Okay, it’s a white Christmas because of more than a foot of snow that remains on the ground from last weekend’s snowstorm. I was out treating our horses to some Christmas Eve treats and STILL couldn’t drive my 4WD up the snowcovered road to the barn. There was at least 4-6" of snowcover still pretty much all around the High Country, and areas where there was at least a foot of snowcover. So officially this is a White Christmas.
Admittedly this morning it looks more like a Crystal Christmas as freezing rain is falling. There is a good 1/4th inch layer of ice on my deck and all I’m seeing outside is black ice and icicles hanging from everything. My lights are flickering so I’m kind of hoping that the temps get to the forecasted high sooner than later because otherwise this could bad.
A lot of the area is experiencing a mix of cold rain, freezing rain and ice so if you’re thinking about heading to one of the ski areas, we’d suggest a call ahead or even better still – check the road conditions page. We’ve provided convenient links to all of the DOT pages for each of the ski areas. Click here. Road Conditions
The summary right now is that DOTs are reporting that roads are partially covered with snow and ice.
The FORECAST FOR TODAY MIGHT SHOULD BE…enjoy some time with your family and friends. Enjoy your good health and the fortunes that we all have of living in this great country where even some of our poorest citizens are rich compared to others in the world. Maybe, just maybe THIS is a day to devote to doing a good deed for someone or helping someone in need. No matter, this is a day to celebrate the birth of the Son of God.
It might not be the best day to ski or ride as we’re in for one, temporary, 24 hour, timeout from the great conditions that we’ve had for the last week. It will be wet, icy and even a little dangerous to drive in some locations. Take a day off and then get to YOUR favorite ski resort on Saturday when snowmaking temps, some natural snow and a forecast for great fun and great conditions are in the forecast.
Saturday is looking like a VERY NICE day with highs in the mid to upper 40s in the North Carolina mountains to the mid 30s for ski areas into West Virginia. According to Meteorologist Brad Panovich SUNDAY is when the really cold air filters back into the area with highs in the low 30s or so in the NC mountains to mid 20s into the Virginias. Some accumulating snow is forecasted for Sunday afternoon and overnight into Monday and the long range forecast for the entire week ahead is for highs in the 20s and lows in the teens. As we’ve been forecasting THAT means more snowmaking and more trail openings and what should be some awesome conditions for your Holiday ski getaway!
More snow is in the forecast towards New Year’s Eve so stay tuned for that as we get a little closer. Be sure to check out the road conditions, live webcams and Brad’s Skier’s Forecast Video for all the information you need to make an educated decision to head our way!
If you’re planning a Christmas ski getaway, choose the resort you want to head to and then look at our recommended lodging, dining, equipment rentals and fun links on each page!
I’m headed over the river (Watauga River) and through the woods (The Pisgah National Forest) to Grandmother’s house (actually my sister’s house to visit with my children’s Grandmother)…so enjoy YOUR day, be safe and if you’re on the snow today snap us a photo or video and send it to us!
Merry Christmas Everyone! Stay safe, think Snow and Cold and check for snow report for details of slope openings and more.
Until tomorrow here’s some notes:
I’m starting south and heading north state by state today with an exception here and there…
Appalachian is taking the day OFF and not skiing or snowboarding today. You can enjoy ice skating if you like. Snow ops will resume Saturday morning.
Beech Mountain is open with 12 of 15 trails today. They open at 12:30pm and have added Upper Southern Star to the open terrain and they report, "The terrain park is now open with seven features!" Ice skating is open as well!
Cataloochee is 100% open bit from just 1-10pm today!
Wolf Ridge joins App as CLOSED for Christmas Day. They will reopen on Saturday morning.
Sapphire Valley is open today with skiing and tubing from noon til 9pm. Tubing til 8pm.
Sugar takes the morning off and will open at Noon with 17 of 20 trails, ice skating and tubing.
Massanutten Resort is open from 12:30pm-8pm Christmas! They are 100% open with tubing open as well.
Wintergreen is open 10am-10pm with 24 trails! Tubing opens as well! (TODAYS FREEZING RAIN FORECAST MIGHT CAUSE OPERATING DELAYS ON THE BLUERIDGE EXPRESS & HIGHLANDS LIFTS)
Bryce Resort – if you’re headed there we’d say call ahead. There’s no update or schedule comments. They are typically great about informing the public so we’re guessing they are closed.
Canaan Valley is opening up 5 additional trails today to get to 36 trails and ice skating as well.
Snowshoe is open for day and night sessions as they have a lot of guests on the mountain and they are offering 48 trails, tubing, snowmobiling and more!
Timberline is open for day sessions today on one more trail – now 23 of 37. They begin night skiing on Saturday!
Winterplace is opening another trail today to go to 21 of 28 and tubing as well. They operate from 1-10pm today.
Wisp operates from 9am to 9pm today with several more trails open! They now offer 28 of 32 trails. Looks like the tubing hill is closed today (ice maybe?)
Ober Gatlinburg is open with 5 of 8 trails from noon til 7pm! Tubing is open as well.
You can check the snow reports for all of the ski resorts of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and North Carolina via https://www.skisoutheast.com/skireports.php as well as videos, photos and more.
Send your comments, videos, photos, trip reports and questions to: [email protected]
SSAA: 0 for 28 appclosedChr/saphclosed/wolfclosedchr/snowswrong49/timbclos/ /self 27/28
Sug 30.5bech 23/12/21
be 14+4+1 su 20+4+1.5