Big Sky Resort Adapts to Climate Change with High-Tech Snowmaking

Montana ski resort uses advanced tools to maintain consistent snow coverage despite warmer, drier winters.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Big Sky Resort in Montana is using innovative snowmaking and grooming technologies to combat the impacts of climate change, including less natural snowfall and higher temperatures. The resort has invested in software to optimize its snowmaking system, as well as LIDAR-equipped grooming machines to maintain consistent snow depth across the terrain. Despite below-average snowfall this winter, Big Sky has been able to keep most of its terrain open and skiable.

Why it matters

As climate change brings more variable and unpredictable winter weather patterns to many ski destinations, resorts like Big Sky must adapt their operations to ensure they can remain open and viable. Big Sky's investments in high-tech snowmaking and grooming demonstrate how ski areas are responding to the challenges posed by warmer, drier winters.

The details

Big Sky has been able to maintain consistent snow coverage this winter through a combination of its northern latitude, improved snowmaking capabilities, and new grooming technologies. The resort uses a software called iSno to monitor its snowmaking system in real-time, allowing it to optimize water and energy usage. Big Sky has also added LIDAR technology to some of its grooming machines, giving operators real-time data on snow depth to help them redistribute snow and prevent bare patches. These investments have allowed Big Sky to keep most of its terrain open and skiable, despite receiving significantly less natural snowfall than usual.

  • In early February 2026, Big Sky had received below-average snowfall, with some areas of bare ground on the mountain.
  • Big Sky typically begins its snowmaking operations in October, but in warmer winters like this one, snowmaking remains a key part of the resort's snow management strategy well into the winter season.

The players

Big Sky Resort

A ski resort located in Montana, known for its expansive terrain and frigid winter temperatures.

Adam West

The vice president of mountain operations at Big Sky Resort.

Lee Parton

An assistant professor of economics and environmental economist at Boise State University, who has studied the impacts of climate change on ski resorts.

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What they’re saying

“The season has been really interesting. We have significantly less actual snowfall than our average season. Even having that much lower than average snowfall, the mountain is skiing really well.”

— Adam West, Vice President of Mountain Operations, Big Sky Resort (USA TODAY)

“We've seen increases in temperature, which leads to all sorts of events that impact snowpack. People respond with where they book, and where they choose to go is sensitive to how much snow resorts are getting.”

— Lee Parton, Assistant Professor of Economics and Environmental Economist, Boise State University (USA TODAY)

What’s next

Big Sky Resort expects snowfall to trend back toward average later in the winter, which will position the resort well for late-season skiing and snowboarding.

The takeaway

Big Sky's investments in advanced snowmaking and grooming technologies demonstrate how ski resorts are adapting to the challenges posed by climate change, ensuring they can maintain consistent snow coverage and remain open and viable for winter sports enthusiasts.