Who got the most snow in North America in 2023-24?
Guest feature by Tony Crocker, 25
July 2024
weathertoski.co.ukIn-depth review of the 2023–24 North American
ski season, revealing which resorts saw the most snowfall — guest feature by Tony Crocker.
The 2023-24 ski season started with the second driest November and December in North America's ski areas in 55 years of records, with just 57% of their long-term average precipitation.
Fortunately, January to mid-March snowfall was about 130%, meaning that the season overall ended up not too far below the long-term average, at 94%.
As 2023-24 was a moderate El Niño year, some northern regions had snowfall totals further below average.
The only region seeing collectively above average snowfall in 2023-24 was Utah.
After a dry start to the 2023-24 North American ski season, many resorts (like Steamboat, Colorado - pictured) saw better snow conditions in January – Photo: Tony Crocker, 7 January 2024
CaliforniaDetailed review of California's 2023–24 ski season, including how much snow fell throughout the season, key snowfall totals at major Californian ski resorts, and comparisons with
their long-term averages.
Most Californian ski areas had less than a metre of snow before January and were only about a quarter open during the holidays, while the higher areas of Mammoth, Kirkwood and Mt. Rose were about half open.
Most terrain finally opened after 1m+ of snow fell in early January, with all terrain opening after 1.5m of falls in the first week of February. A further 1m of snow fell during the rest of
February, and 2–3 metres in March, which was then followed by an average spring. Palisades Tahoe (formerly known as Squaw Valley) and Mammoth closed for the season on 27 May.
California’s overall season saw 91% of its long-term average snowfall. Palisades Tahoe’s upper site led the region with 10.7m (just under its
long-term average, at 99%) while Mammoth got 9.3m (just higher than its long-term average, at 102%). Heavenly’s upper site got just 5.7m (60%) while Kirkwood saw 9.3m (80%).
As ever, Mammoth was able to offer plenty of good spring skiing well into May this winter – Photo: Tony Crocker, 1 May 2024
UtahDetailed review of Utah's 2023–24 ski season, including how much snow fell throughout the season, key snowfall totals at major Utah ski resorts, and comparisons with their long-term
averages.
Most Utah ski areas were three-quarters open at Christmas, but with tired surfaces due to all the snow having come early in December.
The Cottonwood Canyon areas had major dumps of 2m during the second week of January and the first half of February, with 1m+ later in February, 3m in March and 1m in April. Other areas had about
2/3 as much snow.
Overall, Utah was the leading region in Northern America in the 2023–24 ski season, with 111% of its long-term average snowfall. Park City got
9.4m (126%) and Snowbasin 9.9m (120%). Snowbird saw 14m (110%) and closed on 27 May.
Alta led North America in snowfall in 2023–24, with 15.4m (115% of its long-term average).
The Cottonwood Canyons (including Snowbird, pictured) saw 3m of snowfall in March 2024 – Photo: Tony Crocker, 11 March 2024
Colorado (and New Mexico)Detailed review of Colorado and New Mexico's 2023–24 ski season, including how much snow fell throughout the season, key snowfall totals at major ski resorts, and comparisons with
their long-term averages.
In Colorado's Front Range/I-70 region, the high snowfall areas of Steamboat, Vail and
Winter Park were three-quarters open for the holidays with 2m of early season snow, however other areas were less than half open.
Most Colorado ski areas were fully open after a metre of snow in the second week of January, and the rest of the season had consistent snowfalls averaging 30-40cm per week right through until
early May, leaving the season ending up with 96% of its long-term average snowfall. Winter Park had 9.8m (111%), Breckenridge saw 8.5m (96%), and Vail 7.8m (88%). A-Basin (6.9m, 88%)
remained open until 16 June.
The western Colorado areas were over half open for Christmas, while New Mexico was less than half open. The second week of January saw 1m+ of snowfall.
Aspen and Crested Butte had consistent snowfalls during the second half of the season, while
the southern areas had heavier snowfalls of up to 1.5m during the first half of February and the second half of March, with otherwise drier conditions. By the end of the season, Wolf Creek had 8.1m (82% of its long-term average), while Snowmass saw 7.3m (95%), Telluride 7.2m (102%) and Taos 6.4m (96%).
Although the area saw below average snowfall for the year, there were some good skiing conditions, like here on 35cm of fresh powder in Beaver Creek – Photo: Tony Crocker, 25 March 2024
The NortheastDetailed review of the Northeast's 2023–24 ski season, including snow coverage, key snowfall totals at major ski resorts, and comparisons with long-term averages.
