitude |
114 |
94% |
84% |
|
Park City group |
67 |
90% |
34% |
|
Snowbasin |
44 |
59% |
16% |
|
Brian Head |
44 |
58% |
23% |
Northern and Central Colorado: This region had a near record dry November, even worse than last year. Despite 2+ feet of snow during the past
10 days most areas still have less terrain open than this time last year. Open terrain and base depths are among the worst 2-3 seasons of the past
25 years. With more favorable weather forecasts Christmas should be better than last year, but terrain will still be restricted so the region
should be avoided until after the busy holiday period.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Beaver Creek |
61 |
71% |
41% |
|
Breckenridge |
43 |
57% |
15% |
|
Copper Mt. |
27 |
37% |
14% |
|
Keystone |
40 |
68% |
16% |
|
Loveland |
34 |
41% |
12% |
|
Steamboat |
50 |
51% |
29% |
|
Vail |
59 |
62% |
18% |
|
Winter Park |
52.5 |
56% |
19% |
Southern and Western Colorado: The Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen (snowier climate than either) had had the driest start in its 39 years of records through early December but got 17 inches last week, as did Aspen. Snowfall leader Wolf Creek was open but sketchy until it got 4 feet of snow last week. Elsewhere last week's snow was 1+ foot and areas are still less than 15% open. Taos is 10% open and Crested Butte 11%. Aside from Wolf Creek the region is 3+ weeks behind normal and should be avoided before late January.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Aspen/Snowmass |
39 |
66% |
32% |
|
Gothic Snow Lab |
49 |
58% |
N/A |
|
Crested Butte |
21 |
36% |
11% |
|
Telluride |
38 |
59% |
6% |
|
Durango |
39 |
61% |
14% |
|
Wolf Creek |
74 |
81% |
88% |
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 up to a foot of snow in late November. There has been minimal December snow. Trail counts
are gradually increasing with snowmaking but are far below normal for mid-December.
Percents open: Okemo 32%, Stratton 45%, Hunter 29%, Sunday River 37%, Sugarloaf 22%, Tremblant 39%, Ste. Anne 25%
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Jay Peak (mid) |
29 |
43% |
18% |
|
Stowe (Mansfield Stake) |
20 |
29% |
33% |
|
Sugarbush |
30 |
49% |
16% |
|
Killington |
12 |
21% |
29% |
|
Whiteface |
14 |
29% |
24% |
|
Cannon Mt. |
16 |
51% |
18% |
|
Le Massif |
16 |
29% |
19% |
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