a perfectly average winter at Alta Ski Area.
Coming off the snowiest two-year stretch in Alta’s history that saw 1,531 inches of snow, we weren’t sure what to expect coming into Alta’s 87th winter. Would we match the two-year average with another 750 inches? Or would Old Man Winter take the season off? Aside from an unlikely repeat of the 903-inch 2022–23 season, anything was possible.
What we actually experienced was an almost perfectly average Alta winter. Over five hundred inches of snow, plenty of deep powder days, all before ending the season with some great spring skiing conditions. We were able to stay open and stay skiing through all 150 days of the season. No prolonged droughts. No prolonged Interlodges. Plenty of sunshine. Plenty of snow.
Slow Start
The season started slowly. Alta benefited from a few storms in October and November, but monthly snowfall totals remained well below the 44-year averages from the Collins Study Plot. Fortunately, temperatures remained cold, and our snowmaking teams were able to step up and give Mother Nature an assist.
The stormy conclusion to 2024 kicked off a stretch of eight consecutive storm-filled Saturdays at Alta Ski Area, making up for a relatively slow start to the season. Weekly storms and a steady string of terrain openings provided some great skiing.
Second Half Resurgence
February ushered in a pattern change and the return of non-Saturday storms to Little Cottonwood Canyon. Over 100 inches 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 of the month, including a 40-inch mid-March storm cycle—the biggest storm of the season. After a short spring break in the weather, another three-foot storm helped flip the calendar from March to April.
April ended with plenty of sunshine and a few small spring storms. The driest April in the past 25 years kept us just shy of Alta's 44-year seasonal snowfall average, but provided plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sunshine following a snowy February and March.
In total, the Collins Study Plot recorded 537.5 inches of snow, just 10.5 inches shy of Alta’s 44-year average seasonal snowfall of 548 inches.
Reliving the 2024–25 Season | 537.5 inches
Let’s do a deep dive into Alta's snowfall history and our Photo of the Day Archive and see how this season compares to the months and winters in Alta’s storied—and snowy—history.
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October | 17.5 inches
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November | 66.5 inches
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December | 71 inches
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January | 83.5 inches
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February | 109.5 inches
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March | 145 inches
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April | 44.5 inches
October 2024 | 17.5 Inches
The first dusting of the season was on September 17th. Exactly one month later, Alta Ski Area experienced top-to-bottom snowfall blanketing the fall colors.
October 17th: Eight inches of fresh snow | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
After a short break, cold weather returned at the end of October, delivering base-building snow and temperatures that allowed Alta's snowmaking crew to fire up the snowguns for the season.
In total, 17.5 inches of snow fell on the slopes of Alta Ski Area over the second half of October, 66% of our 44-year average (26.5"). October water clocked in at 2.13 inches, 70.5% of the 44-year average for October (3.02").
November 2024 | 66.5 inches
Opening Day of Alta's 87th season was Friday, November 22nd. Alta Ski Area opened the 2024–25 winter with a 23-inch base and 59 inches of season-to-date snowfall. It wasn’t the deepest or earliest opening in recent memory, but Wildcat and Collins lifts opened for expert skiers to explore Collins Gulch and the around-the-world corridor into Albion Basin.
November 22nd: Andrew Pollard finds soft turns on Opening Day | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
A quick-hitting storm dropped six inches of fresh snow at the close of Opening Weekend—not a bad way to start the season.
Thanksgiving week brought remnants of an atmospheric river that delivered over 20 inches of new snow. Wednesday, November 27th, served a powder buffet under blue skies and twinkling sun dogs. Alta Magic was in the air, truly welcoming skiers to the start of our 87th season.
November 27th: Ana Eyssimont comes up for air | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
The fresh snowfall and subsequent cold temperatures allowed Alta's teams to expand lift and terrain offerings. Sugarloaf lift, East Baldy Traverse and Ballroom opened on Thanksgiving Day. Sunnyside opened the following day, and intermediate and beginner skiers enjoyed November turns and plenty of powder leftovers.
In total, November 2024 saw 66.5 inches of snow, 94% of the 44-year average (70.7”). November water totaled 5.03 inches, 81% of the 44-year average (6.18”).
December 2024 | 71 Inches
December began under an extended stretch of high pressure. Snowmaking crews took advantage of the cold nights, adding depth to groomed runs. The first flakes of the month fell on December 8th and 9th—a smaller storm that helped open the door to a series of storms heading into the middle of the month.
December 10th: An Alta local skis the first snowfall of December | Photo: Tyler Struss
The season had already seen a few storms fall short of forecasted totals, so it was a nice surprise when the next storm put down 11.5 inches of snow on a forecast calling for a trace to two inches. The new snow made for a great day of powder skiing and softened up turns around the mountain.
December 13th: Ryan Mulkerin dives into a sleeper powder day | Photo: Lee Cohen
The next storm arrived from the southwest with blowing winds and a few dense inches of snow acting as Mother Nature's grooming cats. Skiers flocked to the wind-buffed slopes as it began to look and feel like winter had returned to Alta.
December 16th: Piper Kunst Ballroom dancing | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Following a week of mild weather and a few dustings of snow, Santa stopped by to ski a few laps and deliver presents on Christmas Eve. Alta skiers must have been on the Nice List this year because the flakes immediately started falling.
December 25th: Jon White skis powder in Westward Ho Ho Ho | Photo: Tyler Struss
Between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, almost 50 inches of snow fell on the slopes of Alta. The new snow had Alta's teams working around the clock to keep up with everything Mother Nature threw their way.
As the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, December 2024 registered 71 inches of snow, 78% of the 44-year average (90.6”). December water totaled 7.84 inches, 108% of the 44-year average (7.23").
January 2025 | 83.5 Inches
The first storm of 2025 arrived in the early-morning hours of January 2nd, filling the slopes of Alta with eight inches of graupel snow. It wasn't the typical mid-winter cold powder, but it helped fill in the post-holiday bumps and continued to build the base—it also made for some pretty great storm skiing.
Janaury 2nd: Jazz Vitale surfs some graupel | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
The next storm was a doozy. Following a day of south winds and five-star wind buff skiing, a strong winter storm made its way up Little Cottonwood Canyon in the pre-dawn hours of January 4th. The snow started falling around 5am at rates that reached five inches an hour. By noon, 17 inches of snow had fallen—creating plenty of congestion on Highway 210, a few delayed lift openings and some incredible powder skiing. Around 1pm, Highway 210 closed for mid-day avalanche mitigation, the results of which covered sections of the road in avalanche debris. With Little Cottonwood Canyon closed to vehicles and storm totals reaching 21 inches, Alta skiers experienced an afternoon of powder skiing at the Alta Country Club.
January 4th: Payton Lukes on her visit to the Alta Country Club | Photo: Photo-John
Interlodge went into effect and avalanche mitigation resumed at dawn on Sunday, January 5th. Ballroom, the Shoulder and Supreme Bowl opened, as the new snow bumped Alta's season-to-date snowfall up to 192 inches with a settled snow depth of 80 inches. What a way to start the new year!
For the third consecutive weekend, a storm took aim at Little Cottonwood Canyon. The snow started falling on Saturday morning, delivering six inches by the time lifts started spinning. Then the Northwest Flow turned on and the snowfall didn't stop.
January 11th: Saturdays in 2025 are for storm skiing | Photo: Photo-John
By Sunday morning, January 12th, almost two feet of snow had accumulated at the Collins Study Plot. Alta's teams went to work, grooming the main corridors, performing avalanche mitigation, clearing the snow from the parking lots, shoveling out the lifts and buildings and opening terrain in time for first chair.
January 12th: Annalise Bianco getting a faceful of Northwest flow | Photo: Photo-John
The terrain openings continued through the week and Devil's Castle opened for the first time this season on Thursday, January 19th. The wall-to-wall opening of Devil's Castle under clear blue skies provided Alta skiers with two of their favorite activities: sidestepping and powder skiing.
