The top news of the day is that IT IS SNOWING!!!!
Most resort areas have reported from 1/2 to 2" of new snow and the forecast is for more of it today, tonight, Sunday and into Monday with 8-16" of snow depending on the resort community. The higher elevations of North Carolina and the West Virginia as well as Wisp Resort should pick up the bigger snow totals by Monday evening with the heaviest snow to come tonight and sunday!
Merry Christmas One and All! If you’re reading this blog you’re probably enjoying good health, have some happiness in your life and live in the greatest country in the world. We indeed have a lot to be thankful for on this GORGEOUS, SNOWY Christmas Day! Happy birthday Jesus!
The thought of today comes from my ten year old and youngest daughter, Madison. She asked me yesterday, "Hey dad since people say that they’re headed over to ski down a black diamond run, how come they don’t say that when it comes to blues or green trails?"
Makes sense to me. I guess I’ll soon be scorching down some "blue squares" and "green circles". Come to think of it, as long as I’ve been around the ski industry I’ve never had someone say, "We’ve opened up two green circles" today." I’ve never heard, "Be sure to mention that we’ve opened up our blue square trails today."
I guess when "black" or "black diamond" trails are mentioned they deserve the extra promotion. Thanks Madison – now my heads hurting. I’m not meant to have to think that much.
WE’RE NO LONGER DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS…it’s here!
Our guy Brad called for this significant snowfall two days ago and reconfirmed it again yesterday calling for 3-7" of snow into Christmas evening with heavier snowfall Saturday night into Sunday that could bring as much as a foot to 16" of snow in parts of the Southeast and mid Atlantic.
You guys want to know why I brag on our "snow goose" of a meteorologist? All last season Brad nailed big snow after big snow and he’s doing again this season. Several times this season Brad has been the earliest forecaster for good snows and some of the other gurus of the area have actually scoffed at his prognostications and then been burnt by them because he’s nailed it time and again! Two days ago Brad was among the minority in forecasting some significant snows again for today through Tuesday and as late as last night the NWS and Ray Russell of local weather notoriety forecasted very little snows today and perhaps from a dusting to an inch of snow by sunrise Sunday morning.
Last night Ray posted, "I’m Dreaming of a Barely White Christmas? There are plenty of questions about our White Christmas–it will be white, but barely white. A dusting to 2" is expected through sunrise Sunday."
He DID say that by late Monday we could see 3-8". Fast forward to today and the NWS and others are now forecasting 3-7" of snow for much of the region through AM Sunday and heavy snows on Sunday into Monday.
Hmmm. Where have we heard that forecast? Oh yea, Brad Panovich. Way to go dude. We’re proud to have your positive thinking working with us!
THERE ARE SOME LATE OPENINGS AND SOME NOT OPEN AT ALL CHRISTMAS DAY SCHEDULES SO CHECK THE DETAILS BELOW…
Before we get to the details and since we’re talking numbers, we still have the busiest week of the season ahead of us and here are our visitor numbers for 2010 thus far. We are crazy thanking you guys for making us THE most visited ski web presence east of the Rockies!
4,496,812 visits, 67,000,000 page views and 657,475 visitors in December and we’re headed to our biggest week of the year and tons of snow is forecasted. Those numbers are all up about 9% over this time last year!
…again thank YOU GUYS and GALS for passing the word and for making us a part of your day.
Here’s the notes from around the region…
Appalachian Ski Mountain – 26° – Closed to observe Christmas – Ice Skating is open.
Beech Mountain – 23° – They open today at Noon with 100% of the mountain open with what should be awesome snow conditions. Ice Skating and all the shops open as well.
Cataloochee Ski Area – 27° – It’s snowing! – Cat is 100% open from 1pm to 10pm Christmas Day. Tubing opens at 2pm.
Sugar Mountain – 23° – Sugar reopens today at noon with 100% of the mountain, snow tubing and ice skating.
Sapphire Valley – 31° – No Report – Call ahead
Wolf Ridge Resort – 28° – Wolf is closed today in observance of Christmas.
Wintergreen Resort – 20.3° – They are open from 10am to 10pm Christmas Day and Night with 25 of 26 trails and snow tubing as well!
Massanutten Resort – 26° – They open at 12:30pm with 100% of the terrain and snow tubing as well. We’re getting reports of flurries at 9am.
Bryce Resort – 30° – It’s snowing! – No report as to Christmas schedule. Call ahead.
The Homestead – 21° – NO REPORT call ahead.
Wisp Resort – 19° – 100% Open as well as tubing, ice skating and mountain coastering. Open from 9am to 9pm Christmas Day and night.
Snowshoe Mountain – 18° and 1" of new snow! – Snowshoe is offering 48 of 60 trails and Upper Shay’s should be open by Noon today. Lower Shay’s will follow tomorrow, and should be left ungroomed for those looking for some powder and some bumps. Tubing is open as well.
Canaan Valley – 14° – .7" of new snow and they go to 100% open today with all 39 trails and snow tubing!
Timberline Resort – 15° – 1" of new snow and it’s snowing as they are open with 33 of 38 trails for today. Night skiing begins Sunday. They have 27 km of backcountry terrain open as well!
Winterplace Resort – 21° – 2" of new snow and they are open on 24 trails and snow tubing as well.
Ober Gatlinburg – 29° and snowing! – They are open from noon to 7pm today with 7 of 9 trails, snow tubing and ice skating!
That’s it for today. Enjoy your White Christmas! If you can’t be with us watch the LIVE webcams. Send your comments to [email protected] or [email protected]
We also invite you visit our sister websites:
www.HighCountryWebCams.com for dozens of LIVE CAMS around the region.
www.HighCountryWeather.com for all the best forecasts for the ski resorts.