Late October 2024 and early November saw moderate snowfall mostly in northern regions but then trending southeast into Colorado and New Mexico. Wolf Creek and Pajarito had widespread natural snow runs open by Nov. 10. Mid-November storms concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, but later in the month spread inland, especially to central Colorado. Areas in or close to full operation at the end of November included Mt. Baker, Mammoth, Lookout Pass, Grand Targhee and Wolf Creek, with Whistler and Mt. Bachelor having deep enough snowpacks to be set for the holidays. December snowfall up to Christmas was concentrated in the Pacific Northwest with moderate snowfalls in adjacent regions while the Southwest was bone dry. Northwest storms were more intense during the holiday week and spread into more regions.
Early January snowfall was strongest in the US Northern Rockies. Mid-January was mostly dry except in the north central U.S. Rockies, while the rest of the month the entire West averaged less than 6 inches of snow with only a handful of areas getting as much as a foot. Variable conditions developed aside from the most favorable altitudes/exposures. Early February's atmospheric river had a high rain snow line in California and Utah, with drought persisting to the south and cooler weather and moderate snowfalls to the north. During the second week a cooler storm dumped up to 5 feet in California and Utah and was also widespread into adjacent regions. A warm AR hit the Northwest during the third week of February while snowfall continued in Utah and Colorado. The last week of February was warm and dry over most of the West, bringing widespread spring conditions. The first half of March had heavy snow in the coastal regions and Utah/Arizona and average snowfall farther inland. Snowfall totals in italics are estimates from Open Snow.
California: Several small snowfalls through mid-November assisted snowmaking openings. Stronger storms over the last week
of November totaled 4 feet at Mammoth and 1-3 feet at Tahoe based upon elevation, leaving Mammoth with by far the best conditions
in the region. After two dry weeks it snowed 3+ feet northwest of Tahoe and about 2 feet elsewhere, followed by 1-2 feet Christmas
Week. New Year's base depths averaged 2-4 feet at Tahoe and 4-5 feet at Mammoth. Early January snowfall was up to a foot,
but there was less than 4 inches snow the rest of January 7 aside from an isolated one foot storm east of Tahoe Jan. 25. The early
February AR snowed 4 feet above 8,000 feet NW of Tahoe and 2 feet south of Tahoe but was nearly all rain below 7,000 feet. The
second February storm dumped 4.5 feet at Mammoth and 3 feet at Tahoe. The rest of February was warm and dry. As of the end of February
Palisades' base had only 27% as much snow as higher up vs. long term average of 61%. First half of March Sierra storms were 3-5 feet with
no low elevation rain, and it snowed up to 4 feet in Southern California and 8 feet in Arizona. See Current California
Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Palisades 8,000 |
312 |
93% |
80% |
Alpine Meadows |
209 |
72% |
87% |
Northstar (mid estimate) |
164 |
71% |
95% |
Mt. Rose |
307 |
123% |
80% |
Heavenly |
195 |
64% |
97% |
Kirkwood |
236 |
63% |
100% |
Mammoth |
251 |
88% |
100% |
Southern Cal |
71 |
70% |
60-100% |
Arizona Snowbowl |
155 |
79% |
85% |
Pacific Northwest: This was the strongest November opening in the region in over a decade with multiple storms. Mt. Baker was
fully open for Thanksgiving, while Whistler and Mt. Bachelor attained 4+ foot bases. 2-3 feet of snow fell in the first half of
December, and another 2 feet the week before Christmas. Mt. Bachelor's Dec. 10 Summit opening was the earliest in over a decade. This region
had the most snow (5+ foot bases) by Christmas. During the holiday week it dumped 5 feet in Oregon and 2-3 feet farther north.
Early January snowfall averaged 1.5 feet but conditions were variable after less than a foot the rest of the month. First half of
February snowfall ranged from 2 feet at Whistler to 4 feet in Oregon. A warm storm rained to the top of most ski areas during the
third week of February, then snowed 2-4 feet varying by elevation. During the first half of March snowfall ranged from 3 feet in
Oregon to 6 feet at Whistler, with Oregon expecting 2+ feet this weekend.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Whistler |
321 |
94% |
94% |
Stevens Pass |
347 |
96% |
63% |
Crystal Mt. |
289 |
87% |
100% |
Mt. Hood |
379 |
109% |
100% |
Mt. Bachelor |
351 |
114% |
100% |
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: November snowfall was high from the Northwest storms along the U.S. border and west of the Selkirks
but closer to average farther east. Fernie, Whitewater and the upper half of Revelstoke attained 4+ foot bases. West of Rogers Pass an average 1.5
feet of snow fell during the first half of December, 2 feet more before Christmas, and 1.5-2 feet during the holidays, leaving average bases of 5 feet.
Sun Peaks and Silver Star were 90+% open on 4 foot bases at Christmas, while areas east of Rogers Pass averaged 3 foot bases. Only upper parts of
Revelstoke had more than 1.5 feet of snow during the entire month of January, resulting in widespread hardpack conditions. First half of February
snowfall ranged from less than a foot at the Banff areas to 2-3 feet near the U.S. border. Second half of February snowfall was 2+ feet west of
Rogers Pass and one foot on the leeward side. First half of March snowfall averaged 2 feet.
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Big White |
209 |
88% |
98% |
Lake Louise |
145 |
105% |
98% |
Sunshine |
153 |
78% |
89% |
Revelstoke |
355 |
117% |
100% |
Kicking Horse |
174 |
84% |
30% |
Red Mt. |
231 |
110% |
100% |
Whitewater |
258 |
83% |
100% |
Fernie |
277 |
95% |
100% |
Castle Mt. |
167 |
74% |
98% |
U. S. Northern Rockies: The Interior Northwest was loaded with snow from the November storms and an excellent holiday destination with another 3 feet in December before Christmas and 4 foot bases. Lookout Pass opened weekends starting Nov. 9. Farther south November snowfall was no better than average. Targhee reached full operation in early December but Jackson was very