Winter is here, apparently in name only. We’re still getting hit with warm temperatures and rain all around, but colder temps are on the way tonight. Much of the North Carolina Mountains are under a flood watch today and all of the resorts, from Wisp to Ober, are calling for rain – 100% chance at most areas and only 80% at Ober.
Not the start we wanted to winter but – you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life… Today is definitely a day to get the last minute shopping done and make sure you have everything in order to hit the slopes later this week.
The temps will be falling for most of the day and the northern and higher elevation resorts should get back into the 30’s this afternoon. Depending on your source of weather, there is a chance of the rain turning to snow later this afternoon. We are already seeing slightly lower temps ths morning compared to yesterday morning and we might have already seen the high for today. Appalachian Ski Mountain was at 57 yesterday morning when I updated the ski reports and this morning at 6:30am they are at 49. The low last night at App was only 50 degrees.
As you can guess, the resorts are starting to feel the warm and wet a bit. “Thin spots” is re-entering our vernacular. Sapphire Valley had to temporarily suspend operations pending a bit more snow.
Sapphire Valley Ski Resort
Wolf Ridge is reporting a loss of about 10” of base and has closed their tubing park. Appalachian is down 6”, Beech -2”, Sugar -5”, and Cataloochee is down by 8 inches to round out the North Carolina notables. Wisp is down 6” in base and minus 2 runs and Bryce is down 8”. The pain is being spread evenly across just about all of the resorts.
Cataloochee Ski Area
I’ve made casual mention of some of the events happening at the resorts for and around Christmas and here is a little more detail.
Bryce Resort
5-8pm Christmas Eve buffet
6-10pm New Year's Eve buffet
9pm-1:30am New Year's Eve in the Copper Kettle with DJ Doug, 9pm-1:30am (food and party favors from 9-11pm)
Midnight Torchlight Parade – New Year's Eve-midnight
Snowshoe Resort (full details here)
Today:
10am-2pm Pictures with Santa on the slopes
6pm Holiday Crafts at The Big Top
7pm The Grinch movie at The Big Top
9:30pm Teen dance at 20 Below
Tuesday:
5pm Silver Creek Party
7pm Christmas party at The Big Top
Christmas Day:
2pm-close Holiday Movie Marathon
4pm Tie dye mania
Wintergreen (full details here)
Tuesday:
12-2pm Santa on the slopes
5-9pm Candlelight Christmas Eve buffet at the Copper Mine Bistro & Devils Grill
7pm Christmas Eve worship in the ballroom
Christmas Day:
10am-10pm Slopes are open
2pm Cardboard classic workshop
7pm Cardboard Classic race
9:30-Closing Live Entertainment at the Edge
Canaan Valley (full details here)
Tuesday:
5-9pm Christmas Eve buffet in the Hickory Dining Room
7pm Story time – Twas the Night Before Christmas
Christmas Day:
3-9pm Christmas day buffet in the Hickory Dining Room
You guys take care out there today. Get all of the last minute shopping out of the way and clear your calendars. Winter is about to return to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Tim Bahlke
Drop me an email at [email protected] to let me know what you think or with suggestions on what we could be doing better.