Resorts in Alberta and BC have been excitedly posting pictures and video of fresh snowfall in the last 36 hours following damaging mainstream media reports of warm weather and rain in the region normally famed for its abundant light powder snow, and, although less of a publicity priority, often double digit sub-zero temperatures in mid-winter.
A warm weather pattern off the Pacific has led to a bad snowfall winter right along North America's west coast with Californian areas suffering again and several smaller resorts from California right up to BC either failing to open at all this winter, or as is the case for 2010 Winter Olympic venue Cypress Mountain near Vancouver, being forced to close until more snow arrives.
The poor conditions had been largely confined to coastal areas up to January however, but in the past month had come in land as far as the Rockies and increasingly become 'an issue' with resorts including Panorama, Marmot Basin and Banff all issuing statements that they had good conditions despite media reports which gave the impression all areas were suffering.
The new snow is welcome news however for those inland Western resorts (the coastal area continues to suffer) and the ski areas have been quick to highlight it with social media posts and press releases. Kimberley in BC and Nakiska both reported 20cm of fresh snow in 24 hours with Sunshine Village at Banff, pictured yesterday, reporting similar numbers.
The snow has fallen in the US too – although there had not been the reports of poor conditions there - with many resorts in Colorado, Utah and Montana reporting 20 to 30cm of new snow with more falling.
"Breckenridge has received nine inches/23cm (so far) from the winter storm slowly moving across the Colorado Rockies. Breck has received 25 inches (62cm) of snow in the past week, with more forecast through the weekend," said the resort's Kristen Petitt Stewart.