The return of big storms and deep days.
Following a relatively slow start to the season, the second half of the season has delivered the biggest storms and deepest days of the season. This resurgence has brought season-to-date snowfall to 97% of Alta's 44-year average.
First Half Snowfall
The 2024–25 season started slower than usual, as the first four months of our seasonal snowfall reporting fell below the 44-year averages of the Collins Study Plot.
- October 2024: 17.5 inches of snow | 66% of average (26.5”)
- November 2024: 66.5 inches of snow | 94% of average (70.7”)
- December 2024: 71 inches of snow | 78% of average (90.6”)
- January 2025: 83.5 inches of snow | 87% of average (95.44”)
Despite the slow start, we managed to avoid prolonged snowless stretches. Starting in late December, a stretch of eight consecutive Saturday storms provided plenty of powder turns while allowing our crews to open additional groomed and off-trail terrain.
- On December 1st, season-to-date snowfall recorded 84 inches—86.4% of average (97.23")
- On January 1st, season-to-date snowfall recorded 155 inches—82.5% of average (187.8").
- On February 1st, season-to-date snowfall recorded 238 inches—84.2% of average (283.2")
On the heels of the snowiest two-year stretch in Alta's history—which saw 1,531 inches of snow—we may be suffering a bit of recency bias. In reality, the slow start to the season was only a couple of snowy months and a few big storm cycles shy of average. Those snowy months and big storm cycles arrived in February and March.
Second Half ReSurgence
February delivered a pattern change and the return of non-Saturday storms to Little Cottonwood Canyon. Over nine feet of snow fell in February—the first month of above-average snowfall this season.
March got off to a roaring start as over 10 feet of snow fell in the first 18 days. After a short spring break in the weather, March ended with fresh snow as the Collins Study Plot recorded its second consecutive above-average month.
February 2025 | 109.5 inches
February started with another snowy Saturday, pushing Alta’s season-to-date snowfall close to the 250-inch mark. Just as it was beginning to feel like Groundhog Day, the forecast hinted at a snowier pattern in February, including some long-awaited midweek storms.
Following a midweek heatwave with plenty of wind, a storm on Friday, February 7th delivered 19 inches of new snow. The snow started as graupel, filling in the bumps on the firm surface from the midweek heatwave before transitioning to colder powder snow. It made for a wild day of storm skiing. Just as it appeared we may break our run of consecutive snowy Saturdays, a weak disturbance stirred up another six inches of fresh snow before last chair.
February 9th: Charlie Dehner is a fan of Super Blower Sunday | Photo: Photo-John
When the dust settled, over two feet of snow had fallen at Alta in time for Super Bowl Sunday. Our seventh consecutive snow-filled Saturday brought our season-to-date snowfall to 275 inches and a settled snow depth of almost eight feet.
The new snow allowed our teams to further expand our terrain as Mount Baldy's Main Chute and the High Shoulder opened for the first time this season on Monday, February 10th. The temperatures plummeted midweek before a long-duration winter storm took aim at Alta Ski Area, delivering a very snowy Presidents' Weekend. The snow started falling Thursday accompanied by strong winds and plenty of wind-buffed turns. Highway 210 closed overnight, Interlodge restrictions went into place and Alta Ski Area opened Valentine's Day morning with plenty of deep turns for powder lovers.
February 14th: Brooklyn Woods and Campbell Carter love powder | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Once again, Highway 210 closed overnight for avalanche mitigation and Interlodge restrictions went into place through the Town of Alta as the snow kept falling. Early morning avalanche mitigation covered Highway 210 with debris, causing a delayed road opening. When Interlodge lifted on Saturday, February 15th, the Collins Study Plot recorded our first 100-plus-inch settled snow depth as Alta's season-to-date snowfall eclipsed the 300-inch mark. Storm totals reached 37 inches before the snow tapered off, making for one of the best powder days—and powder weekends—of the season.
February 16th: OpenSnow forecaster Evan Thayer verifies his forecast | Photo: Photo-John
Just as quickly as the 37-inch storm left town, the next wave made its way up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Between Presidents' Day and Wednesday, almost two feet of snow fell on the slopes of Alta during a period of unsettled weather. The off-and-on snowfall and a little wind made for incredible days of powder skiing as tracks seemed to fill back in between lift rides.
February 18th: Marcus Caston's return of the powder turn | Photo: Tyler Struss
Another stronger wave of snow dropped 10 inches of additional snow on Wednesday and Thursday. February snowfall totals reached triple digits as season-to-date snowfall approached 350 inches.
