Utah Ski Resorts Celebrate Late-Season Snow After Warm Spell

Cottonwood resorts prepare for busy weekend as fresh powder arrives to extend the season.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:57am

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After weeks of record-breaking warm weather that forced some Utah ski resorts to close early, a late-season storm has brought fresh snow to the Cottonwood resorts of Alta and Brighton. The resorts are welcoming the snow, which is expected to bring up to 30 inches by Friday and allow them to extend their operations for at least another week or two.

Why it matters

Utah's ski industry has been hit hard by the warm, dry winter, with multiple resorts having to close early due to poor conditions. This late-season storm provides a much-needed boost and the chance for skiers to get in some final runs before the season ends.

The details

The storm is expected to bring up to 30 inches of snow to Alta Ski Area by Friday, which the resort's PR and communications manager, Lexi Dowdall, says will help them reach their projected closing date of April 26th. Brighton Resort, which has managed to stay open compared to some other resorts, is also expecting the snow to extend its season by a week or two. The resorts are preparing for a busy weekend, with parking reservations in place at Alta and avalanche mitigation crews working to ensure safe conditions.

  • This storm is expected to bring up to 30 inches of snow to Alta Ski Area by Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • Alta Ski Area's projected closing date is April 26, 2026.

The players

Lexi Dowdall

PR and communications manager at Alta Ski Area.

Jared Winkler

VP of marketing and public relations at Brighton Resort.

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What they’re saying

“March is typically our snowiest month here at Alta, and this March was not so typical. We saw a couple of storms early in the month, but then it was 25 days of no snow until this storm rolled in.”

— Lexi Dowdall, PR and communications manager

“Definitely this little refresh is what I like to think is going to extend our lifespan up here for another week or two because it just cooled it off. It's keeping it cold, keeping it from melting, filling in some of the bumps and making it look nice.”

— Jared Winkler, VP of marketing and public relations

What’s next

The resorts are closely monitoring avalanche conditions and advising visitors to check the Utah Avalanche Center forecast and be prepared with proper safety gear before venturing into the backcountry.

The takeaway

This late-season snowfall provides a much-needed boost for Utah's ski industry, which has struggled with warm and dry conditions throughout the winter. The resorts are hopeful that this storm will allow them to extend their operations and give skiers one more chance to hit the slopes before the season ends.