California's ski season is severely impacted by unseasonably warm and dry weather, with only a small fraction of normal snow levels, but an upcoming atmospheric river could bring significant snowfall, providing much-needed relief for water resources and the ski industry.
A 49-mile stretch of Highway 2 in Washington will be closed for several months due to severe storm and flooding damage, impacting local economies and the ski season, with ongoing landslides complicating repairs.
Keystone Resort in Colorado has announced that it will open for the ski season on November 1st, just days after Arapahoe Basin became the first ski area to open. The resort plans to celebrate with a party featuring DJs, dancing, and donuts, and the River Run gondola will provide access to the slopes. Loveland Ski Area has yet to announce its opening date.
Dust blowing off the dry areas around Utah's receding Great Salt Lake is coating the snow on nearby slopes, causing early melting and shorter ski seasons. A study found that the snow coating the Wasatch Mountains was the dustiest it had been in 14 years. The dust makes the snow melt faster, putting pressure on water systems and increasing the risk of wildfires. The shrinking lake exacerbates the problem, potentially leading to a "toxic dust bowl" and ecological and human health disasters.
Thousands of skiers and snowboarders gathered at Palisades Tahoe resort in Placer County to celebrate the end of the ski season and Fourth of July, despite the dwindling snow. This year's Tahoe ski season was marked by historic snowfall, with mountainsides inundated with snow. Skiers enjoyed incredible conditions between storms, and the resort saw a record-breaking 723 inches of snow compared to the usual 400 inches.