SnowStash
ForecastsCompareNews
SnowStash Logo

Live snow, webcams and expert resort guides for the world's mountains - plan your next day on snow.

hello@snowstash.com
Download on the App Store

Destinations

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Europe
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • United States

Company

  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Privacy Policy

Explore

  • Compare Resorts
  • News & Updates
  • Snow Forecast
  • Mobile App

© 2026 SnowStash. All rights reserved.

    1. Home
    2. /
    3. News

    Taos Ski Valley Gets Taste Of First Snowfall

    Michael FultonMichael Fulton·19 Sept 2023

    TL;DR

    On September 18th, Taos Ski Valley shared images of an early-season snowstorm that signalled the impending winter despite a rather hot summer. The question arises: does this premature snow bode well for the upcoming ski season? It's uncertain, as brief cold spells like this one typically don't significantly impact seasonal trends. For a more accurate winter forecast, consulting NOAA is advised, although long-term predictions in this field remain challenging, even for experts.

    Level Up Your Ski Day — Download SnowStash on the App Store

    On September 18th, Taos Ski Valley unveiled images capturing an early-season storm that recently blanketed high-altitude regions with a delicate layer of snow. This September tempest serves as a prelude, a solemn indicator that winter, despite the scorching summer temperatures, is inevitably approaching.The question lingers: Does this premature snowfall augur well for Taos' forthcoming ski season? To be candid, it remains a challenge to ascertain. Fleeting episodes of cold weather, such as this one, rarely exert substantial influence on overarching seasonal patterns. For a more precise insight into the potential character of the upcoming winter, I would recommend consulting the forecasts provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). However, it's important to underscore the "potential" aspect in this context. While NOAA excels in its field, long-term prognostications remain a formidable challenge, even for the most seasoned experts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taos Ski Valley (@skitaos) About Taos Ski ValleyTaos Ski Valley stands as a prestigious ski resort nestled in the northern reaches of New Mexico, USA. Its reputation is forged upon its formidable terrain, consistent snowfall, and a lively community of skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts. The resort boasts an array of slopes designed to cater to individuals of all proficiency levels, extending a warm welcome to both novices and seasoned riders. Encompassing nearly 1,300 acres, the ski resort is home to a striking ensemble of 100 trails, all accessible via 14 chairlifts, offering a remarkable vertical descent of over 3,200 feet. Adding to its allure, Taos Ski Valley features a picturesque alpine village replete with diverse lodging options, dining establishments, and boutiques, drawing in a multitude of winter sports aficionados and adventurous souls. Moreover, the resort carries a storied cultural legacy, celebrated for its historic ties to the Taos art colony, further enhancing its unique appeal.

    Taos Ski Trail Map
    Skiing in Japan vs USA: Which Country Offers Better Value in 2024?

    About the author

    Michael Fulton

    Michael Fulton

    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    50+ resorts visited15 years skiing

    Keep reading

    More from the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028

    Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.

    31 Aug 2026
    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured

    An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.

    28 Aug 2026
    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do

    A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.

    27 Aug 2026
    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September

    Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.

    26 Aug 2026
    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

    Unstable Glacier Above Randa Puts Zermatt-Area Village on Alert

    A hanging glacier above the Swiss village of Randa, just south of Zermatt, has been shedding large chunks of ice for weeks, with authorities warning more break-offs are likely. A danger zone has been closed off since June, though officials say the village's 479 residents aren't at risk. It's a familiar pattern for this glacier - it's done this before, in 1819, 1972 and 1973 - but a reminder of how closely Alpine authorities now watch terrain once considered stable.

    26 Aug 2026
    Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business

    Thredbo Is 'On the Table' as EVT Reviews Its Whole Business

    Thredbo is officially 'on the table.' EVT Limited, owner of Australia's most decorated ski resort, has hired Rothschild & Co to review its entire corporate structure - and confirmed Thredbo isn't off limits, even as it books a stronger year of earnings. The resort's own valuation has nearly halved after a brutal 2026 season, and speculation is already running toward Vail Resorts, Alterra, or a New Zealand operator picking it up. Here's what EVT actually said, and who could buy it.

    25 Aug 2026
    Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed

    Ski-E-O! Is the Ski Resort Tycoon Game We Didn't Know We Needed

    I'm not a gamer. I'm a skier and snowboarder who happens to have a laptop. So when a ski resort management game called Ski-E-O! landed on Steam, I wasn't expecting to lose an afternoon to it - but here we are. Real mountain terrain, a full weather system, storms that roll in and wreck your snow base, avalanche danger, and enough depth to make RollerCoaster Tycoon feel simple by comparison. Early access lands in November. Here's what a few hours in the free demo actually looks like.

    23 Aug 2026
    Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola

    Sugar Bowl, California, Rebuilds Its Historic Village Gondola

    The rumours are true: Sugar Bowl is tearing out its Emerald gondola, in place since 1983, and replacing it with a new 8-person Doppelmayr system - nearly doubling uphill capacity to 1,800 people an hour. It's the fourth generation of a gondola line that dates back to 1953, when Sugar Bowl became the first resort on the West Coast to run one at all, and it's just one piece of a $100 million overhaul touching lodges, parking and snowmaking. Here's what's changing, and what's staying the same.

    23 Aug 2026