Mammoth Lakes, CA – A powerful early season storm that dropped two and a half feet of snow has prompted California’s Mammoth Mountain to open its 2015-16 ski season this Thursday, a week ahead of schedule.

With snowmaking temperatures remaining in the forecast this week, Mammoth Mountain officials expect to open with chairs 1 (Broadway Express) and 3 (Face Lift Express) spinning, but more open terrain may be possible as crews work the storm snow. Lift tickets for opening day will be reduced to $50 and can be purchased at any ticket window.

Free coffee and hot cocoa will be distributed to anxious skiers and riders at 7 a.m. at Broadway Express, where a DJ will be spinning in the Monster Energy booth. Guests will begin loading Broadway Express at 8:30 a.m., with plenty of time to get a few runs in before a beer toast to the season on the Main Lodge sun deck at 11 a.m.

That will make Mammoth the first resort to open in California this season, beating by one day Boreal Mountain in Lake Tahoe, which on Monday evening announced a Friday opening.

Elsewhere in the region, the storm has left 14 inches that, combined with snowmaking, will allow Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe to open tomorrow. Open terrain at the resort on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe will be limited to one trail, accessed by the Flying Jenny Conveyor lift on the Main Lodge side of Mt. Rose.