Record warmth and abysmal snowpack across Western North America have forced ski resorts to delay openings, cancel winter attractions, and confront the harsh economic reality of climate change—while Eastern resorts experience their best early-season conditions in decades.
The Western ski industry is confronting an unprecedented crisis as record warmth and critically low snowpack disrupt the entire winter tourism economy during what should be peak opening season. From Colorado to California, resorts are operating at minimal capacity while winter-dependent businesses pivot to survive.
This weather pattern represents a dramatic reversal of fortune between North America’s skiing regions. While Western resorts face bare slopes and delayed openings, Eastern resorts from Vermont to New Hampshire are experiencing their best early-season conditions in recent memory, with some areas reporting nearly triple their typical December snowfall.
The Economic Impact on Western Tourism
The poor conditions are hitting during the crucial holiday period that typically generates 20-30% of annual revenue for mountain resorts. Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company, the two largest ski resort operators in North America, face significant operational challenges with many of their Western properties operating well below capacity.
Local businesses that depend on winter tourism are implementing creative adaptations. Near Vail, Colorado, Bearcat Stables has replaced sleigh rides with wagon tours due to the lack of snow. “It’s the same experience, the same ride, the same horses,” owner Nicole Godley explained. “It’s more about, you know, just these giant horses and the Western rustic feel.”
The economic ripple effects extend beyond skiing. Utah’s Midway Ice Castles, a major winter attraction featuring building-sized ice structures, has been indefinitely postponed due to temperatures consistently running 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in the area that will host part of the 2034 Winter Olympics.
Snowpack Crisis and Water Security Implications
The lack of snow has dire implications beyond tourism. Mountain snowpack serves as a natural reservoir that provides water for millions of acres of agricultural land and drinking water for tens of millions of people across Western states.
According to data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, snowpack levels across nearly all Western watersheds are well below median levels for this time of year. The Upper Deschutes Basin in Oregon is experiencing its slowest start to snow accumulation in records dating to 1981.
Jason Gerlich, drought information coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, emphasized the severity of the situation: “That snowpack is one of our largest reservoirs for water supply across the West.” When precipitation falls as rain instead of snow, it runs off immediately rather than being stored for gradual release during the dry summer months.
Climate Patterns and Weather Extremes
The dramatic weather divide between Eastern and Western North America reflects larger climate patterns. Oregon, Idaho, and western Colorado experienced their warmest Novembers on record, with temperatures ranging from 6-8.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than average, according to NOAA data.
Meanwhile, the Northwest has faced torrential rains that caused severe flooding, washing out roads and bridges and damaging infrastructure. Ironically, heavy mountain snow finally arrived in Washington state this week, but flood-damaged access roads may prevent skiers from reaching resorts for months.
Climate scientists have documented a concerning snow-to-rain trend in Western mountains as global temperatures rise. A 2023 study published in Nature showed that winter precipitation is increasingly falling as rain rather than snow across much of the Western United States, particularly at middle elevations.
Eastern Resorts Experience Unprecedented Conditions
While the West struggles, Eastern resorts are enjoying what many are calling the best early-season conditions in living memory. Vermont’s Killington Resort and Pico Mountain had approximately 100 trails open, a remarkable number for December.
“By far the best conditions I have ever seen for this time of year,” said Josh Reed, resort spokesman who has lived in Killington for a decade. New Hampshire’s Cannon Mountain reported over 50 inches of snowfall to date, allowing for extensive early-season operations.
Cross-country skiers like Elena Veatch, 31, of northern Vermont, are taking full advantage. “I don’t take a good New England winter for granted with our warming climate,” Veatch said, noting she’s already skied more this fall than in the previous two years combined.
Industry Adaptation and Future Outlook
The ski industry has been investing heavily in snowmaking infrastructure to combat variable conditions, but there are limits to this technology. Snowmaking requires temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit, which have been scarce across much of the West this season.
Many resorts are expanding their four-season offerings, developing mountain biking, zip-lining, and other warm-weather activities to reduce dependence on winter operations. However, winter remains the primary revenue driver for most mountain resorts.
There is still hope for Western resorts. As Gerlich noted, “It’s still far too early to rule out hope for snow. A single big storm can turn things around rather quickly.”
Kevin Cooper, president of the Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation at Lake Tahoe, remains optimistic: “Mother Nature has been dealing a really hard deck,” he acknowledged, but added that forecasts suggesting several feet of snow in coming weeks could dramatically improve conditions.
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