Wintry Blast Kicks Off Snowmaking at Colorado Ski Resorts

As a blast of wintry weather arrives in Colorado, ski resorts across the state are blowing snow in anticipation of the pending ski season.

According to a social media post from Arapahoe Basin, “it’s showtime.” Just after 6 a.m. on October 18, 2024, the well-known Centennial State ski area turned on its snow guns, taking advantage of the colder temperatures.

Video: Arapahoe Basin Snowmaking, October 18, 2024

^Video credit: Lucas Herbert, Arapahoe Basin

Arapahoe Basin, which is regularly one of the first ski resorts open in the U.S., hasn’t announced an opening date yet but will get the lifts spinning as soon as possible.

The resort is located in north-central Colorado. Between today and October 22nd, forecasters predict a few inches of snow at ski areas in this area. Southwestern Colorado—where ski resorts like Silverton Mountain and Purgatory Reside—is slated for considerably larger snowfall totals. In his daily morning mountain weather update, meteorologist Chris Tomer called for nearly a foot at Purgatory by the 22nd.

On social media, Arapahoe Basin noted that it hopes the cold temperatures hold through the weekend. Last season, the resort opened on October 29th. Its earliest opening date was October 9th, 2009.

In August, Vail Resorts announced that Keystone was targeting a mid-October opening date, weather and conditions permitting. Warm and dry weather thwarted those plans, but Keystone has joined Arapahoe Basin in blowing snow this morning. Loveland Ski Area, too, has fired up its snowguns .

The arrival of natural snow in Colorado could expedite the race for first chair, although Keystone, like Arapahoe Basin, hasn’t shared an opening date. Keystone’s planned opening day terrain offering will include 2-plus miles of skiing at the top of the mountain on the Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon trails. Breckenridge, another ski resort on the Epic Pass, aims to open on November 8th.

Colorado isn’t the only state to enjoy dropping temperatures and precipitation. This week, snowfall across the West has proven widespread. Ski resorts in Utah started the day with snow. Alta Ski Area and Snowbird picked up substantial storm totals , and continued snowfall is expected throughout today.

Further north, at Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, around seven inches of high-altitude snow are in the forecast. Rain, rather than snow, is expected at Whistler Blackcomb’s base.

Related: Utah Ski Resorts Buried by First Real Storm of the Season

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