N. America Weekly Roundup #278
Updated 29 January 2025: Snow hits all 50 states, Rockies brace for 20” (50cm) storm, and the West Coast expects its biggest snowfall in weeks!
• All 50 States See Snow This Winter – Even Florida!
• Rockies Set for Biggest Snowfall in Weeks – Up to 20” Incoming!
• West Coast Braces for Major Snowstorm – Up to 24” Expected!
• E. Coast Skiing Booms with Consistent Snowfalls & Freezing Temps
• W. Canada Awaits Fresh Powder After Long Dry Spell
NORTH AMERICA OVERVIEW
After last week’s frigid temperatures across North America, which saw the most significant snowfalls reported in Florida for 70 years and meant all 50 US states have seen snowfall this winter, things have warmed a little whilst remaining pretty cold! It's been another week – as has been the case since before Christmas– with no big snowfalls to report, but otherwise, generally positive news with more small accumulations everywhere that have kept things ticking over. For some weeks now, most North American ski areas have had almost all of their terrain open; there's just not been a lot of deep powder to enjoy.
ROCKIES REPORT
Although the past week saw plenty of sunshine and very low temperatures in the Rockies, some snowfall has occurred. In fact in a lull, between storms in Europe's Alps at the weekend, ski areas in Colorado were posting the most significant accumulations in the world, not that the snowfall was THAT huge. Steamboat (47/75" / 117/188cm) posted a 6" (15cm) fall on Saturday; Vail and Breckenridge both got 10cm (4"). Some snowfall was reported in Utah, but we've returned to fairly sunny weather and lows towards 0F. Conditions are the best they’ve been all winter, and Park City (51/51” / 127/127cm) continues to report all 250 of its runs open, the most in the country. Most other areas in the Rockies are 90-100% open.
ROCKIES FORECAST
The sunshine is set to continue, along with the cold temperatures. Still, there is a front set to move through at the end of the week that should bring 10-20” (256-50cm) accumulations, which would be the biggest in a while if the forecast firms up over the next few days, Returning to sunshine from Saturday into next week.
WEST COAST REPORT
There was a little snowfall in California at the weekend, just a few inches (5-10cm) for most areas, and Mt Rose posted the most, reporting on Saturday, “ We received 11-13" (28-32cm) overnight, setting up for a sweet champagne POW day!” Otherwise, it’s been predominantly sunny on the West Coast, with temperatures generally freezing down to the high-teens Fahrenheit range. Further north, Oregon and Washington saw the best of the powder conditions back at the start of the season. It was warmer in early January, with daytime highs getting into the 40s.
WEST COAST FORECAST
A repeat of this week is expected for California, with another storm expected to deliver 6-12" (15-30cm) of snowfall around the weekend. The dry conditions are expected to end further north in Oregon and Washington state, with the return of big 12-24” (30-60cm) snowfalls to end the week, which will be the biggest in North America for some time if they live up to or even exceed expectations!
MIDWEST REPORT
It’s been predominantly dry in the Midwest this week, with temperatures mainly remaining below freezing, in the 20s and teens Fahrenheit. What snowfall there has been, and it's mostly just been an inch or two (2-5cm) each day, has been mainly on the slopes of Michigan, with smaller falls reported in Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, among other states. Iowa, though, has remained predominantly dry and reliant on snowmaking for centres to open. Conditions are the best they’ve been all season across the region, with more and more centres now reporting they’re 100% open. They include Crystal Mountain in Michigan (46/58” / 115/145cm), also posting the region's deepest snow.
MIDWEST FORECAST
It continues fairly cold, with temperatures below freezing, mainly in the 20s or low 30s. It was a sunny few days for most, but with snowfall to end the week. Light showers should bring a few inches (2-7cm) of fresh snow to many areas with overnight lows, enabling snowmaking to continue as required.
EAST COAST REPORT
Another good week in the Northeast with temperatures mostly remaining below freezing, often well below heading down towards single-figures Fahrenheit, and some regular snowfalls most days this week. It’s not usually anything big, just a few inches, but it keeps refreshing the slopes with the new snow in excellent condition. Most of the centres in the region are now close to fully open, with the largest, Killington (20/20” / 509/50cm), posting its slopes 97% open, with 148 of its 155 trails skiable.
EAST COAST FORECAST
The recent pattern of plenty of snowfall with low temperatures is set to continue to make the Northeast one of the best places to ski. Most areas will see a continuing mix of snow showers, sunny spells, and some very low temperatures, down to single figures Fahrenheit at the time. The weekend will bring the heaviest falls for most areas.
WESTERN CANADA REPORT
Another predominantly dry week, especially on the Pacific Coast, with what light snowfall there has been tending to fall on inland BC resorts and on slopes in Alberta. Temperatures have remained very low, too, with highs generally only getting a few degrees above freezing at resort bases in the afternoons, dropping to -20C overnight up high. Most of the region’s centres report all their runs open and all lifts turning. The largest in the country and North America, Whistler Blackcomb (160/160cm / 64/64”) reports having 98% of its terrain skiable.
WESTERN CANADA FORECAST
Remaining very cold into the start of February, but there are signs of a change in the dry conditions at last, with a front moving in on Friday expected to bring 5-10cm (2-4) of snowfall into the weekend, a start at least.
EASTERN CANADA REPORT
After a dry end to last week, Eastern Canada has had another good seven days. Temperatures remain well below freezing, mainly in the -5 to -25C range, and light snowfalls have brought fresh 5-10cm (2-4”) accumulations on multiple days in the last week. The region's largest ski area, Tremblant (60/140cm / 24/56"), continues to have both the most open terrain (100% of its slopes) and the deepest snowpack.
EASTERN CANADA FORECAST
Remaining very cold, mainly in the -10 to -25C range, with highs around -5C. Light snowfall is expected most days through the weekend, typically 2-5cm (1-2") on ski slopes in the region, with occasional sunny spells too.
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