A significant winter storm swept through the Rockies in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah over the weekend and another major winter storm threatened to dump up to eight feet in some upper elevations by end of the day Thursday just in time for the holiday crush.


The weekend storm left fresh powder at all 22 Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts. In the southwest Colorado the snow piled up as Wolf Creek received 27 inches, Crested Butte and Silverton 26 inches and Monarch 22 inches.

Snowfall totals were in the double digits for many other resorts nestled around the state. Both Arapahoe Basin and Loveland received 18 inches of new snow, Copper and Eldora were both covered in 14 inches, and Aspen Highlands 13 inches. In the northwest part of the state, nearly a foot of fresh Champagne Powder fell at Steamboat as that resort welcomed 11 inches. Snow fell at both Aspen Mountain and Purgatory where ten inches accumulated over the weekend.


Nine new inches fell at Ski Cooper, Snowmass, Telluride and Winter Park, and five inches of fresh snow was reported at SolVista Basin at Granby Ranch and Howelsen Hill. Both Sunlight and Buttermilk received four inches and Echo Mountain added two inches to its season total.


The Weather Service, meanwhile, said Monday that “heavy snowfall of epic proportions will continue” through Thursday in and could dump up to eight feet of snow on the western and southwestern slopes above 9,000 feet in the Rockies in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah.


The fresh snow is a welcome site as resorts prepare to host holiday guests. “Colorado’s ski industry is poised for a busy season,” said Melanie Mills, president and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA. “We’ll likely see the early season momentum continue with resorts being active over the holidays due in part to the great snow conditions and abundant events.”

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) is the not-for-profit trade association representing Colorado’s 22 ski & snowboard resorts.