Snow conditions improving for skiers, forecast is good

The steady rain in the valley that has left some yards suspiciously green for December has actually added up to some decent snow on the upper slopes of Big Mountain. That’s good news for Whitefish Mountain Resort, which is set to open for the winter season on Saturday, Dec. 8.

More than 40 inches of snow blankets the summit, and 30 inches is reported at the base of Chair 7 on the north side. But grass and rocks are still showing through a thin layer of snow in the village area.

As of press time, resort officials weren’t ready to say how much terrain and which chairlifts will be open on Saturday.

Skiers who climbed the mountain this past weekend reported variable conditions from top to bottom — rain in the parking lot, mixed precipitation at 5,500 feet, then full winter conditions at the summit.

Whitefish skier Ben Parsons was on the mountain Saturday and described the snow on the north side as “classic Pacific Northwest cream pow.” By Monday the snow line had dropped to the village area.

The National Weather Service in Missoula brings more good news for local skiers with predictions of winter-like conditions possibly moving into the valley by Friday.

“A potential for arctic air and northwest flow may be the ingredients for some accumulating snows in the valley,” NWS noted Dec. 2.

A strong cold front will push through the region sometime Wednesday afternoon, NWS predicts, and snow levels will quickly drop to pass level and the valley floors overnight. A significant cold outbreak could hit by the weekend.

Resort officials say they will only make snow if temperatures are in the 20s or lower for a sustained period. They have limited water-rights for the snow-making ponds and need to be as efficient as possible.

For the latest conditions, visit online at www.skiwhitefish.com.