Washington Ski Season Delay Continues, but Hope May Be on the Horizon

As a period of heavy rain and flooding passes through Washington, the outlook for local skiers is looking grimmer—and wetter—with resorts revealing that, no, the chairlifts won’t be spinning this weekend.

Still, cooler temperatures could start to turn the season around as soon as next week.

Keep reading for more.

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Resorts Confirm Closures

Mission Ridge, near Wenatchee, already kicked off the 2025-26 season in Washington with plans to reopen today, Friday, December 12, 2025.

But the mountain confirmed earlier this week that it’ll stay closed, noting in a snow report that it has “experienced some of the wildest December weather in our recorded history,” including unprecedented rainfall, high winds, and unusually high temperatures.

Mission Ridge is now eyeing December 18 as its new opening date, conditions permitting. “Our crews will be working diligently to evaluate terrain, clear debris, and prepare the mountain for reopening,” the ski resort’s snow report reads. 

A similar story is playing out at other mountains. Crystal Mountain took to social media, confirming that it, too, wouldn’t offer skiing in the near future.

The resort plans to reassess conditions on December 16 and determine a definitive date. For now, Crystal Mountain is focused on lending a hand after the flooding and waiting for snow.

Mt. Baker Ski Area, meanwhile, reported on Thursday that it had seen four inches of rain in the past two days, adding that a nearby highway was closed because of debris and mud.

Cooler Temperatures Possible

Hope may be on the horizon, though. According to Mt. Baker Ski Area, which was also beset by rain, forecasts indicate that by around December 20, the temperature could drop, producing significant snow. 

Chris Tomer, a meteorologist known by skiers for his daily weather updates, thinks that pattern change could come even sooner, perhaps arriving on December 16 or 17. 

In that window, Tomer noted, falling temperatures could produce feet of snow at mid-mountain elevations in Washington through December 19—at least that’s what the data says for now. 

Our advice? Find some wood to knock on. Skis probably count. 

Outside the world of skiing, Washington’s request for emergency assistance was granted by the federal government, KUOW reported. The pounding rain has caused rivers to overflow, forcing tens of thousands to flee in parts of the state.

Related: “Very Large” Avalanche Buries Snowmobiler for 12 to 15 Minutes