Crystal Mountain in Washington got an early taste of winter this weekend after six inches of snow fell on the upper mountain overnight from Saturday, September 12th into Sunday, September 13th.
The September snowfall covered the upper mountain in fresh white. The unexpected storm created a bit of welcome extra work for employees, who grabbed shovels Sunday morning to clear pathways around the resort.
Six Inches Falls on the Upper Mountain
According to Crystal Mountain, the snowfall was concentrated on the upper mountai, with six inches accumulating overnight.
Crews got to work on Sunday preparing the resort for summer activities and an upcoming wedding. The fresh snow meant employees had to clear pathways to keep operations moving despite the sudden return of winter conditions.
While the snow is not expected to stick around for long, six inches of accumulation in mid-September is a rather notable sight for a ski resort preparing for another winter season.
The timing also comes as attention begins shifting toward the upcoming 2026-27 ski season. September snowfall does not necessarily indicate that winter will arrive early, but fresh snow at higher elevations is always an encouraging look for skiers and snowboarders.
Crystal Mountain Starts Thinking About Winter
The resort remains focused on summer operations for now, but the weekend storm provided a preview of the conditions that will eventually return to Crystal Mountain in earnest. Next weekend marks the end of summer operations, so winter is closer than it may feel.
With six inches of snow already falling in September, winter is clearly making its presence known in the Cascades. The snow may disappear quickly, but the arrival of the first substantial snowfall of the season has us looking ahead to what could be coming next.