2021-22 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 25, 2021

October 2021 precipitation was heavy along the West Coast, though mostly with very high rain/snow lines. The Oct. 24-25 storm opened Mammoth and Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) on Oct. 29. Substantial snow also accumulated in the Whistler alpine. November was unusually warm, plus drier than normal in many regions. The Northwest was stormy but with more rain than snow. Late November storms opened over half the terrain at the Banff areas. Revelstoke and Kicking Horse attained 5+ foot bases, which delivered good December skiing when they opened.

The warm temperatures delayed snowmaking and postponed some scheduled opening dates in the western US. Delayed opening dates are a red flag for early season skiing, particularly since the dry weather continued for a week into December. This situation would often restrict skiing through the holidays, but major storms the past two weeks wiped out all of November's snow deficit in California and much of it in the Northwest and Utah. Much of Colorado and a few other areas in the Rockies are less than half open for the holidays but ongoing storms should bring great improvements for January. Due to the November weather, October snowfall is not included in season totals other than a few places where October was material to early November open terrain.

California: There were small snowfalls in mid-October. A major atmospheric river dumped several inches of rain up to 10,000 feet before dumping 3+ feet of heavy snow Oct. 24-25. On Oct. 29 Mammoth opened 22% of terrain and Palisades Tahoe 13% but only for 3 days. It was warm in November with 7-11 inches new snow above 8,000 feet and most snow melting out lower down. Only Mammoth remained open while no Tahoe areas preserved or made enough snow to open in November. Limited terrain opened in early December with 6-10 inches snow plus cold temperatures. Then the Sierra got an average 6 feet of snow Dec. 13-16, setting up a good holiday season. Another 3-4 feet fell last week and the storms are continuing several more days. Nearly all terrain should open after the storms clear. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: The entire month of October was very wet but the rain/snow line was high. November continued the warm but wet pattern. A solid snowpack of 51 inches accmulated at 6,000 feet at both Whistler and Blackcomb in November, with another 7 feet falling so far in December. Mt. Baker got 4 feet of snow mid-November but heavy rain reduced its base to 14 inches. No Washington or Oregon areas opened in November. 5-8 feet fell in the past two weeks, opening much terrain, with full operation likely after the storms clear.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: October snowfall was average and the Banff areas opened a week into November. November snowfall ranged from 3 feet in the Okanagan to 7+ feet at Revelstoke/Kicking Horse and Banff. 5-7 feet have fallen so far in December, so this remains the overall top region for the holiday season on 4-6+ foot bases. Sun Peaks is 92% open and Silver Star 87%.

U. S. Northern Rockies: November snowfall was well below average. The lower interior Northwest areas had mostly rain in November but had 5-7 feet of snow so far in December. Southern Idaho got 4+ feet from the California storms the last two weeks, bringing Sun Valley to 79% open. Big Sky is 48% open and Bridger opened Dec. 21 on bases under 3 feet, so these are likely low tide until well into January. Targhee was close to full operation by mid-December and has had 6+ feet of December snow. Jackson has had about 4 feet in December but needs more snow to open the Lower Faces.

Utah: Utah had well above average October snowfall, but it was gradual so no one opened and it melted out below 8,000 feet. November tied for driest in the 42 years of Alta Collins records at 22 inches. For the Cottonwood areas only a residual base from October is added to snow totals. In the last three weeks 6-8 feet of snow fell in the Cottonwoods but 3-4 feet elsewhere. Holiday skiing is currently very limited outside the Cottonwoods but Utah is expecting much more snow this week.

Northern and Central Colorado: October and November snowfalls were modest, so the openings (A-Basin Oct. 17, Keystone Oct. 23 and Loveland Oct. 31) were all less than 2% open. No areas were as much as 10% open at the end of November. 3+ feet of December snow, half of that in the past few days, has only put a small dent in November's shortfall, so skiing remains limited during the holidays. More snow is expected this week. A-Basin is 21% open.

Southern and Western Colorado: November snowfall was less than half normal. Wolf Creek has been open since the end of October but ended November with a 14 inch base. A second week of December storm dumped up to 3 feet in the San Juans and fully opened Wolf Creek. 2-3 feet has fallen in the past two weeks. Taos is 10% open even after 18 inches recent snow. Aside from Wolf Creek, most areas are somewhat over half open for the holidays.

Northeast: No one reported new snow in New England or eastern Canada until the second weekend of November. Killington opened Nov. 6. Cold weather and some snow in late November and early December opened about a quarter of terrain. Mid-December was warm and rainy so holiday skiing is subpar despite some progress last week. Percents open: Okemo 33%, Hunter 36%, Sunday River 45%, Sugarloaf 22%, Tremblant 63%, Ste. Anne 45%

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