Late yesterday afternoon, through this morning, brought the first opportunity for some quality snowmaking, in quite some time. After the shakedown, it looked like about half the resorts (7) were able to make some snow, with the northern most resorts being able to leave their guns on throughout most of the day, today.
Tonight provides another “mini-event” of cold air staying in the area, and we might see about half a dozen resorts take hold of the opportunity.
The issue is that Wednesday through Friday this week look warm(ish) with the temperatures staying above freezing and rain in the forecast. If we can bridge the gap to late-Friday, there will be an outstanding weekend and beyond, on tap.
WV is right in the thick of some good cold air
Winterplace: Snowmaking is on. Skiing and riding on 14 runs and 6 lifts, until 10pm. MAYBE another shot again tonight at making snow.
Snowshoe: 153 acres, 37 runs, 10 lifts:
“OUR SNOWMAKERS WORKED HARD TO GIVE THE MOUNTAIN A FRESH COAT LAST NIGHT. EXPECT TO SEE SOME SNOWMAKING ON OPEN TERRAIN TODAY WHILE WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE COLD TEMPERATURES.”
As a side note, “The Soaring Eagle lift will be closed today due to electrical issues. Camp 99, Widowmaker, and Lower Hootenanny will subsequently also be closed. Upper Flume will remain open for accessing the Basin from the South Mountain area. You can catch a shuttle back from the Village.”
Finally, the Sunset Cantina opens at 11am today!
Canaan Valley: Big opportunity to make snow since yesterday late-afternoon, and they are taking full advantage. In fact, most of the day today (thru tonight) provide great conditions to make a sizeable base. Today, skiing and riding on 13 runs and 4 lifts.
NC mountains have some snowmaking potential at the high elevations.
Beech Mountain: Snowguns currently on as we speak. Looks like they MIGHT have a chance again tonight. Open today until 9pm on 11 trails and 4 lifts.
Sapphire Valley: Cold enough to make snow, but opted-out. 3 runs and 2 lifts open today. Ski resort is open from 9am to 8pm (holiday hours). Tubing open from 10am to 6pm.
Wolf Ridge: Not quite cold enough to make snow. Open today from 9am to 10pm, on 4 runs and 3 lifts. Same great deal of Weekday Rates during the Holiday period.
Appalachian Ski Mountain: 10 runs and 4 lifts open today. Maybe a chance at snowmaking tonight as the temp gets down to 30°
Cataloochee: Snowmaking is on as we speak! Perhaps another chance again tonight. Open today until 10pm on 16 runs and 4 lifts. Tube World got a fresh coat of (machine-made) snow as well.
VA has the potential in most places
Bryce: Not quite cold enough to make snow . . . good chance tonight. Open today from 9am to 5pm (extended hours), on 7 runs and 3 lifts.
Wintergreen: Although they trimmed their runs from 9 down to 7 today, they ARE currently making snow, and getting ready for the big holiday push with more terrain.
Massanutten: 6 runs and 5 lifts . . .
“SUNNY WITH HIGH’S IN THE LOWER 40’S. WE WILL BE SKIING/RIDING FROM 9:00AM – 5:00PM TONIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TEMPERATURES DIDN’T QUITE GET COLD ENOUGH TO MAKE SNOW LAST NIGHT BUT WE’LL BE READY AND STANDING BY AGAIN TONIGHT.”
MD is charging like a bull
Wisp: Open until 9pm tonight, with 9 runs on 5 lifts. Here is their latest update from the Mountain Message Blog:
“Opening weekend of the 18.19 Winter Season is in the books and after weathering thru 1.67” of rain (yikes) these past 3 days, slope conditions held up well and we are still skiing on a base of 16” – 34”. Like always, Mother Nature bounces back as does our hard-working Mountains Ops Crew who are poised to begin snowmaking around 7pm tonight when the conditions look ideal. All of our weather buffs forecast a solid 24+ hour window of snowmaking for this upcoming round. Go get ‘em guys!”
TN will get its chance later this week
Ober: Let’s all try and blow some cold air toward Ober. Man, they just missed out . . .
“WE WERE HOPING TO SAY THAT WE MADE SNOW LAST NIGHT WITH THE LAST MINUTE COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE FORECAST. WE WERE READY, HOWEVER THE WINDS SHIFTED FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH… THIS PUSHED WARM AIR UP INTO THE VALLEY GIVING US A LOW OF 36. WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE OUR WARM WEATHER SNOWMAKING MACHINES THAT ARE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH OUR SO FAR WARM WINTER! WE WILL BE WATCHING THE WEATHER MODELS CLOSELY AND WAITING FOR THE MOMENT WE CAN TURN THE GUNS BACK ON– LOOKS LIKE THERE IS EVEN A CHANCE FOR SOME SNOW AT THE END OF THE WEEK.”
That’s all for today.
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