A much-needed storm system blanketed Colorado mountains over the weekend, delivering a critical boost for ski resorts that have had well below normal snowfall this season — with yet another dry period in store for the next two weeks.
Eight resorts received a foot or more, including Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Wolf Creek, Purgatory, Aspen Mountain, Snowmass and Monarch. Snowmass received 15 inches, while Vail and Beaver Creek checked in at 14 inches.
Four other areas received double-digit dumps: Winter Park, Telluride, Steamboat and Sunlight.
That will have to do for a while. Joel Gratz, founding meteorologist for the OpenSnow reporting and forecasting service, reports that we are entering another period of mostly dry weather, making the weekend’s snow that much more significant.
“During most seasons, this would qualify as a ‘good’ storm cycle,” in his Monday update. “But during this bleak season, this is a ‘save our souls’ type of storm cycle where we remember that yes, the atmosphere can actually produce snow, and yes, we can actually be really happy to ride soft snow.”
