Arapahoe Basin UPDATE: Currently Snowing & Snowmaking, Will NOT OPEN This Weekend…

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video of snowmaking and new snow at Arapahoe Basin, CO today.

“While you guys know I love to tease about opening day, I can tell you that we will NOT OPEN this weekend.” – Al Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin COO, yesterday

By saying the won’t open this weekend, does that mean they’ll open next weekend?

Maybe…

3-4" of new snow at Arapahoe Basin, CO today.  photo:  arapahoe basin
3-4″ of new snow at Arapahoe Basin, CO today. photo: arapahoe basin

Especially if these cold snowmaking nights keep coming.  And they’re forecast to keep coming.  For at least a couple nights…

NOAA has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the Arapahoe Basin region that is calling for a couple of inches of snow today.

LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE IN THE MOUNTAINS MAINLY ABOVE
8,000 FT THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES WILL
BE POSSIBLE AT THE HIGHER ELEVATION. - NOAA Denver, CO today
Arapahoe Basin, CO forecast showing cold temps tonight and tomorrow night. image: noaa, today
Arapahoe Basin, CO forecast showing cold temps tonight and tomorrow night. image: noaa, today

“No doubt, that was a tremendous way to start up the snowmaking season. The crew kept the fan guns running until mid-morning. It was an exceptional 36 hours. We spent the day tweaking a few things and are all ready to fire up again this evening. Tonight, possibly tomorrow and tomorrow night all look very good for snowmaking. We might even get a few inches of snow which is always a bonus. It is a bonus to have snow on the ground and it is a bonus for stream levels once that snow sees a little sun.

We have not announced an opening and I do not know when we are going to open. While you guys know I love to tease about opening day, I can tell you that we will NOT OPEN this weekend. After that, all teasing is fair game so stay tuned. Go sneak in one more Fruita ride and let’s get ready to make this happen.” – Al Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin COO, yesterday
Arapahoe Basin, CO today.
Arapahoe Basin, CO today.
“We have shut snowmaking down for the day and plan on firing back up this evening. Our water supply is getting a little low. With marginal temps in the base area right now and cold temps forecast tonight, we chose to use the water this evening and get the biggest bang out of snowmaking.
We do have a few inches of snow on the ground. Tomorrow we should see warming temperatures and plenty of sun. Much of the natural snow will melt  and raise stream levels, speeding up the re-filling of our reservoir. The weather conditions put us in a very good place.
Of note, we initially make snow on cooler, North Facing, shady slopes. Melting of our man made snow is minimal.”- Al Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin COO, yesterday

PHOTO TOUR:

Arapahoe Basin, CO today.
Arapahoe Basin, CO today.
Arapahoe Basin, CO today.
Arapahoe Basin, CO today.
Arapahoe Basin, CO yesterday. photo: arapahoe basin
Arapahoe Basin, CO yesterday. photo: arapahoe basin

 


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