No resort is open for skiing today, so there is still no lift to ride in Utah. At Alta, light snow is likely today, mainly late morning through the afternoon, with a high near 32 degrees and about an inch possible. The one thing to know is that this is a small system. It clears out tonight, and a sunny, quiet stretch follows into next week.
Resort status
- Alta: closed, projected opening November 20
- Snowbird: closed, projected opening November 27
- Brighton: closed, opening date not yet announced
- Solitude: closed, projected opening November 20
- Deer Valley: closed, projected opening December 5
- Park City: closed, projected opening November 20
- Snowbasin: closed, projected opening November 27
- Powder Mountain: closed, projected opening December 11
- Brian Head: closed, projected opening November 6
All dates are from Ski Utah, checked this morning, and all are conditions permitting. Eagle Point will not operate this season.
What changed
The light snow that was in the forecast yesterday has arrived, right on schedule. Ski Utah forecaster Evan Thayer said this morning that a weak system is spinning through Utah today, bringing generally light and scattered showers. He said high pressure takes charge by this weekend and continues through most of next week, with a chance for more active weather around the middle of the month. No opening dates changed in this check. Sundance is listed for December 4, and Brighton is still to be announced.
Conditions
At Alta, today is mostly cloudy with snow likely, a high near 32, and temperatures falling to around 30 in the afternoon. Wind is west southwest around 5 mph, the chance of snow is 70 percent, and new snow of around one inch is possible, mainly between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tonight brings a chance of snow before 8 p.m., then partly cloudy skies with a low around 24 and little or no new snow. Thursday is partly sunny with a high near 35, Friday is mostly sunny near 35, Saturday is sunny near 41, and Sunday is sunny near 46.
Roads
No specific traction restriction for SR-210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon or SR-190 in Big Cottonwood Canyon was confirmed in this check, and there are no active National Weather Service alerts for Alta. Light snow could still make canyon roads slick this afternoon, so check UDOT Cottonwood Canyons updates before you drive.
Today’s call
Do not plan on lift served skiing today, because nothing is open. The next thing to watch is Brian Head, which aims to open first in Utah on Friday, November 6. Use the sunny stretch ahead to finish preseason checks and sort passes and gear. If you head into the backcountry, check the Utah Avalanche Center first, and do not expect today’s inch to change the early season picture by much.
Sources checked this morning: National Weather Service forecast, hourly forecast and alerts for Alta, and Ski Utah snow report and opening dates checked live November 4.