New Weather Pattern - best Skiing of Season

Burlington, Vermont (Ski Press)-While all of N/C New England has had amazing snows of 2 feet or more the last few days. Sugarbush/Mad River Glen, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Attitash in NH has had the most with nearly 3 feet. All other areas such as Stowe, Killington Jay Peak, Whiteface and across much of central NH have had 24-30” and are seeing much better conditions.

Skiing across Southern VT/NH and the Catskills has also been much improved with the big storm a couple weeks ago dropping 20-30 inches and anywhere from 6-14” over the last few days.

However, from the Catskills north on a line north of Hunter Mountain to Gore, eastward to Killington and into central NH; south of this line, freezing rain, sleet and rain will develop creating a coating of us on the recent snow we have had. There will be some light snow today before the changeover.

Further north,the recent snowfall is another real blessing. The pristine white conditions help to reflect incoming solar radiation and keep temperatures colder at the surface than they would ordinarily be. If, for example, the snowfall was a week or two old, the decrease albedo (reflectivity) would result in temperatures later today and tonight at least 3-5 degrees warmer. That subtle difference in temperature could make the difference from a modest snow event from Whiteface to Stowe, Sugarbush, Jay Peak, Owl’s head and all of the N. Townships of Quebec later today into tomorrow versus snow changing to ice. The last thing we need right now is ice on top of all of this powder, and that will happen in southern and some central areas of New England.

Out west, ski conditions have improved across most of Colorado the last week. Vail had another 7” over the weekend as did Silverton, while Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee had a foot of snow and Park City 8”. Mt. Baker to Timberline, Hood and Mt. Bachelor have had 1.5-2 feet of snow the last ten days—check to see which resorts are open as many were closed.

Much of British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies are improving. Castle Mountain, which was closed a couple weeks ago, received another 12” over the weekend and Fernie another 8”. Many areas have seen 1-2 feet of snow or more the last 10 days. Fernie had some of the most snow with nearly 3 feet the past 10 days. Additional light snows are likely from Silver Star to Fernie and the Canadian Rockies.

Whistler has had a foot of snow or more the last week but needs more and I am not sure they are going to get anything substantial for the next week to ten days.

I have had people ask me about the medium term forecast for the rest of the month for western Canada. Right now, it looks like a return of relatively cold conditions BUT with normal to below normal snowfall for the next 10 days.

LONGER TERM—Places to be—N. New England/Quebec, Utah, Tahoe region and much of Colorado

The enclosed map (active until late February) refers mainly to the eastern U.S. and perhaps much of Colorado/Tahoe and Utah. The (H) you see at the upper left of the picture represents a blocking pattern preventing any big storms from entering western Canada. However, every few days, there will be off and on chances for some 1-3” snows pretty much anywhere. However, areas around Whistler, Sun Peaks, Big White and Red Mountain would see the least amount of snow the next 10 days with below normal snowfall again , while more normal snowfall occurs farther east around Fernie, Panorama, the Bugaboos and Canadian Rockies. I am confident that we will not see the rising freezing levels and rain at the lower elevations of BC/Alberta like we had for several weeks.

This weather pattern will also bring frequent chance for snow over the next 5-8 days across most of Colorado, Utah and the Tahoe region. It would not surprise me that over the next 10 days Mammoth Mountain, Kirkwood/Squaw Valley, Heavenly, Snowbird/Alta/Park City see 2-4 feet of snow.

Areas from Tremblant to Jay Peak, Stowe, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf, and the N. Townships of Canada may have 3 weather systems over the next 10 days with anywhere from 10-18” of snow. Killington and points south will be on the fringe of big snows, but S. New England will begin to see more rain and ice this week before an improvement this weekend or next week. FOMO: www.bestskiweather.com.