January 16th: Connor Pelletier finds some untracked snow under Devil's Castle | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Heading into the Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, the forecast called for some of the coldest temperatures of the New Year and a few inches of fresh snow. The storm outperformed the forecast and a foot of new snow fell throughout a powder-filled Saturday. The cold temperatures combined with the Northwest Flow to squeeze every flake out of the unsettled atmosphere, delivering 11 inches of cold smoke on the slopes of Alta.
January 18th: Ian Jones taking a cold smoke break in Westward Ho | Photo: Photo-John
For the fifth consecutive Saturday, an early-morning storm provided fresh snow. It wasn't a big storm, but the five inches of new snow made for fun storm skiing and another bluebird Sunday with rope drops and powder snow.
January 26th: Another bluebird Sunday rope drop | Photo: Photo-John
A colder-than-usual January ended with a week of mild weather as another weekend storm made its way to Alta to kick off the new month.
In total, January 2025 registered 83.5 inches of snow, 88% of the 44-year average (95.4”). January water totaled 5.95 inches, 77% of the 44-year average (7.69").
February 2025 | 109.5 inches
February started with another snowy Saturday, followed 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 the run of consecutive snowy Saturdays could end, a weak disturbance stirred up another six inches of fresh snow before last chair. When the dust settled, over two feet of snow had fallen in the weekend leading up to Super Bowl Sunday. The seventh consecutive snow-filled Saturday brought season-to-date snowfall to 275 inches and a settled snow depth of almost eight feet.
February 9th: Charlie Dehner is a fan of Super Blower Sunday | Photo: Photo-John
Mount Baldy's Main Chute and the High Shoulder opened for the first time this season on Monday, February 10th. 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 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 the first 100-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 weekends of the season.
February 16th: OpenSnow forecaster Evan Thayer verifies his forecast | Photo: Photo-John
Just as quickly as the three-foot storm left town, the next wave made its way up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Between Presidents' Day and Wednesday, February 19th, another two-plus feet of snow blanketed the mountain 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
A stronger wave of snow dropped another foot of mid-week snow on February 19th and 20th. 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 straight days of new snow, the clouds lifted and Alta skiers reveled in a weekend filled with bluebird powder turns. 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”). February 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 mid-week 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 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 with 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 bundled up for 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. 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.
March 8th: Another bluebird Backside rope drop | Photo: Photo-John
Spring weather returned to Alta for a few days before a cold winter storm arrived on Thursday, March 13th. 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.
March 16th: Bluebird Backside rope drop after 40 inches | Photo: Photo-John
On March 16th, settled snow depth at the Collins Study Plot surpassed the 150-inch mark as season-to-date snowfall reached 100% of average.
March 16th: 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.
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 as late as 11pm—just as Highway 210 closed for the fourth time in 24 hours.
March 18th: Cars wait to leave Wildcat lot following a road closure | Photo: Tyler Struss
When 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 on a postcard day of powder skiing | Photo: Tyler Struss
Winter ended with a bang, and the Spring Equinox 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 as nine inches of snow fell on March 31st, the first wave of a multi-day storm.
In total, March 2025 recorded 145 inches of snow—149% of Alta's 44-year average for March (97.53"). March water totaled 11.99 inches, 156% of the 44-year average (7.7"). March 2025 was the sixth-snowiest and sixth-wettest March in the past 45 years.
April 2025 | 44.5 inches
As the calendar flipped, an April Fools' Day storm continued, pushing Alta's season-to-date snowfall above 500 inches.
April 1st: Sydney Ricketts skis April Fools' Day pow, no joke | Photo: Daniel Gajda
As unsettled weather hovered around Little Cottonwood Canyon during the first week of the final month, 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, snow started falling, 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, 12.5 inches of snow had fallen on the Collins Study Plot.
April 3rd: A surprise squall dropped 13 inches | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Storm totals reached 37.5 inches—the second-biggest storm of the season—as the clouds from the surprise squall lifted. Alta skiers enjoyed 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 the final week of the season approached, our annual Tax Day storm appeared in the forecast, after apparently applying for a two-day extension.
