You know things are out of whack when a resort just outside Las Vegas — yes, Las Vegas — has more snow than any ski area in Utah.
Lee Canyon has 30 inches of snow, all five of its lifts running with access to all but one of its 29 trails. The tiny resort about 35 miles northwest of Sin City had big snow in November when many places in the West were still high and dry.
But the slow start to the Utah ski and snowboard season could finally pick up some momentum after the weekend snowstorm.
Nearly all of the state’s 15 resorts have had to push back their opening dates due to a lack of snowfall and temperatures too warm to make snow. That changed Sunday. More snow is forecast this week and the air will remain cold.
OnTheSnow meteorologist Chris Tomer predicts moderate to heavy snow accumulation Tuesday, light snow Friday, and moderate to heavy snow Saturday. His forecast calls for total snow accumulation of 6 inches to 12 inches (or more) between Monday and Sunday at Utah ski areas.
The only resorts spinning lifts in the state — Brian Head and Solitude — picked up 3 inches and 9 inches, respectively, on Sunday. Open terrain remains limited at both.
Brighton plans to open Tuesday with others expected to follow this week. Late Monday, Park City Mountain Resort said it would open Friday.
Still, several have yet to announce new opening dates.
Snowbasin posted this Monday on Facebook: “It’s happening. We are opening THIS WEEKEND for our 85th season! Temps have dropped and snowmaking is firing on all cylinders. The mountain is shaping up beautifully with 8” that fell this weekend, 16” more expected this week, and over 2 FEET in the forecast! We will welcome you all back with 2,500 feet of top-to-bottom skiing from Needles Gondola (more details to come)."
The resort plans to announce the exact opening day on Wednesday.
Late Monday afternoon, Park City Mountain announced it’s opening Dec. 5. “Winter took the scenic route, but it’s here and Park City Mountain is ready,” the resort. Opening day will mark the debut of its new Sunrise Gondola, Utah’s first 10-person gondola.
According to Ski Utah, here’s where things stand as of Monday:
Alta — Dec. 5
Beaver Mountain — TBD
Brighton — Dec. 2
Cherry Peak — TBD
Deer Valley — TBD
Eagle Point — Dec. 19
Nordic Valley — Dec. 12
Park City — Dec. 5
Powder Mountain — Dec. 12
Snowbasin — TBD
Snowbird — TBD
Sundance — TBD
Woodward — TBD