Popular Colorado ski resorts prepare for upcoming busy ski season as summer still scorches across the nation
It might still feel like summer, but Colorado ski resorts are preparing for winter by testing out their snow gun.
Loveland Ski Area prepares for winter ski season
The Loveland Trail Maintenance crew was busy testing the snow guns Tuesday in preparation of the 2022-2023 ski season.
It might still feel like summer for many states across the country, but Colorado ski resorts are preparing for winter.
Loveland Ski Area, located outside of Denver, tested out its snow guns this week to prepare for their snowmaking start come the beginning of October. The resort hopes to open the resort to all skiers and boarders by the end of October.
On Thursday, many resorts received their first coating of snow.
Copper Mountain ski resort in Colorado sees first snow
Copper Mountain received its first dusting of snow at the top of the ski resort this morning.
Copper Mountain says that now that weather is cooling down, they plan to start using their snow guns by the end of September.
When do Colorado ski resorts open?
Like Loveland Ski Area, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin expect to open in October.
Popular mountain resort company Vail Resorts said they anticipate Breckenridge Ski Resort and Vail Ski Resort to welcome guests on Nov. 11 and Beaver Creek Resort and Crested Butte Ski Resort to open on Nov. 23.
Other resorts say they will open as soon as the weather permits.
The Loveland Trail Maintenance crew was busy testing the snowguns Tuesday in preparation of the 2022-2023 ski season. Loveland Ski Area hopes top open mid-late October.
(Dustin Schaefer / FOX Weather)
What can we expect this winter?
La Nina is back for the third year in a row, projecting a rare triple-dip La Nina and providing similar conditions for Colorado as the past two winters.
During a typical La Niña winter, the country's southern tier tends to be drier and warmer, and the northern half is usually colder and snowier than usual.
Snowboarder rides through the trees at Purgatory Ski Resort
(Purgatory / FOX Weather)
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center believes the La Niña three-peat will be only the third time on record for the occurrence.
Last year, Denver set a new record for the latest first snow of the season, ending a 232-day run without snow.
In the mountains, late December and continuous February and March snow helped fill Colorado resorts for the 2021-2022 ski season.
Parker, the official mascot of Loveland Ski Area, watched as the resort tested out their snow guns Tuesday.
(Dustin Schaefer / FOX Weather)