February 20th: Tommy Flitton storm skiing, yet again | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Following eight days of new snow, the clouds lifted and Alta skiers were treated to a weekend filled with bluebird powder skiing. The run of eight consecutive snowy Saturdays came to an end, but Alta Ski Patrol utilized the break in the weather to open Devil's Castle and Mount Baldy on Saturday, followed by East Castle on Sunday.
February 23rd: Erin Spence skis bluebird powder on the first snowless Saturday in months | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
February drew to a close under a period of high pressure and spring-like conditions as Alta was open wall-to-wall.
A snowy February 2025 registered 109.5 inches of snow, 121% of the 44-year average (90.8”). January water totaled 11.45 inches, 162% of the 44-year average (7.06"). February 2025 was the third-wettest February in the 45-year history of the Collins Study Plot.
March 2025 | 145 inches
March started with unseasonably warm temperatures and a weekend of spring-like skiing. Skiers worked on their goggle tans as eyes turned toward a forecast signaling an impending return to winter. The sneak preview of spring ended abruptly as a cold front and snow rolled into Alta to start the week.
Monday morning's dust-on-crust conditions quickly improved as the flakes kept falling. By Tuesday morning, March 4th, the skiing felt bottomless.. As snowfall rates spiked, Highway 210 closed for mid-day avalanche mitigation. Between March 2nd and 4th, 25 inches of snow fell on the previously-slushed slopes of Alta.
March 3rd: Hoji dives back into winter | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
The first storm of the week cleared out and midweek skiers were treated to a few hours of bluebird skiing. Alta's Cat Crews laid down some corduroy and Alta Ski Patrol worked to open additional terrain—Backside, Ballroom and Catherine's Area—as the next wave of winter barrelled towards Little Cottonwood Canyon.
March 5th: Anna Tedesco catches a Backside rope drop | Photo: Tyler Struss
The next wave of the storm started Wednesday afternoon, delivering some high-density snowfall via a moist southwest flow. Interlodge went into effect overnight as Highway 210 closed for avalanche mitigation. Once the road opened and the lifts started spinning, Alta skiers were treated to a deep day of powder skiing as the snow kept stacking up.
March 6th: Brita Sigourney surfs the southwest flow | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
As the flow shifted the northwest, Highway 210 closed and Interlodge went into effect for a second consecutive night. Highway 210 reopened Friday morning as avalanche mitigation wrapped up in Little Cottonwood Canyon and skiers enjoyed over two feet of new snow—for the second time in a week.
March 7th: Cole Shaffer slashes through the trees | Photo: Tyler Struss
Following a quick Friday evening refresh that pushed Alta's season-to-date snowfall above 400 inches, weekend skiers were greeted with blue skies, sunshine and rope drops as Alta was open wall-to-wall. In total, the Collins Study Plot recorded 53.5 inches of snow during the first week of March.
March 8th: Another bluebird Backside rope drop | Photo: Photo-John
Spring weather returned to Alta for a few days before another cold winter storm arrived ahead of the weekend. The storm started on Thursday, March 13th, as a moist southwest flow dropped six inches of dense snow between first chair and last chair. The flow then turned northwest overnight as the temperatures dropped and snowfall rates increased. Highway 210 closed and Interlodge went into effect just before midnight. Once early morning avalanche mitigation in Alta Ski Area and above Highway 210 concluded, the lifts started spinning and Alta skiers dove into the 26 inches of snow that fell in the past 24 hours.
March 14th: Michael Cherchio surfaces from 26 inches in 24 hours | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Unsettled air from the northwest flow kept the Alta snow globe in motion as the snow kept piling up. Between first chair Thursday and Saturday night, 40 inches of snow blanketed the slopes of Alta—the biggest single storm of the season (so far) and the deepest turns of the season (so far).
March 16th: Bluebird Backside rope drop after 40 inches | Photo: Photo-John
By March 16th, the Collins Study Plot recorded 96.5 inches of snow in March, just an inch shy of the 44-year average for the month. For the first time this season, settled snow depth surpassed the 150-inch mark and season-to-date snowfall reached 100% of average.
March 16th: Sunday delivered a bluebird powder day for all skiers | Photo: Photo-John
Following a sunny and windy St. Patrick's Day, Highway 210 closed and Interlodge went into effect in anticipation of early morning avalanche mitigation. A hard-hitting storm blasted its way into Little Cottonwood Canyon. Eighteen inches of snow fell in the first 12 hours of the day as a northwest flow ushered in a steady band of lake-effect-enhanced snowfall. As the snow stacked up, a mid-day, mid-canyon road closure was announced, Alta skiers faced a classic decision in Little Cottonwood: head home early before the road closure or stay and keep skiing as the snow kept falling. At 1pm, Highway 210 closed for a second round of avalanche mitigation.
