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 middle 2 weeks of December have been snowy over most of the West with the biggest dumps along the West Coast. 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 most Sierra resorts. These areas 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. Mid-December storms have been colder, dropping 4 feet of snow even at lower elevations. Thus most but not all of the
previously rained upon terrain is now open for the holidays. Mammoth and Kirkwood have been in full operation since early December, and high
elevation holiday base depths are now about 8 feet.
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 |
165 |
142% |
94% |
|
Northstar |
105.5 |
134% |
75% |
|
Mt. Rose |
150 |
171% |
100% |
|
Heavenly (top) |
166 |
189% |
92% |
|
Kirkwood |
177 |
147% |
100% |
|
Mammoth |
168.5 |
182% |
100% |
|
Southern Cal |
13 |
59% |
0-50% |
|
Arizona Snowbowl |
56 |
94% |
95% |
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. First half of December snow ranged from 3+ feet in Oregon to 5-7 feet in Washington and at Whistler. Last week's
snow was another 5 feet over the entire region and some areas are approaching December snowfall records. Mt. Baker's base is over 150 inches.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Whistler |
213 |
154% |
100% |
|
Crystal Mt. |
240 |
143% |
97% |
|
Stevens Pass |
249 |
170% |
100% |
|
Mt. Bachelor |
182 |
151% |
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 93% open, Silver Star 100% and Sun Peaks 94%. There was 3-5 feet of snow during the first half of December, including to the areas that had
low elevation rain the previous week. Last week's Northwest storm dumped 3 feet in the Okanagan and 4-6 feet in the Kootenays. All of the region is close
to full operation for an excellent holiday season. Base depths range from 4 feet in Alberta to 8 feet at Whitewater.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Lake Louise |
87 |
154% |
97% |
|
Sunshine |
150 |
191% |
97% |
|
Revelstoke |
174 |
139% |
100% |
|
Kicking Horse |
116 |
132% |
88% |
|
Whitewater |
224 |
186% |
100% |
|
Red Mt. |
138.5 |
163% |
100% |
|
Fernie |
176 |
155% |
100% |
|
Castle Mt. |
106 |
126% |
95% |
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 4-6 feet of snow in December but Schweitzer has had 9 feet from the strong Northwest storm track. Sun Valley had 4 feet in November and 3 feet in early December for one of its best early starts. Big Sky was 75% open but mid-December and 92% for Christmas. Most of the region is having a strong holiday season.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Grand Targhee |
165 |
120% |
100% |
|
Jackson Hole |
135 |
117% |
90% |
|
Whitefish |
104 |
105% |
98% |
|
Bridger |
99 |
117% |
100% |
|
Schweitzer |
148 |
174% |
100% |
|
Sun Valley |
105.5 |
176% |
97% |
|
Brundage |
83 |
88% |
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 December there have been 3-6 feet of snow. The Cottonwood areas are close to
full operation but the Park City group is about 2/3 open and the Ogden areas only about 1/4 open.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Alta |
155 |
104% |
95% |
|
Snowbird |
129 |
103% |
83% |
|
Brighton/Solitude |
138 |
97% |
96% |
|
Park City group |
90 |
103% |
68% |
|
Snowbasin |
57 |
68% |
20% |
|
Brian Head |
55 |
62% |
51% |
Northern and Central Colorado: This region had a near record dry November, even worse than last year. Despite 2-3+ feet of snow during the past
2+ weeks most areas are half or less open and should be avoided during the busy holiday period. Only Steamboat is approaching full operation but even there
the base is only 33 inches. Vail opened some but not all of the back bowls this weekend. With ongoing normal snowfall the region should recover from the
holiday crush and have most terrain open by mid-January.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Beaver Creek |
74 |
75% |
72% |
|
Breckenridge |
68 |
78% |
50% |
|
Copper Mt. |
40 |
48% |
28% |
|
Keystone |
52 |
77% |
37% |
|
Loveland |
47 |
49% |
14% |
|
Steamboat |
79 |
71% |
87% |
|
Vail |
80 |
74% |
68% |
|
Winter Park |
72.5 |
68% |
54% |
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 38 inches in the last 2 weeks. Snowfall leader Wolf Creek was open but sketchy until it got 4 feet in the second week of December. Aspen/Snowmass is about half open and in similar shape as many of the I-70 areas. Taos is 21% open and Crested Butte 34%. Aside from Wolf Creek the more southern areas are still 3+ weeks behind normal and should be avoided before late January.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Aspen/Snowmass |
55 |
81% |
53% |
|
Gothic Snow Lab |
70 |
71% |
N/A |
|
Crested Butte |
50 |
73% |
34% |
|
Telluride |
49 |
66% |
14% |
|
Durango |
51 |
70% |
62% |
|
Wolf Creek |
101 |
96% |
100% |
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 was minimal snow in the first half of December. Last week
there was 2-3 feet of snow in northern New England, the Laurentians and the Quebec City area, topped by 5+ feet at Le Massif. Lower and more southern
locations got some rain and trail counts there remain well below normal for the holidays.
Percents open: Okemo 39%, Stratton 51%, Hunter 29%, Sunday River 56%, Sugarloaf 77%, Tremblant 84%, Ste. Anne 66%
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Jay Peak (mid) |
56 |
66% |
68% |
|
Stowe |
72 |
73% |
61% |
|
Sugarbush |
69 |
94% |
77% |
|
Killington |
34 |
50% |
50% |
|
Whiteface |
27 |
48% |
35% |
|
Cannon Mt. |
34 |
86% |
22% |
|
Le Massif |
83 |
123% |
87% |
All content herein copyright © 1996-2012 Bestsnow.net
All Rights Reserved.
No copies or reproductions may be made in whole or in part without express permission by Tony Crocker.
Prices for commercial users will be determined based upon intended use and distribution.