After record-breaking warmer temperatures earlier this month, back to normal November weather dumped lots of snow in the mountains - prompting ski areas to open for the season.
Stevens Pass ski area opened Tuesday, after a string of storms hit the Cascades since Thanksgiving. Stevens follows Crystal and Mount Baker, which opened the day after Thanksgiving.
Stevens Pass is open for the season starting today! Hooray for winter! Here's a shot from this morning. #stevenspass pic.twitter.com/LwXqXpXfrY
— Stevens Pass (@StevensPass) November 29, 2016
Stevens was hit with 14" of snow in the last 48 hours.
Opening Day came earlier than last year, and after a major infrastructure improvement. The resort spent nearly $2 million breaking up rock and clearing the way for an additional 350 parking spaces.
Several dozen skiers and boarders took advantage of the "bluebird" day, and the three lifts that were open. The resort will be open again Wednesday morning, closing at 4 p.m. Stevens says it expects another round of storms to ring fresh powder Wednesday, which may allow them to open up other parts of the resort.
Many other ski areas are primed and ready to open as soon as the snow falls and they get their minimum snow bases. Here is the latest from our local areas:
Crystal Mountain: Crystal Mountain Resort officially opened ski season the day after Thanksgiving. Mt. Rainier Gondola, Green Valley Express and Chinook Express lifts are open. Forest Queen Express opens Wednesday. Quicksilver and Chair 6 are scheduled to open Saturday.
Mission Ridge: Opened December 2 for operation Friday - Sunday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. There's been 3.5 inches of snowfall in the last 24 hours.
Mount Baker: Mount Baker opened Nov. 25 with more than 68 inches of snow--the deepest base in the U.S. There were 30 inches of new snow that fell in the last 48 hours.
Stevens Pass: With up to 14 inches of snow fall in the past 48 hours, Stevens Pass opened Nov. 29 at 9 a.m.
Summit at Snoqualmie: Snoqualmie West will open Dec. 6 after being blasted with 19 inches of snow over the weekend. It will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
White Pass: After a brief hiatus, the resort will reopen Dec. 8 for daily operation. White Pass was hit with 18 inches of snow in the last 24 hours.
And elsewhere around the Pacific Northwest:
Whistler: If you're willing to head north for a long drive, Whistler is OPEN for ski season! They've had 6 centimeters of new snow in the last 48 hours.
Schweitzer: Reports 5 new inches of snow in the last 24 hours, and opened the weekend of December 2.
Sun Peaks: The resort reported Alpine and Nordic skiing is now open! Sun Peaks has had 10 centimeters of new snow fall in the past 24 hours.
Mount Spokane: There's been 3 inches of fresh new snow in the past 24 hours. It's open Wednesday - Sunday.
Silver Mountain: In the last 48 hours there's been 13 inches of new snow. Runs are open Friday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Lookout Pass: Several lifts are open daily. In the last 24 hours there's been 13 inches of new snow.
Mount Hood Meadows: Now open 7 days a week with a limited number of lifts. 18 inches of snow fall in the last 24 hours.
Timberline: Now opening for skiing with 10 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours.
Mount Bachelor: Now open for skiing with 11 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours.