Sure enough, the 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 provided winter-like powder skiing conditions, and the final Saturday of the season was filled with bluebird rope drops and another morning of powder skiing.
April 19th: Matt Lorelli smiling on the final bluebird 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, glitter and hot dogging. It was a fittingly perfect spring day to send out a great season of skiing.
The ski season ended on April 20th, but Alta's seasonal snowfall reporting doesn't end until the final day of April. Three weak waves of convective snowfall added a few more inches of snow over the final 10 days of the snowfall season.
In total, April 2025 registered 44.5 inches of snow—58.3% of Alta's 44-year average for April (76.39"). April water totaled just 3.48 inches, 51% of the 44-year average (6.79")—the driest April in the past 25 seasons.
2024–25 by-the-Numbers
Located in Collins Gulch at an elevation of 9,662 feet, the Collins Study Plot began recording daily snowfall observations in 1980. Seasonal snowfall data starts in October (when settled snow from October is measurable on November 1st) and runs through the end of April.
Season Totals| Alta.com/weather
SEASONAL SNOWFALL
2024–25 Seasonal Snowfall: 537.5 inches
- 2023–24: 628"
- 2022–23: 903”
- 2021–22: 445.5"
- 2020–21: 486.5"
2024–25: 98.1% of Alta's 44-Year Average Snowfall of 547.9 inches
- 2023–24: 114.6% of average
- 2022–23: 164.8% of average
- 2021–22: 81.3% of average
- 2020–21: 88.8% of average
2024–25: 100% of Alta's rolling 10-Year Average Snowfall of 537.8 inches
- 2023–24: 116.8% of average
- 2022–23: 167.9% of average
- 2021–22: 82.8% of average
- 2020–21: 90.1% of average
Alta Ski Area recorded its first measurable snowfall on October 17th. The last inch of the season was recorded on April 30th, the final morning of the seasonal snowfall period. The season started slowly and ended quietly, but above-average snowfall in February and March helped bring the seasonal snowfall back to average.
In total, the Collins Study Plot registered 537.5 inches of seasonal snowfall—the third-snowiest ski area in North America behind Alyeska and Mount Baker.
Seasonal snowfall reached 98% of Alta's 44-year average and 100% of Alta's rolling 10-year average
—a perfectly average Alta winter.
Fun Facts & Tidbits
- Between December 28th and February 15th, it snowed eight consecutive Saturdays—an average of 10 inches per Saturday.
- February 2025 was the third-wettest February in the 45-year history of the Collins Study Plot.
- April 2025 was the driest April in the past 25 years.
- Alta Ski Area was open every day of the 150-day season.
February 7th Graupel Event
The February 7th graupel festival was one of the wettest single days in the past 20 seasons.
- December 19, 2010: 4.07" & 21 inches of snow
- February 6, 2020: 3.54 inches of water & 19 inches of snow
- November 8, 2022: 3.41 inches of water & 22 inches of snow
- January 5. 2022: 3.1 inches of water & 14 inches of snow
- February 7, 2025: 2.84 inches of water & 19 inches of snow
The storm dropped almost a foot of graupel before transitioning to colder, drier snowfall. In just 24 hours, 19 inches of snow fell from 2.84 inches of water, an average density of 15%. Almost 6% of this season's water can be attributed to this single day.
A Wet & Wild Three Years
Third Wettest February–March stretch on record
- 2023–24: 24.97 inches of water (285.5" of snow)
- 2022–23: 24.73 inches of water (339" of snow)
- 2024–25: 23.44 inches of water (254.5" of snow)
February and March have seen plenty of snow and water in recent years. In fact, the past three February–March stretches of the season have been the wettest in the 45-year history of the Collins Study Plot. The past three seasons were also three of the five snowiest February–March stretches on record.
