2024-25 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 8, 2024

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. Whistler and Vail have good snowpacks and are gradually opening more runs in December. Early December snowfall was no more than a foot in northern regions while farther south was completely dry. Next week's storms are predicted stronger but still confined to northern regions. 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. Low elevations are marginal due to some rain and only 11 inches snowfall at Palisades' base for example. 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

59

93%

35%

Alpine Meadows

35

64%

45%

Northstar (mid estimate)

27

62%

19%

Mt. Rose

39

83%

35%

Heavenly

37

60%

29%

Kirkwood

49

65%

57%

Mammoth

65.5

113%

95%

Southern Cal

3

22%

0-9%

Arizona Snowbowl

28

77%

28%

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 are very safe bets for the holidays with 4+ foot bases. Last week's storm started as rain but ended with up to a foot of snow.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Whistler

103

108%

59%

Stevens Pass

85

103%

70%

Crystal Mt.

83

114%

85%

Mt. Hood

102

131%

75%

Mt. Bachelor

120

153%

49%

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 have 4+ foot bases. Up to a foot of snow fell during the first week of December. Sun Peaks is 78% open.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Big White

71

100%

69%

Lake Louise

54

123%

38%

Sunshine

67

114%

55%

Revelstoke

154

215%

48%

Kicking Horse

67

111%

Dec. 13

Red Mt.

79

172%

18%

Fernie

112

151%

80%

Castle Mt.

70

141%

81%

U. S. Northern Rockies: The Interior Northwest was loaded with snow from the November storms and remains a promising holiday destination. Just a few inches fell during the first week of December. Lookout Pass opened weekends starting Nov. 9. Farther south November snowfall was no better than average. Targhee is in full operation but Jackson needs much more snow for a decent Christmas.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Grand Targhee

78

78%

95%

Jackson Hole

41

53%

11%

Whitefish

75

132%

57%

Schweitzer

84

165%

56%

Lookout Pass

126

161%

87%

Brundage

71

158%

91%

Sun Valley

37

93%

18%

Big Sky

70

92%

31%

Utah: Utah's November was slightly below average in both snowfall and end of month open terrain. Alta has opened more than half of runs in early December but other areas are very limited and need much more snow for good holiday skiing.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Alta

84

84%

64%

Snowbird SNOTEL

67

75%

11%

Brighton/Solitude

65

72%

18%

Park City (mid estimate)

36

64%

5%

Snowbasin

42

68%

17%

Brian Head

44.5

84%

7%

Northern and Central Colorado: The first snowmaking openings were A-Basin and Keystone Nov. 2. Snowfall was consistent and above average from late October through mid-November and topped off by 2-3 feet the last week of November, the snowiest November since 2010. With 3 foot bases, terrain is gradually opening in December despite no new snow so far in the month.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

A-Basin

61

114%

23%

Beaver Creek

77

115%

27%

Breckenridge

84

142%

49%

Copper Mt.

107

187%

56%

Keystone

78

160%

32%

Loveland

66

100%

13%

Steamboat

55

72%

35%

Vail

84

116%

61%

Winter Park

76

106%

50%

Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek opened October 22 on 26 inches of snow and was close to full opertion by Nov. 10. Pajarito, New Mexico opened one top to bottom lift and about 3/4 of terrain Nov. 9 on 44 inches snowfall. New Mexico had little snow the rest of November. Aspen and Crested Butte had similar high November snow as the I-70 areas while southern Colorado had less but was still above average. Zero snow so far in December.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Aspen/Snowmass

71

152%

37%

Gothic Snow Lab

69

108%

N/A

Crested Butte

71

150%

33%

Monarch

66

125%

87%

Telluride

64

122%

20%

Purgatory

43

87%

48%

Wolf Creek

94

128%

100%

Taos

50

89%

11%

Northeast: No one opened during a warm October in New England or eastern Canada. November snowmaking was intermittent, so Nov. 15 Killington opened 3%, Sunday River 2% and Whiteface opened 7% weekends. Some areas missed Thanksgiving openings with ongoing warm weather in November. Early December has been colder with 1-3 feet of natural snow. Percents open: Okemo 33%, Hunter 28%, Sunday River 29%, Sugarloaf 38%, Tremblant 16%, St. Anne 25%.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Jay Peak (mid estimate)

86

134%

32%

Stowe

70

165%

35%

Sugarbush

58

132%

20%

Killington

61

151%

57%

Stratton

43

138%

72%

Whiteface

39

153%

35%

Cannon

31

139%

38%

Le Massif

54

129%

16%


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