First storm of the ski season buries Little Cottonwood, misses northern Utah
Alta and Snowbird reported well over a foot of new snow from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel, while Park City and the Ogden Valley and Logan-area resorts saw little.
Based on reporting by Salt Lake Tribune: Environment. Read the original story →
Utah's first measurable snow of the 2026-27 ski season piled up unevenly this week, with the Little Cottonwood Canyon resorts getting the most and northern ski areas getting almost nothing, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. A National Weather Service meteorologist told the newspaper the storm formed when what was left of Tropical Storm Rachel met a cold low-pressure system from the Pacific Northwest. [1]
By Wednesday morning, Alta's snow stake showed 16 inches and Snowbird's showed 18 inches, according to the Tribune. In Big Cottonwood Canyon, Solitude's stake camera showed almost 14 inches, and OpenSnow had forecast about 8 inches at Brighton. OpenSnow also called for roughly 10 inches at Brian Head Resort and Eagle Point Resort in southern Utah, though Eagle Point will stay closed this season because of damage from the Cottonwood Fire. [1]
Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort got only enough to whiten lawns, though a Deer Valley snow stake showed 6 inches Wednesday morning, the Tribune reported. Ski areas in the Ogden Valley and near Logan recorded no more than a dusting. [1]
OpenSnow forecaster Evan Thayer said another storm could bring similar totals next Tuesday and Wednesday but may again miss northern Utah, according to the report. The season could open as soon as Nov. 6 if Brian Head keeps its announced opening date. [1]
Sources
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