People ski and snowboard at the grand opening of the season at Brighton Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. Utah ski and snowboard areas posted some impressive snow totals heading into the Thanksgiving holiday.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's mountains received a much-needed jolt from an atmospheric river that passed through the state before Thanksgiving. The rain and snow were welcomed after a relatively slow start to the water year. Utah's recent storm brought significant snowfall, with some resorts receiving about 2 feet of new snow.

Snowbird was dusted with a couple of inches of snow overnight and more is expected as the Little Cottonwood Canyon prepares to open on Thanksgiving Day. “This fresh snow, coupled with continued snowmaking,

Utah’s Thanksgiving week kicked off with a blanket of fresh snow, thrilling snowboarders and playful pups alike, while snowplows hit the roads to clear the way for busy holiday travelers.

Significant snow is expected across all of Utah's mountains through Nov. 27. The National Weather Service said anyone with travel plans ahead of Thanksgiving that include mountain routes should be prepared for very difficult travel. In preparation for the ski season, the Utah Avalanche Center has started its daily avalanche forecast.

Two more Utah ski resorts will open Friday ahead of what could be big snow coming next week. Alta Ski Area will start spinning its lifts at 10 a.m. and Park City Mountain Resort at 9 a.m, both on limited terrain.

It's a cold start in the Beehive state with a few morning lake-effect snow showers scattered around the state.