North America Weekly Snow Roundup #339

• Canada’s season starts early as Lake Louise opens on 1^st November.
• Mammoth starts its and California's season early on Thursday, 5 November.
• Colorado expected to have at least five resorts open this weekend.
• Season set to start at Lake Tahoe this Friday.

Canada Report

Canada’s 2026-27 ski season got underway earlier than expected, with Alberta resorts benefiting from cold autumn temperatures and effective snowmaking operations. Lake Louise opened last Sunday, November 1, one week ahead of schedule and marking the second-earliest opening in the resort's history. It made the announcement late last Friday.

"Thanks to cold October temperatures and our hardworking team, we're kicking off the 2026/27 ski season this November 1st! That's our second-earliest opening in resort history!" a resort spokesperson said.

Skiers and snowboarders initially had access to the Juniper Express and Easy Street areas, along with two small terrain parks featuring jumps and rails. Banff’s Norquay Ski & Summer Resort has likewise moved its opening date forward. Originally targeting a mid-November launch, the resort will now begin operations on November 6 after what it described as ideal snowmaking conditions. Lift hours will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., an hour later than before, following Alberta and B's decision to stop changing the clocks for daylight saving in winter. Banff Sunshine also plans to open for its 7-month season on Friday. The early openings came as BC resorts reported significant snowfalls – up to 50cm (20”) too.

Canada Forecast

Canada's ski regions are heading into a promising early-November period, with the strongest conditions expected across British Columbia and Alberta. A series of Pacific systems should continue to deliver snowfall to higher elevations, particularly in BC, where resorts including Whistler Blackcomb, Revelstoke, Big White and Sun Peaks are forecast to receive fresh snow. Freezing levels will generally fluctuate between 1,000m and 2,000m, dropping lower overnight and during colder spells, allowing snow to build steadily on upper mountains. Whistler currently stands out with some of the largest forecast accumulations in North America over the coming week. In Alberta, conditions around Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise and other Rocky Mountain resorts remain encouraging, with recent snowfall, cool temperatures and ongoing snowmaking helping preparations for the season ahead. Further east, Quebec remains milder and more variable, but forecast cooler nights should provide good opportunities for snowmaking at resorts preparing to open later this month.

US West Coast Report

California’s 2026-27 ski season is set to begin on Thursday, 5 November, after Mammoth Mountain brought forward its opening by more than a week thanks to fresh snowfall and favourable snowmaking conditions.  The resort will become the first ski area to open on the US West Coast this season, narrowly beating Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe in Nevada, which is scheduled to open on Friday, 6 November. Mammoth received 9-15 inches (22.5- 37.5 cm) of snow during the past week, bringing season totals to 12-20 inches (30- 50 cm). Opening-day operations will include the Lower Panorama Gondola and Broadway Express, serving Broadway, Silver Tip and Rusty's runs, with additional terrain expected as conditions allow.  Mt. Rose will launch with the Lakeview Express, providing access to KC Bowl, Ponderosa and Pondo Park. The resort says snowmaking will continue whenever temperatures permit, with more terrain likely to follow. Both California and Nevada are expected to benefit from a strong El Niño weather pattern this winter, with forecasts pointing to above-average precipitation across the region in the months ahead.

US West Coast Forecast

The US West Coast outlook is increasingly positive, particularly across the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe region. A mix of cooler temperatures and periodic Pacific storms should bring additional snowfall to higher terrain, helping build the early-season snowpack. Snow levels will generally fluctuate between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, dropping lower during colder periods. Several inches of fresh snow are possible on the highest slopes, while resorts around Tahoe continue snowmaking whenever temperatures allow. Looking further ahead, forecasts suggest the potential for heavier mountain snowfall across the Sierra and Cascades in mid-November, which could provide a significant boost to early-season conditions.

US Rockies Report

It's been the most wintery week of fall so far in the Rockies, with some resorts posting up to 20" (50cm) of snowfall on high terrain. The Colorado Avalanche Warning Service is also warning of "considerable" avalanche danger, particularly in the backcountry, with heavy fresh snow on a weak base layer. After Arapahoe Basin’s (46/46 cm/opening at short notice last week, two more centres, Keystone (0/45cm / 0/18”) and Wolf Creek (0/50cm / 0/20”), opened at the weekend. Keystone makes a point of opening with a top-to-bottom two-mile (3.2km) long School Maam run open from its first day. Wolf Creek had had the most natural snowfall (20”/50cm) ahead of opening, but decided to close on Sunday due to caution from a forecast major flooding event in an extreme weather warning. Wolf Creek wasn't so much worried by the flooding itself, but by its possible impact on the wider area.  At least two more Colorado centres, Breckenridge and Copper, are expected to open this weekend, possibly more (Winter Park is one of the maybes). What had been expected to be the first area in Utah, Brian Head, had also scheduled a Friday opening but announced on Wednesday that it was delaying as it had not had enough cold weather windows. 

US Rockies Forecast

The US Rockies look set for a generally favourable week ahead, with mostly cool temperatures supporting snowmaking and preserving existing cover at early-opening resorts. Colorado’s higher elevations should see periods of light snowfall, with the best chances on the highest terrain from around 9,000-10,000 feet upwards. Snow levels are expected to remain relatively high at times, but colder overnight temperatures should continue to aid resort operations. Looking further ahead, forecast guidance points to an increasing chance of mountain snowfall across parts of the Rockies during mid-November, helping build the base for the season ahead.

US East Coast Report

There remain no obvious signs of anywhere opening imminently on the East Coast, but overnight lows have been down far enough for at least some snowmaking, with resorts including Smuggler's Notch and Whiteface amongst many reporting their guns firing up. Other than centres with all-weather snowmaking, Vermont’s Killington and Sunday River in Maine seem closest to opening.

US East Coast Forecast

Temperatures across much of the Northeast are forecast to continue to run near to slightly above average at times, but regular overnight frosts should provide valuable snowmaking windows at resorts in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and New York State. Snow levels will vary from storm to storm, with the highest terrain most likely to see natural snowfall. While significant early-season snowfall is not yet widely forecast, an active storm track should provide opportunities for colder, snow-bearing systems. For now, the main focus remains on snowmaking, with conditions gradually improving as temperatures trend lower through November.