Western North America Conditions 2025/26

[Sbooker]

I was running out of Red Ink X-ing

 

[EMSC]

It's almost MLK Weekend, and Deer Valley's snowmaking system has not really accomplished much.

No snowmaking system in Utah or Colorado has accomplished all that much this particular year. But it was and is extremely forecastable that that section of new terrain was both 100% snowmaking dependant and that that area/altitude has warm temps in the early season on a regular basis. Not a good combination which is why that expansion has been so widely panned as stupid.

 

[Skieric]

Good call. This storm is so warm it is forecast even to rain halfway up Panorama and Kicking Horse. Those areas got lots of December snow when it was raining more west of Rogers Pass.

Made it to LL today and it was definitely the right choice. Woke up crazy early and made the not fun drive over Rogers pass. LL had 14 inches in the last 24 hrs of winter snow. I think west bowl was closed yesterday as it was skiing deep and didnt track out. I was finding untracked up until 1pm. Temps are certainly warm as the car said +2C in the parking lot at the end the day. Normally this time of year temps at LL are -20. Now I am concerned about my Mustang Trip on Friday. However I just spoke to them. Apparently at Mustang lodge level they had all snow, although, heavy wet snow. It supposed to cool off some later in the week. I am not sure if the snow will recrystalize or if it will form a crust. Lets hope I am not skiing a breakable crust for 3 days.

 

[Skieric]

Did some lower altitude Cat operations and lower Heli-Ski terrain get impacted by this warm-up?

A 2700 rain/snowline in British Columbia in mid-January??!!

Revelstoke Snow Report from January 13th:

Overnight there was some frozen precip in Revelstoke at 600m. Top of Rogers pass at about 1200 m had slush on the road. I dont think rain snow line was this high.

 

[ChrisC]

Deer Valley has lots of "Snowmaking in Progress" icons all over its Live Map. However, webcams do not show much snowmaking, maybe still too warm.

It's interesting that there is not a single Deer Valley webcam showing Deer Valley East (it's likely ugly and uninspiring). Instead, the point is a single cam eastward from the top of Bald Mountain / Sultan Lift. Too brown, lower down.

Deer Valley Mountain Webcam | Deer Valley Resort

See many different views and discover real-time conditions at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah.

www.deervalley.com

 

[takeahike46er]

Deer Valley has lots of "Snowmaking in Progress" icons all over its Live Map. However, webcams do not show much snowmaking, maybe still too warm.

Too warm. I checked temps on the Park City site earlier and all of them were above freezing.

Closer to home, I was looking at the Whistler webcams earlier. It was depressing. The alpine is covered in rain runnels.

I’m supposed to go touring in the Whistler backcountry next week, staying in the Kees and Claire hut for three nights. It’s not looking good.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Apparently at Mustang lodge level they had all snow, although, heavy wet snow.

The lodge is at 5,700 and alpine terrain goes up to 8,000. You are in the situation that occurred during much of 2014-15. If the weather is clear enough to ski the alpine as I did in 2015, you will be OK. Many 2015 tours that were confined by weather/visibility below tree line sucked though.

 

[ChrisC]

I saw Whitewater was reporting a 3300m freezing level yesterday on its Snow/Weather Report. Today it's a 2600m freezing level with summit temperatures at nearly 3 °C (37 °F) at 6 AM local.

 

[Skieric]

After skiing at Lake Louise a second day that included blue skies, I can confidently state that the coverage is the best that I have ever skied there. Back bowls are really remarkable. Someone I rode a lift with said he was skiing lines today that he hasn’t skied for 40 years purely due to the snow cover. I found lots of nice smooth windsift in the whitehorn chutes today.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Deer Valley has lots of "Snowmaking in Progress" icons all over its Live Map. However, webcams do not show much snowmaking, maybe still too warm.

Utah is the warmest ski region of the Rockies, and the Wasatch Back is obviously warmer than the higher Cottonwood Canyons.

AFAIK no one in western North America has more than about 700 acres with snowmaking pipes. This is not the Dolomites, SkiWelt or Saalbach.

I'd guess that with the expansion Deer Valley has more than 700 acres with snowmaking. But there is is still the question of water. Can Deer Valley draw unlimited water from Jordanelle Reservoir as Big Bear does from its lake? But Big Bear has only 450 acres of ski terrain while Deer Valley claims 4,300 for 2025-26. I see Mt. High style triage happening at Deer Valley. They will use their snowmaking to maintain the higher and better exposed Bald and Flagstaff mountains and not expand to the more problematic new terrain until that upper core terrain is secure.

 

[sibhusky]

Whitefish. Blue skies and empty.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Any rain at Whitefish early this week as in Washington and much of B.C.? Summit shows no increase in season-to-date since last Saturday.

Schweitzer (still only 52% open) reports one inch new snow since Saturday and I think we can read between the lines here:

Early in the day, groomers are smooth, then they soften up towards the afternoon. On my laps, I stuck to the groomed terrain as the off piste is somewhat unpredictable.

None new at Brundage (Snowave?):

Snow conditions are staying consistent and super enjoyable. Groomers will be firm and fast early, then soften up as the sun works its magic, creating that sweet spot of edgeable, forgiving snow that makes carving feel effortless.

Sounds good in April; in January I'm a bit suspicious, especially that far north. I have seen rain induced corn (at Baldy) but it's rare.

Red Mt. at least got 6 inches of snow, but I'm sure that's not all.

Temperatures are still hovering around the 0° mark, meaning the snow may initially feel a little hard packed in the morning. As this freeze-thaw cycle continues, we remind you to ski and ride responsibly.

Castle got 4 inches but Alberta OpenSnow says all rain there the last two days while Louise and Sunshine got dumped on again.

Spring-like conditions should be expected again today, starting off on the firmer end of things and softening a bit as the day goes on. This may only stand to be true on the lower mountain today, however, as we're expecting slightly cooler temps today.

I've skied Castle enough to know that "spring-like conditions" in January are not due to sun and warmth.

Whistler got dumped on last weekend (23 inches) but OpenSnow forecast

rain likely reaching the summit by the end of the day

on Monday.

Crystal reports no new snow and has decreased from 68% to 35% open since last Saturday.

We had another day of high pressure with warm temperatures. Sunny aspects were soft while shaded terrain is holding making it very firm and fast.

Hood Meadows like Crystal has a bit more candor.

The groomers have stiffened back up this morning into a hardpack / frozen granular base, but expect them to quickly transition back to a soft pack later this morning and afternoon. Off piste is skier-packed powder and hardpack with moguls in some areas and will also quickly soften up under warm and mild skies.

Bachelor had no new snow but may have been far enough south to escape the rain. But a 30 inch base in mid-January is outlier low tide there. In 53 years Bachelor's average Dec. 31 base is 75 inches with only 3 seasons under 30.

Northwest is now open for the season. Early season conditions will be present, and there will be no groomed runs off of Northwest. West Bowls will remain closed, awaiting more snow. It is recommended that only advanced skiers/riders enter this terrain. Please stick to open/named runs, expect marked and unmarked obstacles, and ski or ride with caution.

Sort of like A-Basin opening Pali this week too.

No question the most forbidden four letter word in a ski report is the R-word. These Northwest ski areas do not seem likely to get resurfaced by new snow in the near term. Let's hope the dry spell doesn't last over a month as after the Tropical Punch rain in January 2005.