West wrestles with warm winter as low snowpack tests ski season

Western ski resorts are struggling to open runs as warm weather and a thinner-than-average snowpack persists across the region, threatening the start of the season and the water supply for farms, municipalities and families.

At Lake Tahoe, snow depths are well below average and only a small share of lifts are operating. In Utah, warmth has indefinitely postponed the Midway Ice Castles, an annual winter attraction that requires extended cold temperatures to freeze water into large, ornate structures. The area around Vail, Colorado, is seeing substitutes for sleigh rides: wagon tours through mountain scenery as resort operators adapt to the milder conditions. Temperatures in the corridor that will host part of the 2034 Winter Olympics have averaged 7–10 degrees Fahrenheit (3–5 degrees Celsius) above normal in recent weeks, according to the National Weather Service. In nearby Bearcat Stables, owner Nicole Godley says wagons may be a passable replacement for sleighs as customers seek a Western, rustic aesthetic.

In the Northwest, torrential rain has washed out roads and flooded homes, complicating access to ski areas. Heavy mountain snow finally arrived late this week in Washington state, but flood-damaged roads may not be repaired for months, limiting access to certain resorts. In Oregon, the Upper Deschutes Basin has had the slowest start to snow accumulation on record dating back to 1981. Across Oregon, Idaho and western Colorado, Novembers were among the warmest on record, with temperatures about 6–8.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2–4 degrees Celsius) warmer than average. NOAA officials cautioned that continued warmth could prolong drought and increase wildfire risk in the West. Snowpack remains one of the region’s largest water reservoirs, and if rain falls on snowpack instead of accumulating as snow, runoff can overwhelm reservoirs and downstream water users.

Popular reads and context from climate scientists emphasize that limiting global warming remains critical to staving off further shifts in precipitation patterns. In the U.S. Northeast, by contrast, below-normal temperatures have generated snow rather than rain, boosting early-season conditions for skiers. Parts of Vermont have seen nearly triple the snowfall compared with this time last year, and Ohio has seen roughly double.

Vermont’s Killington Resort and Pico Mountain have opened about 100 trails, with spokesperson Josh Reed noting the conditions are among the best for this time of year in a decade. Killington and Pico are joined by New Hampshire’s Cannon Mountain, which has opened more than 50 inches of snow to date. In northern Vermont, Elena Veatch, 31, says she’s already cross-country skied more this fall than in the previous two years and recognizes the climate-driven variability she’s grown to expect.

Out West, it remains early to declare victory for snow lovers. A single big storm can still turn things around quickly, NOAA officials say. Cooper and others closely watch long-range forecasts for hints of hope, while acknowledging that the current pattern leaves many resorts relying on wind, temperature, and occasional storms to build snowpacks sufficient for lifts and trails. Lake Tahoe’s Thanksgiving forecast did not materialize as hoped, but Cooper remains focused on the longer-term outlook and the potential for a substantial multi-foot snow event in the months ahead.

___ Janie Har in San Francisco, Michael Casey in Boston and Gene Johnson in Seattle contributed. Gruver reported from Fort Collins, Colorado. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment