2009-10 Ski Season Summary

The following major weather patterns affected the ski season.
October and November: One mid-October storm hit the Sierra, Wasatch and SW Colorado at high elevation. In November nearly continuous storms hit the Pacific Northwest, centered near the U.S.-Canada border and dumping over 200 inches on Whistler and Mt. Baker. These storms tracked northeast into Canada through Revelstoke/Banff. The rest of the U.S. West had less than half normal snow.
First half of December: Moderate storms hit California, Utah and the Southwest.
Second half of December: The storm track returned to the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Some of this snow pushed into the U.S. Northern Rockies and northern Colorado, but those regions still had their worst holiday seasons in over a decade.
First half of January: There was only scattered snow over the entire West. By mid-January only a few areas were above their snowfall averages, and many areas were at less than 3/4 normal with some advanced terrain not yet open.
Second half of January: There were major dumps in California, Utah and the Southwest. Late month storms finally brought Jackson Hole into full operation.
Early to mid-February: Snowfall was average throughout the U.S. West but interior western Canada was mostly dry.
Late February to early March: The drought region expanded into the Northern U.S. Rockies but normal snow continued in California, Utah and Colorado.
Mid-March: There was a one+ week warm and dry spell over the entire West where widespread spring conditions emerged.
Late March to early April: Winter returned, intensifying to the most widespread snow week of the season in early April, with many U.S. western areas getting 4+ feet of snow. Canadian snowfall was about average.
Mid-April through May: Strong storms continued, concentrated on California and Utah, which had over double normal snow for April and May.
For more detail on snow incidence by month and region, see 2009-10 Ski Season Analysis.