Wet Today – Snow Wednesday – Mild the Rest of the Week

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On this date back in 1965 we saw more than a foot of snow fall across the mountains. Back in 1977 we saw MINUS 16° for a low temp. Yowsers!  Well we won’t see anything like those kinds of numbers for today or Wednesday, but there IS some light snow in the forecast for tonight and Wednesday. Right now it’s looking like another 2-3” of snow for most areas.

The other great news is that cold, snowmaking temps should enter the picture tonight and most all day on Wednesday and Wednesday Night so the snowmaking crews at all resorts will lay down some sweet snow.  That’s good news because we noticed some bare spots showing at several resorts yesterday – even after 4” of snow up at Ski Beech over the weekend…combined with snowmaking. Unfortunately TODAY will be a little more of the “under-developed” variety of snow.  Today is kind of a “take a breather day” anyway with the MLK crowds now home or headed that way. Conditions will be wet all over the Southeast for today.  We may see a break or two in the light rain that will allow a run or two but that’s about it for today.

Wednesday will be snowy at most areas across the region, with the exception of down around Sapphire Valley where the forecast is for Partly Cloudy skies.  Go figure!  Wintergreen and the resorts in Virginia could be on the edge of tomorrow snowline and may see a mix or possible just rain.

Be sure to check out the individual weather forecasts shown on the front page today.  That is a new feature that we are bringing to the mix now.  We are pulling weather data from all areas and compiling in one quick location for you guys!  We are putting the foundation in place to actually bring you the updated LIVE conditions and weather FROM EACH ski area by the beginning of next season.  We had planned to have that in place this season, but we’ve experienced a busier than we expected season in regards to all of the other duties we pull daily so that project is being tabled until the summer. We’ll post some news and updates about that down the road.  For now, check the weather update daily as pulled from the National Weather Service.

Forecasters are calling for 1-3” of snow from the North Carolina Mountains into Tennessee, West Virginia and Maryland.  Winterplace and the Virginia Resorts are looking like they may be slightly wetter on Wednesday.  We’ll keep you posted there.

Mild Winter?  Where?

We’ve received some emails asking us about this winter and “how mild” it has been.  Actually, it’s been a decent one thus far.  Beech and Sugar in North Carolina have seen nearly two feet of natural snow thus far on the season and Cataloochee has received 18” of snow on the season as well.  Appalachian, in Blowing Rock has received a bit less with 13” on the season.  Wintergreen Resort in Virginia has seen a foot and a half of snow thus far, Canaan Valley in West Virginia has received 52” and Snowshoe Mountain a whopping 75” of snow thus far. Wisp in Maryland has gotten 62” and even Ober Gatlinburg has seen 8”.

The slopes have stayed in pretty good shape with bursts of near-perfect conditions.  There have only been MAYBE four days within the season so far wherein we’ve seen any kind of what we’d term as near yuck conditions! Today may classify as one of those.  Rainy, with bare spots and thin coverage showing around the state.

Tomorrow things will look pretty nice with firmed up snow, natural snowfall and cold, snowmaking temps.  That will make for a nice Thursday and Friday.  Then we’re looking at some MORE mild temps…but we will keep you posted.

Keep your chin up and keep checking back here for updates.

Couple of Quick Notes from Around the Region:

The SSAA is reporting that Bryce Resort and Sapphire Valley made snow last night.  Didn’t happen.

None of the Virginia, Maryland or West Virginia Resorts reported ANY change in base depth.  Come on guys…SOMETHING happened in the last couple of days.  Ober Gatlinburg reflected a 2” drop and several of the North Carolina resorts reflected drops.

Expect wet conditions today…cold and snow on Wednesday!

Andrea Smith of Snowshoe sent in these notes for things that are happening up at Snowshoe and they are definitely worth to share with you guys!

“We are anticipating a lot of good things over the next few weeks here at Snowshoe Mountain. The Scion West Virginia Open, January 27 -29, will feature some of the area’s most exciting skiers and riders competing in a rail jam on Friday, a slopestyle competition on Saturday and a boarder/skier cross competition on Sunday.  Those of you who enjoy some good rock music (especially us teens of the 90’s) don’t miss a free concert by Veruca Salt live in the Big Top on Saturday night.  All you Scion owners out there can also take advantage of our Scion special-show your Scion key and if you buy one lift ticket you’ll receive the second one for free!

Kids and teens, don’t forget to take advantage of the second of four West Virginia Youth Ski Free Sundays at Snowshoe Mountain.  January 29th, all WV residents 18 years of age and under will receive a free lift ticket and half off lessons and rentals with proof of residency.  All of Snowshoe’s WV Youth Ski Free Days are accompanied by a battle of the bands competition in the Big Top that afternoon.  For more details on Snowshoe Mountain’s Battle of the Bands Competition contact Missey Turley at 304-572-5886.  As you can see, the last weekend in January is going to be hoppin’ with all sorts of awesome activities!  

If you are headed to the mountain this week be sure to check out all of the activities in the Big Top including basketball, dodgeball, family fun night, a teen dance party and much more.  Call 304-572-TOPP for more information on Big Topp events.  For all of you late nighters out there catch Chasing Rhinos at the Connection this Friday and Saturday, the 20th & 21st.  This is not to mention, of course, taking advantage of all our great skiing and riding with the most open terrain in the region! 

If you are interested in testing your ability while you are here on the mountain test out our NASTAR course on Skipjack in the basin area.  National Standard Racing is a public race program open to all abilities and ages. The program is focused on providing an opportunity to test ski, snowboard, and telemark skier/riders abilities on a national level. The system provides a national ranking and handicap system, which allows you to challenge and compare yourself against one of the top skiers on the US Ski Team, Daron Rahlves. The program offers timed race runs most Thursdays thru Sundays at Snowshoe Mountain.  For more information on the various racing programs atvSnowshoe Mountain contact Trevyn Newpher at 304-572-5958.”

See you guys on the slopes. 

Until Next Time!

Be sure to email photos, snow reports and comments to: [email protected]

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Kent Jackson (a ski instructor at Sugar) and friend, Glenn, pose against the backdrop of snowy mountains at Sugar Mountain on Sunday (after Saturday’s
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