Lack of snow forces Monarch to delay opening

Southern Colorado ski area Monarch Mountain announced Friday it won't open as planned Wednesday because of a lack of snow.

The ski area, which relies on natural powder, has received little snowfall this fall, like most of the Colorado high country. It's the second year in a row the area, popular among Colorado Springs skiers, won't be able to open by Thanksgiving as planned.

Elsewhere in Colorado, ski areas have been able to open a handful of runs on man-made snow. Open areas include Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Eldora, Winter Park, Wolf Creek and Vail.

Statewide snowpack is just 57 percent of average for mid-November, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Monarch has not said when the area might open.