Second-Snowiest Three-Year Stretch On Record
- 1981–84: 2,143 inches of snow (714.3" per season)
- 2022–25: 2,068.5 inches of snow (689.5" per season)
- 2008–11: 1,980.5 inches of snow (660.2" per season)
The past three seasons have been very snowy. Following the snowiest two-year stretch on record, we wondered if we could possibly match the historically snowy three-year run of the 1980s. Entering April 2025, we were within striking distance. But a below-average month of April left us 74.5 inches short of the three-year record. Still, the past three winters combined for the second-snowiest three-year period on record, averaging almost 700 inches of snow per season.
Powder Skiing Probabilities
2024–25 New Snow | Alta.com/weather
Alta Ski Area opened for the 2024–25 season on Friday, November 22nd, with 59 inches of season-to-date snowfall. By Closing Day, Sunday, April 20th, Alta had received 534 inches. During those 150 days, the Collins Study Plot recorded 475 inches of snow—an average of 3.17 inches per day.
150 total ski days during the 2024–25 season
- 2023–24: 149 days
- 2022–23: 156 ski days
- 2021–22: 153 ski days
- 2020–21: 150 ski days
66 ski days with 1 inch or more of new snow = 44%
- 2023–24: 65 days = 43.6%
- 2022–23: 89 days = 57.1%
- 2021–22: 59 days = 38.5%
- 2020–21: 66 days = 44%
46 ski days with 3 inches or more of new snow = 30.7%
- 2023–24: 58 days = 38.9%
- 2022–23: 71 days = 45.5%
- 2021–22: 36 days = 23.5%
- 2020–21: 41 days = 27.3%
33 ski days with 6 inches or more of new snow = 22%
- 2023–24: 41 days = 27.5%
- 2022–23: 54 days = 34.6%
- 2021–22: 24 days = 15.7%
- 2020–21: 24 days = 16%
14 ski days with 10 inches or more of new snow = 9.3%
- 2023–24: 23 days = 15.4%
- 2022–23: 32 days = 20.5%
- 2021–22: 13 days = 8.5%
- 2020–21: 13 days = 8.7%
4 ski days with 20 inches or more of new snow = 2.7%
- 2023–24: 2 days = 1.3%
- 2022–23: 6 days = 3.9%
- 2021–22: 1 day = 0.7%
- 2020–21: 2 days = 1.3%
During Alta's 150-day ski season, 66 days witnessed at least an inch of new snow (44%). Surprisingly, the frequency of fresh snow days exceeded the 2023–24 season (628") while matching the 2020–21 season (486.5").
This season saw 46 days with three inches of new snow, almost one-third of the season. Skiers experienced essentially a month of six-inch powder days and two full weeks of 10-plus-inch powder days.
Twenty inches of snow in a day is a lot of snow. We managed to stay open and stay skiing through four separate storms that dropped over 20 inches of snow in 24 hours.
Takeaways from the 2024–25 season
While this season won't be heavily featured in the history books, it proved that an average Alta season is still something to write home about.
We experienced everything you could hope for in a ski season. We opened on schedule, with fresh snow. November and December started slower than usual, but the low sun angle of early winter kept the snow cold and dry, yielding soft turns and a chance to build up ski legs between storms. The holidays delivered an atmospheric river that put down 50 inches of base-building snow. The New Year began amid an eight-week run of snowy Saturdays, providing a nice routine of fresh snow, followed by mild weather and new terrain openings. The High Traverse, Backside and Devil's Castle opened earlier than we've seen in years past.
February and March delivered the goods—week after week of fresh snow, mid-week storms, weekend rope drops and plenty of deep powder skiing.
The season ended sunny and warm. While we didn't ski a lot of deep April powder, we enjoyed the other type of spring skiing—the goggle tan and slush bump variety. The final week of the season had it all—a sunny start, a mid-week storm, terrain openings, powder skiing and a warm and festive Closing Day.
On the heels of the snowiest two-year stretch on record, would we see another historically snowy winter? Or would Old Man Winter take the winter off? Turns out, it was somewhere exactly in between—a perfectly average winter at Alta Ski Area.
As you flip through this collection of images from this season, our hope is that it reinvigorates your favorite memories from this season, reminding us all that a perfectly average winter at Alta is a darn good ski season.
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