2023-24 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 16, 2023

Late October 2023 saw moderate snowfall in northern and central regions. Early November weather was mostly dry in central and southern regions. Northern regions saw more rain than snow the first week of November but have accumulated some snow since then. All snowfall totals (Italic numbers are from Open Snow) are since November 1 and nearly all open terrain before December was on snowmaking. There were modest storms mid-November through Thanksgiving. High snowfall areas like Alta, Revelstoke and Mt. Bachelor delaying openings were red flags. For Thanksgiving Targhee was 63% open but next in line were Alta at 29%, Wolf Creek at 20% and Sunshine at 19%. This was overall the worst November in western North America since 2007, with no region getting more than 60% of normal snowfall. A series of storms hit the Pacific Northwest during the first week of December, extending inland to the northern and central Rockies. Low altitude resorts had a lot of rain along with the snow. Alta and Targhee were the only areas over half open on 4+ foot bases December 9-10. Most areas are running 2-3 weeks behind schedule with base depths and open terrain similar to an average Thanksgiving or beginning of December. Almost no one got as much as a foot of snow last week and minimal snow is predicted next week. Advance commitments to many western destinations should be deferred well into January if possible, particularly those currently with less than half open terrain.

California: November storms were only a few inches so skiing is very limited and only on manmade. Early December snow was as much as a foot only NW of Tahoe and above 8,000 feet and last week as dry. This region should be avoided indefinitely until there is much more snow. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: Only Whistler opened a modest 7% at Thanksgiving, while all other areas delayed opening. December storms dumped 2-3+ feet of snow, but also 4-5 inches of rain. Last week's rain ended with about a foot of snow in Washington and Whistler. Base depths are in the 2-3 foot range except likely more in the Whistler alpine, still speculative since it's not open yet.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: November rain turned to snow earlier in this region for some of the highest early season totals. However November was still only 60% of average. Revelstoke opened Dec. 9, Whitewater Dec.15 and Red is still not open. In early December Fernie and Revelstoke got 3 feet of snow but also low elevation rain. Open terrain expanded the most at Banff and Kicking Horse, which got 2 feet of snow and no rain. Only a few inches fell last week. Silver Star is 23% open and Sun Peaks 20%.

U. S. Northern Rockies: November snowfall was less than half normal with the usual exception of Targhee. During early December 3-4 feet of snow fell in the Tetons, bringing Targhee's base to 58 inches. About 2 feet fell farther north with considerable rain below 6,000 feet. Only Lookout got more than 6 inches last week and base depths aside from Targhee are less than 3 feet.

Utah: November snowfall was about half normal and Alta's opening was delayed one week, but it reached majority operation on a 5 foot base after 6 feet of snow in early December. The other Cottonwood areas got 3-4 feet and got about half open by mid-December. Park City areas are more limited. There was no new snow last week.

Northern and Central Colorado: Early snowmaking openings were A-Basin Oct. 29, Keystone Nov. 1, Eldora and Winter Park. Nov. 3. November snowfall was less than half normal so Thanksgiving was very limited. Early December snowfall was 3+ feet at the high snowfall areas Steamboat, Vail and Winter Park and averaged 2 feet elsewhere. Steamboat and Vail reached majority operation mid-December, Winter Park most likely to follow suit for the holidays. No more than 7 inches fell last week and base depths are less than 3 feet.

Southern and Western Colorado: November snowfall was about half normal. Early December snowfall exceeded expectations with over 2 feet at most areas, though only a foot south of the San Juans. Last week the southern areas got a foot but farther north only a few inches. Wolf Creek, Purgatory and Monarch are 75+% open but on less than 3 foot bases.

Northeast: The season started slowly through Thanksgiving. Most of November's snow came in the last week to open more trails. Northern Vermont has had 3 feet in the first half of December, though farther south there was more rain. Trail counts will decline this week with predicted heavy rain over the entire Northeast. Percents open: Okemo 32%, Hunter 22%, Sunday River 26%, Sugarloaf 18%, Tremblant 43%, St. Anne 37%.

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