The following major weather patterns affected the ski
season.
October / early November: There was almost no natural snow
in the United States. Big White in Canada opened about 20% of its
terrain on a 3-foot base October 20. This storm went through
Whistler, but with a high snow level of 5,000 feet.
Mid-November through mid-December By Thanksgiving a major
storm track was centered upon the Pacific States, then converging
with even greater intensity upon Utah. By mid-December all Pacific
areas from Whistler south to Mammoth were in full operation, plus
Utah and most areas in western Canada, on abundant mid-winter
bases. U.S. Northern Rockies areas accumulated snow more gradually
and reached full operation about Christmas. The big November storm
did not get much farther than Vail/Steamboat in Colorado, and thus
the rest of the state was only in partial operation for the
holidays.
Late December through most of January Most of the West was
dry during the holidays except for the Sierra, which continued to
get new snow past New Year's. Then a more narrow storm track
formed, centering upon Washington and Oregon and moving northeast
into the Rockies along the U.S.-Canada border. Utah and California
were dry for 3 weeks, with deep bases but difficult surface
conditions after an early January warm spell. Colorado continued
gradual accumulation, and most areas were close to full operation
by the end of the month on bases of about 4 feet.
February: As in the early season significant snowfall was
confined to Canada in February. With cool temperatures and a few
small storms Utah, Sierra and Northwest skiing remained good and
northern Rockies adequate. In Colorado where the base was marginal
conditions started to deteriorate.
March: March was very similar to late November and early
December. There were big dumps in the Northwest, Sierra, Utah and
Canada, and snow quality was excellent with colder than normal
temperatures. The Northern Rockies were also cold but closer to
average in snowfall. Nearly all of these storms petered out before
reaching Colorado, a bizarre circumstance for that state's
historically snowiest month. Most Colorado areas were losing
coverage and closing some runs by the end of March.
Spring: Winter lingered a couple more weeks in Canada, but
a beginning of April heat wave brought an early spring to most U.S.
areas and brought Colorado's spring season to its earliest end
ever. The deeper bases in Utah, the Sierra and the Northwest were
still there to receive refreshing in some late April and May
storms.
For more detail on snow incidence by month and region, see 2001-02 Ski Season Analysis.
2001-02 SKI SEASON SNOWFALL SUMMARY | |||||
RECORD HIGH (10 Years Minimum) | RECORD HIGH (10 Years Minimum) | ||||
None | |||||
HIGH | HIGH | ||||
Big Mountain, Mont. 6,700 | 358 | Schweitzer, Idaho | 269 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Mt. Rainier Paradise, Wash. 5,420 | 781 | ||||
Big White, B. C. 6,200 | 343 | ||||
Stevens Pass, Wash. 4,061 | 637 | ||||
Heavenly Valley, Calif. 8,400 | 339 | ||||
ABOVE AVERAGE | ABOVE AVERAGE | ||||
Mt. Washington, N. H. 6,262 | 320 | Sun Valley, Idaho 8,800 | 161 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Stowe, Vt. 3,950 | 231 | Steamboat, Colo. 9,200 | 245 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Alta, Utah 8,650 | 535 | ||||
Brighton, Utah 8,740 | 396 | ||||
Sunshine Village, Alb. 7,028 | 257 | ||||
Kirkwood (Carson Pass), Calif. 8,526 | 492 | ||||
Whistler Roundhouse, B. C. 6,000 | 430 | ||||
Fernie Snow Valley, B. C. 5,400 | 433 | ||||
Mt. Hood Meadows, Ore. 5,400 | 537 | ||||
Mt. Baker, Wash. 4,300 | 736 | ||||
Heavenly Valley, Calif. 10,000 | 447 | ||||
Park City 1, Utah 7,140 | 164 | ||||
Northstar, Calif. 7,800 | 306 | ||||
BELOW AVERAGE | BELOW AVERAGE | ||||
Central Sierra Snow Lab - Boreal, Cal. 7,200 | 381 | Crested Butte, Colo. 10,150 | 124 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Sugarloaf, Maine 3,695 | 153 | Breckenridge, Colo. 11,100 | 163 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Jackson Hole, Wyo. 8,250 | 310 | Telluride, Colo. 11,170 | 141 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Mammoth Mtn, Calif. 9,600 or 8,900 | 331 | Beaver Creek, Colo. 11,200 | 195 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Whistler Base, B. C. 2,200 | 194 | Waterville Valley, N. H. 3,000 | 99 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Mt. Fidelity (Selkirks), B. C. 6,150 | 468 | Snowmass, Colo. 11,000 | 168 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Alpine Meadows, Calif. 7,000 | 377 | ||||
Mt. Bachelor, Ore. 6,350 | 361 | ||||
Snowbird, Utah 10,000 | 451 | ||||
Grand Targhee, Wyo. 8,200 | 460 | ||||
Jay Peak, Vt. 3,000 | 305 | ||||
Alyeska, Alaska 1,400 | 463 | ||||
Big Sky, Mont. 8,920 | 218 | ||||
Squaw Valley, Calif. 6,200 | 224 | ||||
Copper Mtn, Colo. 11,000 | 247 | ||||
Tod Mt. (Sun Peaks), B. C. 6,100 | 192 | ||||
Squaw Valley, Calif. 8,000 | 400 | ||||
LOW | LOW | ||||
Killington, Vt. 4,142 | 192 | Berthoud Pass, Colo. 11,315 | 159 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Taos, N. Mex. 11,200 | 147 | Loveland, Colo. 11,200 | 158 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Southern California Composite 7,000 - 8,000 | 39 | Monarch, Colo. | 107 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Mary Jane at Winter Park, Colo. 10,800 | 261 | Wolf Creek, Colo. 10,642 | 164 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Gothic, Colo. 9,400 | 215 | Aspen Mtn, Colo. 11,190 | 124 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Snowshoe, W. V. 4,848 | 108 | Deer Valley, Utah 8,200 | 168 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Smuggler's Notch, Vt. 1,600 | 240 | Purgatory, Colo. 10,000 | 90 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Vail, Colo. 11,250 | 266 | Silver Star, B. C. 5,200 | 118 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Red Mt. Pass, Colo. 11,090 | 222 | ||||
RECORD LOW (10 Years Minimum) | RECORD LOW (10 Years Minimum) | ||||
Sugarbush, Vt. 3,000 | 185 | Aspen Highlands, Colo. 11,100 | 110 | Dec.-Mar. | |
Arapahoe Basin, Colo. 10,820 | 152 | ||||
Stratton, Vt. 3,875 | 104 | ||||
Okemo, Vt. 3,300 | 91 | ||||
Arizona Snowbowl 2, Ariz. 10,800 | 79 | ||||
Brian Head, Utah 9,770 | 196 |