California is having yet another terrible ski season. We are half way through February and many ski areas are struggling to stay open. Two of the states ski areas, Dodge Ridge and China Peak, are closed until the weather changes.
Dodge Ridge opened for the season on 27th January but was forced to closed again on February 3rd. So far this season Dodge Ridge has received 53″ of snow. This is far below their historic average of between 300-500″.
“Dodge Ridge’s lift operations will be on temporary hold while we wait for Mother Nature to deliver the next forecast of significant winter storms. Following the recent round of unseasonably warm temperatures from the past few weeks, temperatures have dropped back down to normal winter levels with shots of cold air and some light snow possible this week. The long range forecast looks like a change will occur in the latter part of February, which could potentially deliver more significant storms. Stay positive and hopeful. As always, we will keep you updated.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BetBWwfHE4M/?taken-by=skichinapeak
China Peak, who opened on the 26th January, announced on 4th February they were closed until the weather delivers them snow. The base of China Peak has received just 17 inches of snow this season.
“WE ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSED UNTIL WE RECEIVE ENOUGH NATURAL SNOW (18 INCHES) TO OPEN UPPER MOUNTAIN LIFTS AND TRAILS. IN OUR 60 YEAR HISTORY WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN ONLY TO SEE HEAVY SNOWFALL IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON AND ENJOY SKIING AND RIDING DEEP INTO APRIL AND SOMETIMES EVEN MAY. IN 1991 WE DID NOT OPEN MUCH AT ALL UNTIL MARCH AND THEN IT SNOWED 20 FEET, AS WE SKIED ON MOTHER’S DAY IN MID MAY. WE WILL OPEN ON A MOMENT’S NOTICE ONCE WE RECEIVE ENOUGH SNOW.”
There is a change that a miracle march could breathe some life into California’s ski season. If the weather does not change this will mark the sixth winter out of the past seven that California has had snowfall far below average. The lack of snow has forced the closure of two of the states ski areas.