It’s beginning to look a lot more like a normal winter in the ski states of California, Colorado and Utah after heavy snow across the region. Coupled with snow a week ago it means resorts have been able to open much more terrain. Things aren’t ‘normal’ yet – the biggest ski area in the US still has less than half of its 347 runs open for example, but it has nearly half which is a big improvement on the nearer 10% at Christmas and New Year.
Further north and in to Alberta and BC in Canada where snow cover has not been so much of an issue this season it has been dumping even more. Whistler Blackcomb (pictured 24 hours ago) has posted more than a metre of snow in the past week, 60cm (24 inches) in the past 24 hours.
“Freezing levels are now well below 0, and with 24 lifts and 174 runs open, it would appear winter has locked into the Sea to Sky corridor in a big way,” said Whistler Blackomb’s Jennifer Smith, adding, “Seven straight days of snow is now heading our way.”
In Eastern North America the overriding issue has been cold January weather – so cold enough for great snow but too cold to enjoy it and sometimes even for lift machinery to operate. Thankfully here it has warmed up a bit.
