El Niño has been a boon for winter sports fans in Northern Arizona. Snowbowl ski area in Flagstaff opened a week early this year due to early snowfall.
Jason Stratton with Snowbowl says this was their earliest opening date in 36 years. Stratton said they’ve had an increased number of season pass sales.
"To be able to have Agassiz to the top with over 80-percent of the terrain open is just unprecedented for us," he said of the ski run. "And so the guests are certainly letting us know that this is way above average conditions for early in the year.”
The next major opening is for the new Humphrey’s Peak Chairlift. That’s expected to be open by mid-December.