March 18th: Leo Schor skis through the storm | Photo: Tyler Struss
Highway 210 reopened around 4pm and skiers began the slow and snowy drive home. One hour later, a natural avalanche north of Snowbird hit Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, partially burying three cars. As emergency teams responded, vehicles were forced back into the lots for the third Highway 210 closure of the day and another round of avalanche mitigation.
March 18th: Cars wait to leave Wildcat lot following a road closure | Photo: Tyler Struss
By 8pm, the Utah Department of Transportation had cleared the road and opened Little Cottonwood Canyon to downhill traffic. Little Cottonwood Canyon skiers and employees began the snowy and slow commute down the canyon, arriving home by 11pm—just as Highway 210 closed for the fourth time in 24 hours.
When the dust settled and the clouds lifted, 30 inches of snow had fallen in 24 hours. Wednesday morning skiers—many of whom could not get to Alta the day before—were treated to a perfect bluebird powder day.
March 19th: Sarah Kaye enjoys a postcard day of powder skiing | Photo: Tyler Struss
Winter ended with a bang, then spring ushered in a few days of warm weather before the next round of weekend snow. The dense snow and graupel offered a little refresh and allowed Alta Ski Patrol to open Little Chute and Dog Leg for the first time this season.
March 24th: Jack Garver finds fresh snow in Little Chute | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Fittingly, March ended amid another storm. Nine inches of snow fell on March 31st during the first few hours of a nearly two-foot April Fools' Day Storm.
In total, March 2025 recorded 145 inches of snow—149% of Alta's 44-year average for March (97.53").
April 2025 | 41 inches & Counting
As the calendar flipped, an April Fools' Day storm delivered 22.5 inches of snow—pushing Alta's season-to-date snowfall above 500 inches.
April 1st: Sydney Ricketts skis April Fools' Day pow, no joke | Photo: Daniel Gajda
A little unsettled weather hovered around Little Cottonwood Canyon during the first week of April. The forecast for April 3rd showed some daytime heating moving moisture and air up the canyon, followed by a few short spurts of snow around lunchtime hours. As expected, the snow started falling on Alta, but then it strengthened in intensity and refused to stop. Snowfall rates hit three inches an hour during a five-hour squall. By the end of the day, 13 inches of snow had fallen on the Collins Study Plot.
April 3rd: A surprise squall dropped 13 inches | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
The clouds from the surprise squall lifted just in time for the weekend. Alta skiers were treated to a weekend filled with bluebird powder turns as Alta's teams worked to open terrain following a stormy start to the month.
April 4th: Georgie Knox finds Alta Magic in April | Photo: Kipp Schorr
Warm spring weather firmly entrenched itself above much of the west through the middle of the month. As we approached the final week of the season, a storm appeared in the forecast between Tax Day and Closing Weekend.
Sure enough, a storm made its way up Little Cottonwood Canyon, delivering over a foot of fresh snow on Alta. Following 10 days of warm temperatures and soft snow, the first few inches of warm snow made for some interesting conditions. But the skiing rapidly improved as the temperatures dropped and the snow kept falling.
April 18th: Erin Spence skis midwinter pow in April | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
The final Thursday and Friday of the season delivered midwinter powder skiing conditions and Saturday was filled with bluebird rope drops and another morning of powder skiing.
April 19th: Matt Lorelli enjoys one final bluebird rope drop powder Saturday | Photo: Photo-John
Closing Day of the 2024–25 season started cool and grey, but eventually gave way to a sunny spring day filled with family, friends, costumes, glitter and hot dogging. Thus far, April 2025 has seen 41 inches of snow. Alta's season-to-date snowfall is now 534 inches—just 14 inches shy of Alta's 44-year seasonal snowfall average (548").
What A Run
Over the previous two seasons, Alta Ski Area received 1,531 inches of snow—the deepest two-year stretch in Alta’s recorded history. Can we go for three? Looking back 40 years, we find that between 1981 and 1984, Alta recorded 2,143.5 inches of snow over three years—an average annual snowfall of 714.5 inches.
Snowiest 3-Year Stretch on record: 2,143.5 inches
- 1981–82: 748”
- 1982–83: 687”
- 1983–84: 708.5”
Current 3-Year Stretch: 2,065 inches and counting
- 2022–23: 903”
- 2023–24: 628”
- 2024–25: 534" and counting
As of April 21st, Alta needs another 78.5 inches of snow by the end of April to match the historically snowy stretch of the early 1980s. Barring a massive spring storm, we're likely to fall just short.
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