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April storm boosts Steamboat Resort summit snowfall past 400 inches

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Steamboat Resort surpassed 400 inches at its summit thanks to a mid-April snowstorm that dropped 10 inches overnight Wednesday at the top of Mount Werner.

It’s the first time the mountain has reached the milestone in five seasons. In winter 2013-14, 409.5 inches was recorded at the summit through Closing Day.

The ski area’s official snow measurements are recorded at midmountain, where 4 inches fell overnight Wednesday for a total of 333.75 inches since Nov. 1. That surpasses the resort’s all-time season snowfall average of 315 inches in records dating back to 1979.



Despite a relatively average winter, the mountain had several double-digit powder days, including 11-inch days Dec. 13, Feb. 14, March 3 and March 9. The deepest day of the season was Jan. 18 with 13.5 inches, which was the deepest powder day since Jan. 5, 2017, when 20 inches was recorded at midmountain.

If the ski area picks up more than 4.25 additional inches by Closing Day on Sunday, this winter would rank 15th in terms of total snowfall.



The mountain is forecast to get an additional 4 to 8 inches before the storm system moves out of the area Friday morning, according to OpenSnow.com.

Closing weekend weather is forecast to be partly sunny and warm with a high of 44 on Saturday and 52 on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction.

By the numbers

Deepest winters at Steamboat Resort:
1. 489 inches in 2007-08
2. 447.75 inches in 1996-97
3. 447.5 inches in 1983-84
4. 441.25 inches in 1995-96
5. 433 inches in 2010-11
6. 432 inches in 2005-06
7. 423.5 inches in 1992-93
8. 405 inches in 2008-09
9. 383.5 inches in 1981-82
10. 370 inches in 2015-16

Steamboat wraps up the season Saturday and Sunday with its traditional closing weekend events. Cardboard Classic is at 11:30 a.m., and a free concert with Magic Giant is at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The Splashdown Pond Skim is at 1 p.m., and a free show with The Wailers is at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

The last chair of the season is at 3 p.m. Closing Day.

To reach Nicole Miller, call 970-871-4206, email nmiller@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @millerna.


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