Solitude opening for skiing, but don't put away the golf clubs

Mother Nature played a cruel trick on skiers and snowboarders in October by providing just enough snow to make a couple of runs. Plans for early-season skiing were quickly made by those who hoped the snow was here to stay.

But the storms stopped coming and much of the snow melted, leaving many winter enthusiasts with busted plans. Despite continuing unseasonable warm temperatures in Utah, at least one ski resort is opening Friday.

"Most of it is man-made, but there is some natural mixed in as well," said Solitude spokesman Nick Como of the 20-inch base of snow at the Big Cottonwood Canyon resort. "The season is here. We will remain open for good."

Solitude opened for one day of skiing and boarding on Halloween. Other resorts have not been as brave. The next scheduled opening is Brighton Resort on Nov. 16. And hopes that a storm forecast for this weekend would hasten other openings are fading.

A storm moving into Utah on Saturday will lower temperatures to about normal and hold a 20 to 30 percent chance of showers.

"The best chance for any precipitation over the weekend is Saturday night. There could be some snow down to about 5,500 feet, but it doesn't look very significant," said Gene Vancor, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City. "Maybe 2 inches or so."

That's not great news for resorts or skiers, but football fans attending high school playoff games on Friday and the University of Utah game against New Mexico Saturday will enjoy temperatures ranging from normal to slightly above normal.

Highs along the Wasatch Front will hover in the mid-50s throughout the weekend and should linger there into early next week.

The warm temperatures are making it hard to think about the dangers of winter, but Utah Gov. Gary Herbert had earlier declared the first week in November as Winter Weather Preparedness Week. There's more information on that at http://bereadyutah.gov.