Yep. We're still going!
This week's SnoCast honors the incredible season behind us, while keeping sights ahead at the forecast and where you can still find new snow as we make the turn into April. With a potentially record-long ski season for several Western U.S. mountains, new snow is the icing on the geographical cake.
I'm following at least two more storms out West to keep this already epic season rolling, a battle ground in the central U.S., and bittersweet springtime weather across the East. Whether you are amped for skiing into July, or ready to take those final buttery spring turns, here's what to expect, weather-wise, from coast to coast in SnoCast for March 30-April 5, 2023.
East
A potent spring storm will impact the Midwest and Northeast late Thursday through Saturday with a variety of precipitation types, depending on your location. Much like many late March storms, we'll find a battle zone as seasons clash. Snow on the front and tail end, will be interrupted by a conveyor belt of warm springtime air, introducing high wind, the chance for icy mix, as well as thunderstorms!
Midwest
Northern Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan sees a burst of snow late Thursday night, as otherwise wet and stormy weather (many storms turning severe) continues just to the south. We'll likely see disruptions to the ski areas still turning chairs from southern Wisconsin through Michigan.
However, as the storm lifts northeastward from southern Wisconsin into southern Quebec Saturday, colder air returns on the backside of the system, allowing a period of snow to develop for northern Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan where winter storm watches are in effect. A fast with 3-7" and blizzard conditions are expected. Look to Granite Peak, Ski Brule, and Big Powderhorn and others nearby for new snow and wind by early Saturday, turning calmer and less windy on the slopes through Sunday.
Outside of ski interests, this storm will be powerful. NOAA's Weather Prediction Center tweeted out an impact graphic to see the big picture.
Northeast
Ahead of the storm center, we'll find a similar brief period of snow Friday for the mountains in New York and New England before a turn to wet weather on (no joke) April Fools Day, Saturday. Likewise, just enough cold air returns on the back end by overnight Saturday to squeeze out 1-4" of snow across Vermont and northern New York peaks. Look to the tall-boys, like Stowe, Jay, and Whiteface by early Sunday for a bit of new snow.
West
It's still going out West. This season has delivered unreal snow totals, especially for California and Utah (did you see Mammoth hit a new all-time snow record?). Mother Nature will spread the wealth again through next week.
Thursday, a trough continues to dig across the Western U.S. generating mountain snow for most of the Southwest and Rockies, heaviest for the southwest facing ranges, including Utah's Wasatch Mountains, the Bitterroots of Idaho/Montana, and the Caribou Ranges near the Idaho/Wyoming line. These areas could see up to a foot of snow, while other slopes around the West see lesser amounts, but still freshies, through Friday.
By Saturday, the next front and trough dig in across the Pacific Northwest, dumping a widespread 1-2 feet of snow over the Cascades and B.C. Coast Ranges, and 8-16" over the Idaho peaks. Locally higher amounts may fall at the highest passes through Sunday.
Through early next week, this system moves south and east, spreading light to moderate totals over the north and central Rockies (not shown on the map below, which only shows snow through early Sunday, April 2).
I'll see you next week right here on SnoCountry.com for one more SnoCast with a season summary and top totals around the country!
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Following an epic coast to coast storm that dropped new snow from California to Maine, there's more snow ahead for ski country!
The weather pattern is very active, meaning there will be less lead time and a lot of changes the farther out you go in time due to complex interactions in the atmosphere. One thing is for sure, ski season will be strong for many parts of the country to finish February (and likely into March).
Here's the forecast breakdown for February 23-30, 2023.
West
Let's start out West this week where a large atmospheric trough continues to bring stormy and cold weather...and it's not stopping anytime soon, skiers and riders. As of Thursday, lingering snow continues across the interior West from the most recent storm that dumped feet of snow. Check out some of the photos from the last few days.
Meanwhile a new storm system is digging down the Pacific coastline.
