The pile atop Snowbird’s snow stake expanded like an inflatable pillow Tuesday. Within hours, it billowed up from bare board to 10 inches as Utah received its first measurable snow of the 2026-27 ski and snowboard season.

Remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel combined with a cold low-pressure system from the Pacific Northwest to create the storm, according to Christine Kruse, a lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

Resorts on the Wasatch Front reaped the most benefits, especially the two in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Those in northern Utah were left more deflated.

As of Tuesday afternoon, an Alta Ski Area webcam showed its snow stake tickling 14 inches. Snowbird, which just turned its attention to winter after wrapping up Oktoberfest last weekend, didn’t stop at 10 inches. Its snow stake had collected nearly 16 inches of snow by early Tuesday evening.

Plus, Evan Thayer, Open Snow’s Utah forecaster, said he believes even more is piling up on the ground.

“It would snow a couple of inches, then melt off and then snow again,” he wrote of the snow stake in his blog Tuesday, “and this happened a few times before it stuck for good.

“There is DEFINITELY more snow up high,” Thayer added.

The flakes were falling in Big Cottonwood Canyon and at the state’s southernmost resorts as well.

Open Snow predicted Brighton Resort would gain about 8 inches of snow by Tuesday night. Meanwhile Solitude, located lower down the canyon, was expected to get closer to 4 inches Tuesday. However, its snow stake webcam showed almost a foot as of that afternoon.

Meanwhile, Open Snow called for about 10 inches Tuesday at both Brian Head Resort — located east of Cedar City — and Eagle Point Resort, near Beaver. Eagle Point will not open this season, though, due to damage from the Cottonwood Fire.

In addition, all four resorts are forecast to get another two to four inches Wednesday before the system moves on.

Not every Utah resort is doing a happy dance, though.

Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain in Park City got barely enough to turn lawns white. And all of the states’ most northern ski areas — including those in Ogden Valley and near Logan — recorded no more than a skiff.

Another storm is on the horizon for next Tuesday and Wednesday, and possibly beyond. However, while it should deposit similar amounts of snow as this week’s storm, Thayer said it may also skip the northern parts of the state.

A third storm might bring snow before the end of October, but Thayer said it’s too soon to tell where, or even if, it will make its bed.

Utah’s 2026-27 ski season will officially begin Nov. 6 if Brian Head makes good on its announced opening day, conditions permitting.