Monarch Mountain to open for the season Friday

Better late than never.

Ski area Monarch Mountain, which missed its planned opening date by more than three weeks for lack of snow, received more than 15 inches over the weekend and will open for the season Friday.

The area, a favorite among Colorado Springs skiers, doesn't make snow. Its latest opening ever was Dec. 15, 1989, a record that was in danger of falling before the weekend snow.

Marketing manager Greg Ralph said he was unsure how much terrain will be open, but coverage is decent and he expects two or three lifts to be running.

Other Colorado ski areas received 3 to 15 inches in the first major snowstorm to hit the state after a dry November. The National Weather Service predicts a few more inches of snow today and a larger storm that could bring more heavy snow over the weekend.