On and off snow showers in the Canadian Rockies have intensified in the past 24 hours with the first announced season start date now only 10 days away.
Mt Norquay near Banff announced it had had 18cm (7 inches) of snowfall over the past 24 hours. The Albertan ski area has a target 23-24 season opening day of Saturday, 4 November, six days before its Banff neighbours Lake Louise and Sunshine.
There's been snowfall reported across much of western Canada however, where most ski areas expect to open during the next 3-4 weeks. Snowmaking is also underway at leading resorts including Mont Tremblant in the East.
After the Banff ski areas Marmot Basin (below on Tuesday 24th) expects to open on the 11th, Sun Peaks may be the first in BC on the 18th and the country's biggest area Whistler Blackcomb plans to open on the 23rd. Nakiska, the closest area to Calgary also usually opens around the same time as Lake Louise, Sunshine and Marmot Basin.