This new system will bring renewed heavier snow and high winds to California by Friday and Saturday. And it's not just the Sierras this time! Snow will dig deep reaching to southern California with very low snow levels expected. Blizzard warnings are in effect Friday for the San Gabriels with potential for 2-5+ FEET of snow (locally more!) above 4,000' (yeah! insane!). Deep snow is expected for Mountain High, Bear, Snow Valley, and others in SoCal, not to mention big totals upwards of 2-5 feet northward to the Sierras from China Peak and Mammoth northward to the Tahoe area.
It should be noted, this is *significant* for the southern California peaks, historic even. Make sure if you plan to travel, you have appropriate gear and transportation to do so, and monitor pass closures.
This storm pivots toward the U.S. Southwest by Sunday, delivering new snow to Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Colorado ski areas especially.
Another prolonged period of snow develops across the entire west again Monday through Wednesday of next week as a cold pattern sticks around out west. Just keep the skis handy.
East
Thursday ad Thursday night, snow continues to fall for Midwest ski areas eastward through southern Ontario, to northern New York's Adirondacks and northern New England. While not quite as much fell as predicted, we still picked up beneficial snow on the slopes with this most recent round.
Scattered lighter snow showers redevelop for the northern Great Lakes to northern New England later Saturday in an otherwise fairly quiet weekend for the Northeast. Here's the snow forecast for the northeast from midday Thursday through early Sunday, February 26 from the National Weather Service.
The next storm system for the East presses northward into the Great Lakes by later Monday and Tuesday, bringing a mixed bag to the Midwest (Monday) with milder air pushing into the area. However, in New England, with colder air in place, snow is likely to develop again for parts of upstate New York and New England by Tuesday. While early to pinpoint totals, it appears ski season is being saved (albeit a bit late in the season) here across the far Northeast and New England.
Looking Ahead
The general pattern remains similar through mid and end of next week, with a large trough out West, keeping conditions colder and stormier than average. There is a good chance March will come in like a lion for the Western U.S.
For the East, we continue to ride a border zone as warm, spring-like air tries to push northward. This will mean periodically milder pushes for the Midwest, solidly warm for the southeast, but still enough cold air in the Northeast that we will hang on to our existing snow, and potentially see more when storms come through. Here's the temperature and precipitation outlook from February 28 through March 4, 2023 from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
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If you're a weekly reader of SnoCast, this week's outlook sounds and looks a lot like the last.
A storm system treks across the lower Great Lakes Thursday delivering a wintry "mixed bag" to Midwest ski areas and parts of the Northeast. Out West, we'll see a brief lull before the next system digs in next week with healthy snow expected.
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Punxsutawney Phil says six more weeks of winter, and we agree. We're tracking winter weather and highlighting the ski conditions from coast to coast in another SnoCast. This week, we can expect a biting mid-winter burst of Arctic air across the Midwest and Northeast, along with two snow-making systems for the West Coast. Let's dive into the details for the week of February 2–8, 2023.
East
The coldest air of the season yet will settle across the Midwest and Great Lakes Thursday night, and then pour into Eastern Canada and the Northeast U.S. Friday and Saturday.
Temperatures will plummet ~10-20+ degrees *below* average and gusty northwest winds pick up as a cold front presses east, creating dangerously cold wind chills between -30 to -50 degrees for portions of Upstate New York and New England, with the potential of even colder wind chills of -60 for interior Maine, matching some of the coldest wind chills observed in decades.
Of course, we know this might not stop you, but be smart and safe. It's the kind of cold where the lodge is your friend and good layers are essential to protect your skin from the cold. The graphic below is straight from the U.S. National Weather Service.
As the cold rushes in, there will be a burst of snow on the leading edge of the cold front from the U.P and northern Michigan late Thursday, moving toward Pennsylvania, New York, and New England early Friday. Expect anywhere from a dusting to as much 3 inches in spots. Locally heavier snow falls east of the Great Lakes thanks to a bit of lake enhancement.
Sunday, as temperatures rebound, the East remains largely quiet across the East but for a few quick passing snow showers over northern Michigan, the northern Adirondacks and Vermont. A quick clipper charges across Eastern Canada and northern New England with light snow possible again Tuesday (Feb. 7).
