Warm Daytime Temperatures in Colorado Puts off Ski Season, Weekend's Snowstorm Not Enough

The warm daytime temperatures are putting the ski season on hold as a result of limited snowmaking in Colorado. The upcoming snowstorm this weekend, according to experts, won't be enough.

Two Front Range ski areas were able to open for the season this week a year ago, but the first one might not open until the following week.

Although marginal temperatures have decelerated the process, snowmaking operations have already started in Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Loveland-always the first resorts to open for the season. The weather situation doesn't appear to get better until the weekend.

Snowmaking: Only Marginally Conducive

Joel Gratz, founding meteorologist of OpenSnow posted that their Joel Gratz, founding meteorologist of OpenSnow posted that even at their highest elevations, it is only marginally possible to make snow. The article was published over the weekend on his weather website for skiers. He added that forecasts for the longer term indicate that cooler and stormier weather will begin around October 22 and 23.

It is unlikely that Keystone and Loveland will open this week, according to their officials. According to marketing manager Jesse True, the future at Arapahoe Basin is a little brighter.

True said that although it has been warm there, snowmaking has been going well despite the climate. He said that the likelihood is high that the resorts will open this week or early the following week.

Copper Mountain is also making snow to create a fast downhill track for a highly anticipated US Ski Team training camp. Copper intends to open public skiing on November 14th.

While initially only open on weekends, Wolf Creek in southern Colorado became last year's first ski area to open in the state on October 16. On October 17, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Loveland all began operations.

Avoiding Doom & Gloom Assumptions

Shayna Silverman, the spokeswoman for Keystone, said that given the current weather forecast, it is unlikely that Keystone will be open by the end of this week, but snowmakers are still on standby, ready to make snow whenever Mother Nature offers a window of opportunity. Early season preparations for the resort's opening include getting the ground cold and beginning to lay a snowmaking foundation.

Only twice in the past 30 years has no Front Range area been capable of opening in October: in 1992 and 2020, respectively.

Skiers are advised by Gratz not to make bleak assumptions about the nature of the ski season predicated on what occurs in October.

Gratz said that the amount of snowfall in October and the rest of the season have little to no correlation. Gratz went on to say that he preferred a relatively warm, dry, and hopefully fire-free October. The ideal time for the atmosphere to enter go-mode is around November 10, give or take 10 days. Then, through the holidays, it would just begin to snow nonstop, which is the best-case scenario, The Denver Post reports.