WINTER PARK, Colo. – Winter Park Resort is the latest ski area in Colorado to push back its opening day because of unseasonably warm weather.
The ski area had been set to open Nov. 16, but pushed that date back to Nov. 23 on Thursday.
"With another successful week of snowmaking combined with an expected change in the weather pattern, Winter Park anticipates the Opening Day experience on November 23 to be consistent with the high expectations to which guests have become accustomed,” the resort said in a news release. “If the snow-dances, trail maps in freezers, and other various superstitions should pay off with an abundance of snow in the interim, Winter Park will adjust its Opening Day accordingly.”
Arapahoe Basin opened several weeks ago, but other ski areas have pushed back their opening days because of a lack of snow.
Loveland opened Thursday after delaying opening day by a week. Keystone is set to open Nov. 18 – two weeks later than it originally anticipated. Breckenridge and Eldora are also slated to open Nov. 18.
Wolf Creek, north of Pagosa Springs, had been set to open at the beginning of November, but has continually pushed its opening day back as well.
Copper Mountain is now set to open Nov. 18, as is Vail.
Nearly the entire state of Colorado is experiencing abnormally-dry drought conditions as we head into a La Niña period that is expected to bring more dry air to the state.
Thursday marked the 29th day in a row that Denver has gone without measurable precipitation, according to the National Weather Service.
The mountains have seen a few dustings during that period, but nothing more than a few inches in various spots.
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