- Rocky Mountain ski resorts, including popular destinations like Vail and Breckenridge, saw visitor numbers plummet to their lowest levels in 40 years during the 2025-2026 ski season.
- Visits to resorts across the Rockies fell by 24%, marking the biggest drop in four decades, excluding the pandemic, according to Robert Katz, CEO of Vail Resorts.
- The region experienced its "worst season on record for snowfall," with snowpack in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming 32-53% lower than the previous record low.
- This record-low snowfall is attributed to unusually warm winter temperatures driven by climate change, as confirmed by scientists and NOAA data.
- The limited snowfall and early melt have significant implications beyond the ski industry, as 60-70% of the water supply in the northwestern U.S. depends on melting snowpack.
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