Industry News
The disappointing 2025-26 winter season has set another milestone with Utah’s Alta Ski Area receiving its lowest total snowfall on record. Recording just 321 inches of snowfall this winter, this season’s total surpassed the previous record low set in 2014-15 by 2.5 inches. Falling well short of its 548-inch average, Alta’s snowfall left skiers with fewer powder days and more challenging conditions. Alta’s modern, consistently reported season-snowfall records at the Alta Collins station go back to 1980, and broader snowfall data in the canyon exist from 1944 at the Alta Guard Station.
Alta’s substandard season comes amidst a winter that left many states across the West desperate for snow. Utah’s snowpack reached a record low since measurements began in 1990, topping out at just 8.7 inches (22.1 cm) of snow-water equivalent. This measurement came in at one-fifth of the previous record low, far surpassing it. Colorado also reported its lowest snowpack ever.
Despite late-season snowfall, Alta struggled this year. The resort was forced to delay its opening date by two weeks, opening on December 5, 2025. It was the resort’s latest opening this decade. Mid-season snowfall improved, with Presidents’ Week bringing 53 inches in 100 hours. However, when March came, it brought warmth. The snowpack held on for as long as it could, but Alta was forced to end its season on April 26, 2026.
This winter has been a cause of concern for climate scientists. Experts believe that future winters may continue to break record low snowfall totals as global temperatures rise. When snow does fall, warmer conditions can lead to faster melting and unstable snowpacks. For resorts like Alta, this could mean even worse seasons in the coming years.
While Alta received record-high 903 inches of snowfall in 2022-23, scientists believe it is a result of climate change. Volatile winters with high snowfall fluctuations are more likely with rising global temperatures. What may have fallen as snow in 2022-23 fell could have fallen as rain in 2025-26.
For Alta, winters with low snowfall could spell danger for future seasons. Low snow totals could force Alta to operate with less terrain and end seasons early. Runs may be more exposed, with rocks and vegetation scattered throughout. Conditions may also become more variable as the resort increases its dependence on man-made snow.
Economically, low snow totals can reduce visitation to the resort, impacting operations. Alta is famous for its powder that attracts skiers from all over the world. Fewer powder days could mean fewer visitors, trickling down to ticket sales and local businesses that rely on tourists visiting the resort. As a result, ticket prices may increase as the resort looks to make up for lost visitation.
The 2025-26 winter will go down as one of the driest and warmest seasons Western resorts have experienced in decades. Alta’s record-low snowfall shows the unpredictability of winters in a changing climate, and these sharp shifts have added to growing concerns about what Utah’s resorts will look like in the future.
