North America Weekly Roundup #268
(Updated 20 November 2024) A comprehensive review of snow conditions, weather, and updates for North America's winter sports destinations.
North America Steals the Spotlight: Ski Season Heats Up Coast to Coast
- Explosive Openings: Over 40 ski areas now open across North America, including big names like Mammoth, Vail, and Whistler Blackcomb, which opens a day early.
- Rocky Mountain Dominance: Colorado's Wolf Creek shines with 95% terrain open, leading the world in early-season coverage.
- Coast-to-Coast Progress: While the Midwest struggles with mild weather, the East Coast and Canada make gains with snowmaking and early openings in Vermont, Maine, and Alberta.
NORTH AMERICA OVERVIEW
The 24-25 season is gathering pace in North America with ski areas opening in more western states as well as the first on the East Coast in Canada and the US. Some big names including Mammoth and Vail opened last week and more are lined up for the next few days, including the contrinent;'s largest, Whistler Blackcomb, opening a day earlier the planned on Thursday.
With about 40 areas open so far North America has now clearly overtaken Europe and in Colorado, Wolf Creek has more than 95% of its terrain open already, far more than anywhere else in the world. In terms of snowfall, the Pacific Northwest corner has seen the most over the past week with drier conditions elsewhere. The Midwest continues to struggle with still nowhere open yet at the time of writing whilst a temperature dip on the East Coast allowed half-a-dozen ski areas to open some limited terrain in New England and Quebec.
ROCKIES REPORT
The Rocky Mountains are leading the world right now in terms of areas open, with around 15 centres already in operation for 24-25. Vail (55/55cm / 22/22”) was the latest to open in Colorado at the weekend, taking the early-season choice there up to nine. It’s been a drier week than recently though, except in more northerly states like Montana, with southerly centres that had opened very early in New Mexico, Pajarito and Sandia Peak, closing again after the early excitement. Utah though is up to three areas open with Brighton (21/21” / 52/52cm) and Solitude (16/16” / 40/40cm) joining Brian Head.
Back in Colorado Wolf Creek (24/26” / 50/55cm) the first ski area in North America to open with natural snowfall a month ago is the standout with nearly all of its terrain open (137 runs of its 144) whilst most centres open in the rest of the world right now can only manage a handful of runs.
ROCKIES FORECAST
It’s a mixed forecast with continuing predominantly dry conditions in Colorado and more southerly states, with some very cold weather for snowmaking to low levels overnight (as low as 10F for some), but daytime highs getting to the mid-40s. More unsettled with heavier snowfall in more northerly states again.
WEST COAST REPORT
It's a dynamic picture on the UIS West coast with heavy snowfall in Northwestern states, accompanied by strong winds at times, and drier, sunnier conditions although some snowfall too further south. The snowfall has been much heavier above 4,000 feet. Mammoth (15/26" / 36/66cm) was the latest ski area to open in California but with just a couple of miles (3km) of slopes open thanks to snowmaking efforts.
More big players including Heavenly and The Palisades are expected to join it later this week, both opening earlier than planned due to snowfall they say, on Wednesday and Friday respectively. Timberline (10/38” / 25/95cm) is open in Oregon with big names including Mt Bachelor dues to join it shortly and in Washington State Crystal Mountain and Mt Baker are expected to open later this week.
WEST COAST FORECAST
It’s looking very snowy right across the west for the coming week with heavy snowfall forecast for California now as well as further north. An atmospheric river from the Pacific is being credited with bringing the snow in.
MIDWEST REPORT
Ski areas in the Midwest continue to be frustrated by ongoing mild weather bringing rain and sleet rather than snow as temperatures hover just above freezing much of the time. So it’s a holding position with dozens of areas ready to go with snowmaking systems primed as soon as temperatures are low enough. For now, though nowhere can open.
MIDWEST FORECAST
Unfortunately, there's no clear sign of temperatures dipping enough yet for snowmaking systems to be able to fire up and the precipitation continues to be rain rather than snowfall as temperatures remain in the mid-30s to mid-40s.
EAST COAST REPORT
After cold weather arrived on the East Coast last week ski areas quickly fired up their snowmaking systems and both the largest centre in the region, Vermont's Killington (0/12" / 0/30cm) and another big player, Maine's Sunday River (12/18" / 30/45cm), opened. They were joined at the weekend by Whiteface in New York State (although currently at weekends only) and Bretton Woods (10/20" / 25/50cm) in New Hampshire.
All are reporting early-season conditions with limited terrain open, most of it suited only to intermediate or advanced-level skiers and boarders and in some cases some hiking required to or from the open slopes. Ski Ward in Massachusetts has also re-opened its short slope created with an all-weather snowmaking machine that had been forced to close by very warm weather earlier this month.
EAST COAST FORECAST
There’s rain, sleet and snowfall in the forecast with conditions remaining marginal as temperatures move between the high 20s and high 40s Fahrenheit. The most positive sign is a front that looks to be loaded with snow expected to hit the region just before the weekend and being promoted as a ‘bomb cyclone’ due to severity of the winds and possible heavy rain or (hopefully) snow.
CANADA REPORT
It remains Alberta that’s the main area with skiing already available in Canada with all three Banff ski areas open and Nakiska (25/45cm / 10/18”) still opening at weekends. Mt Norquay (30/35cm / 12/14”) opened at the weekend after a fortnight's delay having been lined up to be the first in the country to open at the start of the month. This points to a good but not an as-yet epic start to the season.
Jasper's Marmot Basin has also delayed opening although in its case that's largely down to the logistical issues caused by the Jasper fine, but the centre says it's about there. Sunshine (32/50cm / 13/20”) opened its new Super Angel Express lift at the weekend which also allowed it to access more terrain so it's posting the most available in Canada so far (16km/10 miles of runs), although there’s not much anywhere yet.
BC hasn't got anywhere open yet but has reported lots of pre-season snowfall, now up to 2.5m (over eight feet) reported by Revelstoke among others so anticipation is ramped up there. Sun Peaks opens first and then Whistler Blackcomb, North America’s largest ski area, says it will open for its 24-25 season a day earlier than planned at the end of this coming week. "We're opening one day earlier than planned, so get ready and get up here on Thursday, November 21 when lifts on Blackcomb Mountain start spinning! Whistler Mountain's opening will follow on Friday, November 22 as planned," a spokesperson said.
Back inland Big White is also opening early, in its case six days early, this Friday, thanks to great early snowfall there too. The first centre has also opened on the East Coast, Sommet St Sauveur, thanks to snowmaking, at the weekend. In Quebec and Ontario there have been the same East Coast issues as further south in the US and the region's largest resort, Tremblant, whilst posting images of snowmaking systems fired up, has postponed its opening from this week to next.
CANADA FORECAST
Continuing sub-zero and snowy in the west. No spectacular dumps in the forecast at present but 5-10cm (2-4") accumulations are expected most days so bases should build organically. Continuing close to freezing in the East, getting a few degrees on either side, meaning precipitation will be rain/sleet/snow mix.
