The snowstorm that hung over Summit County Saturday night dropped up to 8 inches of snow on local resorts' slopes, bringing smiles — and hope — to skiers and riders out to enjoy Sunday's first powder day of the season.

Late last week, forecasters anticipated 1-3 inches of snowfall in the system that came through Saturday, but upped the ante to 4-8 inches by 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Copper Mountain reported the most snowfall, with 8 inches. Breckenridge saw seven, while Keystone, Loveland and Arapahoe Basin reported 5 inches of during the previous 24 hours.

It was a change of pace for Summit County residents, many of whom have been enjoying the sunny, warm days, but longed for snow.

“It's like the sun came out, in a weird way,” said Frisco's Megan Missel. “It snowed yesterday and it was all right in the world.”

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Kalina, the storm had more moisture than expected.

“Once the storm came in close, we had a better idea of how much snow would fall,” he said.

It was enough to bring whoops and hollers from skiers and riders at Keystone on Sunday. The parking lot was packed by noon, with pass holders coming in for the snow from the Front Range.

It wasn't the first time at Keystone this season for Jeff Halsten, who came in from Colorado Springs, but it was “the best snow of the year so far,” he said.

“When you can turn and not hear your edges make noise, that's a good day,” said Halsten, who has tallied about a dozen days on his snowboard so far this season.

Meanwhile, Ellen Claussen, Katie Komrenich, Laura Leonard and Madeline Nash drove in from University of Denver for the day. They were the second group down Jack Face, an expert slope off the front side of Keystone.

“There was a six-year-old bombing it,” Claussen said. “We let him go first. We felt like he should get first tracks.”

The rope dropped on the run late morning Sunday, with the patroller on duty warning skiers and riders to “read the sign — unmarked obstacles do exist.” He emphasized the “do.”

Nonetheless, those who spotted the red jacket and the break in the rope as they cruised down Spring Dipper's groomed face had the thrill of floating through a late-morning stash — hearing just a few nicks from branches and rocks.

Keystone now has 50 open runs and has 49 percent of its lift-served terrain open (19 percent of its total terrain). Patrol opened Go Devil and The Richter in the morning, and said they were hoping to drop the ropes on other slopes, like Jack Face, throughout the day, according to Keystone spokeswoman Laura Parquette.

“It was a great day out,” she said. “It's amazing what a nice snowfall can do. Having the sun out today was an added bonus.”

For the University of Denver girls, who were fist-pumping and cheering through their fresh tracks, the run made their day.

“There's nothing like powder,” said Nash, who found herself partially buried after taking a fall. “It's so much fun to fall in powder,” she added.

The forecast calls for sunshine for the next couple days, with another “small system” possibly coming through on Wednesday, Kalina said.

“Hopefully, this is the start of a big change in the weather,” said Parquette.