More Ski Runs To Open After First Big Snowstorm Of The Season

SEATTLE, WA — The first big snowstorm of the season gave a nice boost to area ski resorts, but we still have a long way to go for Washington's snowpack. According to the National Weather Service, Mt. Rainier picked up more than two feet of snow over 48 hours, with 23 inches falling at White Pass, 16 inches at Stevens, 14 inches at Crystal Mountain, and 10 inches at Snoqualmie Pass.

Representatives at Stevens Pass said it would open on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Prep work to open the mountain began Friday, and the resort will announce which runs will open on Monday, Dec. 16.

The Summit at Snoqualmie said they were a little shy of the amount of snow needed to open Summit West, but crews were hard at work prepping the mountain. With a little more snow expected overnight, the resort said it would reevaluate snow depth Saturday.

Crystal Mountain announced Friday afternoon that the Rainier Express and Green Valley lifts would open Saturday, along with the Gondola. The resort opened the Discovery, Chinook Express, and Quicksilver lifts on Black Friday

According to the state Department of Ecology, Washington started the week with snowpack at just 28 percent of its normal levels for this time of year. After the storm, the snowpack improved a little bit, to 36 percent. According to NOAA, November was the fifth driest in Washington since 1895.

During this time last year, Ecology says, we were at 59 percent the normal snowpack level.