2001-02 Ski Season Summary

The following major weather patterns affected the ski season.
October / early November: There was almost no natural snow in the United States. Big White in Canada opened about 20% of its terrain on a 3-foot base October 20. This storm went through Whistler, but with a high snow level of 5,000 feet.
Mid-November through mid-December By Thanksgiving a major storm track was centered upon the Pacific States, then converging with even greater intensity upon Utah. By mid-December all Pacific areas from Whistler south to Mammoth were in full operation, plus Utah and most areas in western Canada, on abundant mid-winter bases. U.S. Northern Rockies areas accumulated snow more gradually and reached full operation about Christmas. The big November storm did not get much farther than Vail/Steamboat in Colorado, and thus the rest of the state was only in partial operation for the holidays.
Late December through most of January Most of the West was dry during the holidays except for the Sierra, which continued to get new snow past New Year's. Then a more narrow storm track formed, centering upon Washington and Oregon and moving northeast into the Rockies along the U.S.-Canada border. Utah and California were dry for 3 weeks, with deep bases but difficult surface conditions after an early January warm spell. Colorado continued gradual accumulation, and most areas were close to full operation by the end of the month on bases of about 4 feet.
February: As in the early season significant snowfall was confined to Canada in February. With cool temperatures and a few small storms Utah, Sierra and Northwest skiing remained good and northern Rockies adequate. In Colorado where the base was marginal conditions started to deteriorate.
March: March was very similar to late November and early December. There were big dumps in the Northwest, Sierra, Utah and Canada, and snow quality was excellent with colder than normal temperatures. The Northern Rockies were also cold but closer to average in snowfall. Nearly all of these storms petered out before reaching Colorado, a bizarre circumstance for that state's historically snowiest month. Most Colorado areas were losing coverage and closing some runs by the end of March.
Spring: Winter lingered a couple more weeks in Canada, but a beginning of April heat wave brought an early spring to most U.S. areas and brought Colorado's spring season to its earliest end ever. The deeper bases in Utah, the Sierra and the Northwest were still there to receive refreshing in some late April and May storms.
For more detail on snow incidence by month and region, see 2001-02 Ski Season Analysis.