West
After a rather chilly week out West, temperatures will moderate this week with near average temperatures for early February. The first of two snow-making systems shifts onto the U.S. West coast Friday. The first, a cold front, will deliver snow from the northern Sierras (north of Tahoe) and Klamath peaks northward to the Cascades. While most see 2-6", there may be spots over 6" in the Washington Cascades, good news for Crystal, Mission Ridge, Stevens Pass and others nearby. Lighter snow is also in the forecast for the interior Northwest through Saturday.
The next storm for the West digs in Saturday night through Monday with additional light to moderate snow for the Sierras, Cascades, and interior West. This system digs deep, all the way to the Southwest U.S. by early next week, with the chance for heavier snow over the four-corners states by later Tuesday-Wednesday. Keep an eye on that storm for Utah and Colorado, and possibly Arizona and New Mexico, too.
'Til next week! Happy skiing and riding. - Meteorologist Kerrin Jeromin
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As we say farewell to 2022, we also say hello to more storms and mountain snow across the West and a warm up in the East. Details on ski conditions ahead in this week's SnoCast.
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There's new snow falling this Sunday (Dec. 11), so grab those skis and boards and get to your favorite mountain. Check out the live cams as snow falls across the Northeast and a powerful storm continues to dig across the West.
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Here we go again with another very active pattern and heavy mountain snow on tap for much of the Western U.S. While no large storms are in view for the East, we're seeking windows of opportunity. Let's dig into this week's SnoCast.
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A busy weather week continues nation-wide with a fast storm pattern. We'll see multiple waves of snow out West, and changeable conditions in the East heading into the first weekend of December. Let's dig into this week's SnoCast.
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Bristol Mountain and U.S. Ski & Snowboard are excited to announce that the Toyota 2022 U.S. Aerials Freestyle Championships have been rescheduled to Sunday, March 13, 2022. Four Olympic Medalists are planning to compete in the event including three Olympic Gold Medalists Chris Lillis (former Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team Member), Ashley Caldwell, and Justin Schoenefeld and Olympic Bronze Medalist Megan Nick. The event was rescheduled to accommodate athlete schedules.
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Following big snow in the Southwest and Four Corners, a storm will work across the country and deliver fresh snow to many Northeast ski areas to finish the week. With new powder all around, let’s dig into this week’s SnoCast forecast.
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Getting kids on skis;as early as possible can be rewarding for a lifetime of skiing. But planning a ski trip — especially with kids in tow — isn’t as easy as just picking up and going. Instead of just “following the snow,” you’ll want to pick a ski mountain that truly caters to kids — one that offers top-notch ski lessons, kid-friendly trails and many off-the-snow activities as well.
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Weather is ideal leading into the Christmas holiday stretch with seasonably chilly temps and bursts of snow for the East, and a widespread mountain snow for the West. Let’s dig into the details in this week’s SnoCast.
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Winter has rolled around again, and if you’re into outdoor sports, you might be looking for the best ski resorts in New York. The good news? There are plenty of amazing ski resorts in New York to choose from!
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The ongoing labor shortage continues to impact the mountain resort industry, with short-staffed restaurants, summer attractions, and a shortage of available lodging. And now, a ski area that has operated for more than 70 years has announced that it will close due to a lack of employees.
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Following a historic winter season, Windham Mountain plans to spend more than $4 million in capital improvements for the upcoming 2021-22 winter season.
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Despite the obstacles and challenges of operating a ski mountain during the COVID-19 pandemic, Titus Mountain Family Ski Center’s staff worked hard to ensure skiers and snowboarders had a fun and safe season on the slopes.
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The Indy Pass will return 100% of its partner resorts for the 2021-22 season along with new additions Powder Mountain, Utah, Mt. Ashland, Oregon, and West Mountain, New York for a total of 66 resorts in the U.S. and Canada.
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It’s sad, but true and time to face the fact there’s only so much ski season left. Whether you’re a die-hard to last chair, a pond-skimmer, or seeking out the best spring turns in a windbreaker, here’s what to expect weather-wise during the first week of April.
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A month in which several feet of snow hit several locations of the U.S. and Canada will finish with another burst of 30”+ of fresh powder.
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