Mid-Week Ski Weather
Roemer Report:
Midweek outlook for ski weather provided complimentary by Jim Roemer.
NEW ENGLAND—
See attached graphic. Over the next 7 days–I look for yet another 8-14 “at Jay Peak; 5-10″ at Stowe and generally 3-6″ at Killington, Sugarbush, Mt. Snow. Much of New Hampshire will see 2-4” with a front by Wednesday but a better chance for a modest snow event by Christmas or shortly thereafter.
Overall, I expect ski conditions to improve as we go on into the first of 2006. I can see the pattern shaping up to feature at least one nor’easter, slightly colder than normal temperatures and generally normal to above normal snowfall in New England over the next 15 days.
Big snows should shift to southern New England after Christmas.
QUICK VIEW OF SOME RECENT SNOWS
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN FINALLY GET SNOWS—21″
ALTA AND SNOWBIRD GET MORE THAN EXPECTED 15″
LAST TWO DAYS; SOLITUDE 17″.
MT HOOD TO MT. BACHELOR 4-8″
Jay Peak—-another 12-18″ last 4 days–most in New England
COLORADO–Chance for 3-5″ of snow next 24-48 hours most areas with overall warmer than normal and drier than normal weather headed into the Christmas weekend with lots of teens and 20’s above 7,000 feet.
Utah–We have been talking about a warmer and drier than normal weather pattern possibly returning here into New Years and so far, Alta, Snowbird has been lucking out with a weak front in their area. We updated the forecast Friday for 3-6″ for Sunday night and possibly another 3-6″ for Monday or Monday night and thus far there has been 12-16″ the last two days.
It looks like there will be a front coming through with some light-moderate snow and several inches or more about Thursday and Friday.
Still, all models suggest a return to above to much above normal temperatures this week and through at least the first part of next week with readings +5 to +10 above this weekend and especially next week.
The ridge of high pressure and warmth, luckily has been flattened out allowing weak fronts that stall and give us some snow. I still think that we are in a very transitional type pattern, in which warmer temperatures and a trend toward more normal to below snowfall is on top over the next 10-15 days.
CASCADES AND TAHOE
Temps will be warming well into the 30’s to near 40 below 4,500 feet in the Cascades, so rain is likely at ski resorts, some heavy at these levels and below. Places like Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor and the higher elevations of Mt. Baker will really get nailed with 1-2 feet of snow by Thursday/Friday of this week and possibly as much as 3 feet with two systems the next 5 day–but again, this will be primarily at the upper mountain with rain and snow below 4,500 feet.
Crystal Mountain, which is 7,000 feet high may get 1-2 feet of snow this week–mainly above 5,500 feet with rain and mixed snow and rain at the base.
The Tahoe region will also get some pretty good snow, though a wet snow below 5,000 feet. Heavenly should see a foot or more mid-week. They need snow as it has dried out some. Overall, a return to above normal temps and somewhat drier returns for Christmas weekend into next week…but some areas may get nailed at higher elevations over the next 5-6 days.
BC—The warm, moist air off the Pacific could bring some heavy rains at the lower elevations of Whistler during the course of the week with an inch or more of rain, but hopefully on the mid-upper mountain, there may be a foot or more of snow–especially by the Wednesday-Thursday time frame. It is possible, if the freezing levels lower in time, that Whistler could see 2 feet, but mainly aloft. Much of this moisture will slam into the Bugaboos, Kootneys and much of interior BC. Ski areas with bases above 5,000 feet will receive a foot or more of snow, which includes Kicking Horse, Silver Star with rain, fog and then ultimately good snows at Fernie–though temps will be warming into the 30’s here.
I am concerned that Red Mountain will warm well into the 30’s and 40’s for several days and may see rain and fog mid-week–hopefully changing over to some snow by Friday.
Interior areas of BC are the bet for the next week or so.
Lake Louise has seen temperatures below zero and will begin to warm into the 20’s and even some 30’s by mid-late week. A pretty significant weather system may bring them 4-8″ of snow by Thursday into Saturday with generally mid temps.
I DO NOT SEE ANY BITTER COLD WEATHER IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES OR ALBERTA FOR THE NEXT WEEK TO TEN DAYS FOLLOWING THIS MOST RECENT COLD SNAP. IF YOU ARE HEADED OUT TO BC-THE BEST SNOWS WILL OCCUR AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS THESE NEXT 7 DAYS WITH A WARMER AND DRIER TREND LATER THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK
