East: Too Warm To Believe
Start Wishing Harder, New Englanders. It Worked For The Red Sox.
Not New England today. Unfortunately, we have to wait some more for snow.
Credit: Currier & Ives
There’s an old adage here in New England that half your cord wood should still be left over by Ground Hog’s Day. But, so far this winter, we’ve hardly touched the wood pile; we’ll have most of it left over come April if this trend continues. We guess that’s one advantage of having a record-breaking snow-drought, warm-spell syndrome around here. Frankly, we’d rather ski than not have to chop.
The Weather Channel says this Christmas could be the warmest of your lifetime, especially in the East.
Next week’s jet stream pattern from the Weather Channel. Don’t like the word “Mild” where it is.
Credit: Weather Channel.
It is clearly a winter for the record books. Looks like the El Nino predictions are coming to pass. We just heard that Mount Sunapee (NH) has closed until this weekend when the forecast predicts some colder weather for snow making. Okemo hasn’t seen natural snow since Nov 30th, and conditions are soft with open spots. Plus it rained last night up country. Other areas have a lift or three running, that’s all. The ski train from Boston to Wachusett Mountain has been postponed because “the ski area has zero trails open,” according WBUR radio. Everyone is looking for a window of cold air for snow making.
And it’s not just New England. Ontario, Quebec and even Europe are experiencing too much warmth when we need cold.
We’ve had snow droughts before. New England Ski Industry has collected some memorable highlights about those unhappy times. Click here to view quotes. Oh well, this, too, shall pass. Just like the Red Sox World Series drought. Just takes some wishing.
Please don’t accept the current status quo as a trend for the rest of the winter; it’s way too early for that, despite the year’s El Nino potency. Last winter, the toughest and coldest in recorded history here in Boston, precipitation didn’t get very serious until mid-January into February when the snow became overwhelming. We’ve seen wicked March storms and a three-foot blizzard on April 1 a few years ago that had the wildlife and crocuses confused.
On the other hand, there is a helluva lot of snow right now out in the Wasatch, the Rockies, in the Far West and the Sierras.
Wish it our way. Come on, wish it. Wish it. Let’s go snow. Wish it.
West: Snow Falls, Lots Of Snow
White Christmas Ahead For Utah and The Rockies.
Snow-covered Prius shows depth from one-day storm in SLC.
Salt Lake City-based SeniorsSkiing.com Co-Publisher Jon Weisberg Reports:
The biggest single dump since 2011 is how some observers characterize the mid-December storm that blanketed Utah’s Wasatch range with almost two feet over the past few days. Snowfall extended into Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.
Individual resorts report impressive numbers. Brian Head, the state’s most southern resort got 38″ over 48 hours. Eagle Point, another southern area on the high slopes of the Tushar Mountains collected 20″, Alta, 24″ and Snowbird, 23″.
But the base depths at most of these and other areas hovers around 45″, much less than the base needed to feel comfortable skiing off-trail fresh powder. Sorry to deliver this news to Eastern skiers, but we’re expecting more deliveries—snow, not UPS—through Christmas.
I decided not to head up the canyon today; possibly tomorrow. Instead, I walked Lucy (the mutt) around our neighborhood, one of the oldest in Salt Lake City. At about 4300′, we’re almost 3/4 mile lower than the base of Alta.
[Editor’s Note: A contributor in Denver submitted the following picture of his television screen. Lots of snow out west.]
Denver weatherman reports snow depth from recent big fall.
Credit: Joe Durzo
Stocking Stuffer: Low Temperature Windshield Washer Fluid
Okay. It’s too big for a stocking, but it doesn’t need wrapped.
Practical and inexpensive, this De-Icer Windshield Washer can save your day.
Credit: Harriet Wallis
A cheap but practical gift is a jug of low temperature windshield washer fluid with de-icer. Look on the label for a temperature rating that is -25 or -30 or lower. A gallon jug costs less than $5.
There are some days when a certain mix of temperature and humidity can cause windshields to glaze over as you climb in elevation or go over a pass. The “blue stuff” that’s usually in the your car reservoir will not defrost the windshield. Using low temperature windshield fluid will likely save your ski day.
There are several brands of low temperature windshield fluid. Different brands are different colors – orange, purple or pink. But none are blue. Stick a bow on the jug, and it’s wrapped!
You might want to buy a turkey baster too. Use it to suck the blue stuff out of the car’s reservoir and then replace it with the low temperature washer fluid.
It’s the little things that make a difference.
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