In mid-December, Northern Vermont's ski areas were three-quarters open on a metre of snow. However, the next two weeks saw excessive rain across the entire Northeast, leaving most areas with no
more than a quarter of their terrain open for the holidays.
Conditions improved thanks to snow through mid-January and in late February, but were then set back by thaw and rain in early February and the first half of March. The best conditions of the
season in the Northeast were in the second half of March, with 1m+ of snow.
The first week of April was a highlight, with 60cm of snow followed by clear skies for the 8 April solar eclipse - a total eclipse at 17 ski areas.
Overall, the Northeast’s 2023-24 ski season saw 92% of its long-term average snowfall, though was qualitatively worse due to rain or thaw shortly following most snowfalls.
Jay Peak led the region with 7.7m (95%), while Stowe had 7.3m (98%), Killington 6.1m (101%) and Sugarloaf 4.6m (105%). In Canada, Le Massif had
4.6m (77%).
The first week of April saw 60cm of snow just before the 8 April solar eclipse, viewed here in Sugarloaf, Maine – Photo: Tony Crocker, 8 April 2024
US Northern RockiesDetailed review of the US Northern Rockies' 2023–24 ski season, including snow coverage, key snowfall totals at major ski resorts, and comparisons with long-term averages.
In the US Northern Rockies, Grand Targhee continued its perfect Christmas reliability record with 3m of snow before January. Other areas saw no
more than 1.5m and were only half (or less) open for the holidays.
The Tetons and interior Northwest areas saw 1.5m of snowfall in January, but Sun Valley and much of Montana remained in limited operation with
less than a metre of January snow.
Both February and March were strong in the US Northern Rockies, with 2m+ each month in the Tetons and 1m+ in the rest of the region.
After a below average April, the season finished at 84% of normal in the US Northern Rockies. Grand Targhee led the region with 11.1m (94%),
while Jackson Hole had 7.7m (82%). Sun Valley had 3.5m (72%), Schweitzer 5.9m (86%) and
Big Sky 6.7m (91%).
Interior Western CanadaDetailed review of Interior Western Canada's 2023–24 ski season, including snow coverage, key snowfall totals at major ski resorts, and comparisons with long-term
averages.
Interior Western Canada had a 'below average' holiday season, with areas broadly only three-quarters open on about 2m of snow before January.
In January, the Okanagan and Kootenay areas saw 1.5m of snow but the Banff areas remained sketchy with less than a metre. February and March
were the best months for the region, with most areas getting at least 1m+ each month.
After an average spring, the season ended at 91% of its long-term average in Interior Western Canada. Revelstoke led the region with 8.4m (91%),
while Big White had 6.2m (85%), Fernie 8.1m (92%) and Sunshine 5.7m (88%).
Although Interior Western Canada had a below average holiday season, there was some powder to be found in Kicking Horse (pictured) in early December – Photo: Tony Crocker, 9 December 2023
Pacific NorthwestDetailed review of the Pacific Northwest's 2023–24 ski season, including snow coverage, key snowfall totals at major ski resorts, and comparisons with long-term averages.
The Pacific Northwest averaged 2m of snow before January, but also saw about 15cm of rain, meaning that its ski areas were only about half-open for the holidays on less than 1m of base.
The season kicked in with 2m of snow during the first half of January, although surfaces were then degraded by rain in late January. Recovery was gradual until 1m+ of snow fell during the second
half of February, which restored excellent skiing conditions.
Early March saw 2m of snow, though the Pacific Northwest mostly saw spring conditions thereafter, in between smaller storms.
Overall, the Pacific Northwest’s season saw 96% of its long-term average snowfall.Crystal Mountain had 8m (81%), while Whistler had 10.2m (96%) and was open until 20 May. Meanwhile, Mount Bachelor had 10.7m, 109% of its long-term average, and was open to 27 May.
Mount Baker led the region with 12.8m (albeit only 78% of its ‘normal’).
The Pacific Northwest's season kicked in during the first half of January 2024, when it saw 2m of snow, including here in Whistler – Photo: facebook.com/WhistlerBlackcomb, 12 January 2024
Tony Crocker is an award-winning snow-sports journalist
and founder of www.bestsnow.net – the definitive guide to weather
and snowfall patterns in North American ski resorts.
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