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.

Desperate for snow? Here's where to go

By Kristin Jackson
Seattle Times travel staff

If you don't want to water-ski on Washington's slopes, where can you go?

Whistler/Blackcomb in British Columbia, a favorite of Washingtonians, probably isn't the answer. Most lifts were closed Wednesday and today because of high avalanche danger. And it faces a weekend wet-and-warm forecast of rain mixed with some snow — and a scantier snow base than usual. Another favorite, Mount Bachelor near Bend, Ore., was a balmy 41 degrees at its base midweek, and daytime above-freezing temperatures are forecast for the next few days, although without the heavy rains.

To find better conditions, skiers and boarders may need to head to resorts in the B.C. Interior, Montana, Idaho, Utah or California. Just be aware it's unusually warm in much of the West, not just the Cascades. And keep a close eye on the forecasts since, as past weeks have showed, the weather can change suddenly.

B.C. interior

The Big White ski area in British Columbia's Okanagan is about an 8-hour drive from Seattle, but it may have some of the best conditions through the weekend among the relatively nearby resorts, said Bryan Boice, president of Ski-Pak, a Seattle ski-tour company.

Big White has a 7,606-foot summit and daily snow is forecast this week, said Boice (although there's a possibility of ice pellets on Saturday). Those who don't want to drive could look for Alaska/Horizon vacation packages/cheap flights to Kelowna: the resort is about 35 miles from the city's airport and served by shuttle vans. ( Big White info: 250-765-3101 or www.bigwhite.com)

Mixed snow/rain is forecast this week at most other Okanagan resorts, including Silver Star, and at Sun Peaks farther north near Kamloops, but at least they have decent snow bases. In southeast B.C., Red Mountain, near Rossland, has had abundant snow although even it has been unusually warm for this time of year.

Montana

You'll escape the monsoon rains at Big Mountain ski resort near Whitefish, Mont., although it faces snow-mixed-with-rain this weekend. But at least it has a healthy 67-inch snow base. Get there on Amtrak from Seattle to nearby Whitefish. Put together your own train/ski trip ( 800-USA-RAIL or www.amtrak.com; for the ski area phone 800-858-3930 or see www.bigmtn.com ) Or Ski-Pak has three-night packages for about $400 per person including round-trip train from Seattle, hotel and two days of lift tickets (800-446-4688 or www.skipak.com).

Utah

It's been balmy in Utah — with temperatures above freezing in ski resorts near Salt Lake City this week — but the snow base is ample and the five-day forecast is for partial clouds — not rain.

Check out the big Utah resorts by phoning 800-SKI-UTAH or see www.skiutah.com where you'll find Web cams, weather forecasts and links to individual resorts, plus "hot deals" on ski/hotel packages. One of the big ski resorts, Park City, is a 45-minute drive from the Salt Lake City airport (rent a car or take a shuttle ) and has an enviable mid-mountain snow base of about 117 inches — plus the Sundance Film Festival.

Idaho:

In normally chilly Sun Valley, it was in the 40s midweek — but sunny with a decent snow base. Phone 800-786-8259 or see www.sunvalley.com It's about a 12-to-14-hour drive from Seattle — or fly to Boise and rent a car or take a shuttle from the airport.

In Idaho's Panhandle, the Schweitzer ski area faces periods of rain until the weekend, when it's supposed to clear. Mixed rain and snow is forecast for the new Tamarack resort, a two-hour drive north of Boise.

Nevada/California

The dozen-plus ski resorts that ring Lake Tahoe on the Nevada/California border have been almost buried in snow in recent weeks; Heavenly resort has a base of 168 inches.

Some resorts are an easy drive from Reno; stay there in a casino-hotel and drive to the slopes or stay up at one of the ski areas. Flights to Reno are low-priced; check Southwest Airlines or get an air/hotel package through travel agents or airlines. For resort information, contact the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority: 530-544-5050or www.bluelaketahoe.com

Colorado

Last, but not least, if you have the time and money to chase the powder, there's always Colorado. Aspen got five feet of snow in storms that ended last week. Phone 303-825-7669 (for snow conditions) or see www.coloradoski.comfor links to individual resorts, Web cams and more.