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mikemaginn

On The Threshhold of Winter 2015-16

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So It Begins

WhiteMountains

The White Mountains frame Bretton Woods resort with a first dusting in mid October. Credit: Bretton Woods

We’ve been watching reports of snow in high altitude places in the West and East which makes the coming of winter seem a bit rushed this year.  There are still leaf-peepers on the roads of Vermont and New Hampshire, and snow on Halloween decorations doesn’t seem to ring true.  For those of us in New England, the snow fall brings a reflexive response conditioned by last year’s Snowmaggedon.  Yes, bring it on, but hopefully let it regress to the mean.

By now, you’ve probably heard that Killington opened on Oct 18 with a small army of zealots skiing on manufactured snow.  (BTW, Killington was the last ski area in New England to close last spring. The last run of that elongated season was in late May.)   Sunday River followed a day later with 750 season ticket holders playing hookey from work and school to record their first of presumably many days of snow sport to follow. Our friend and colleague, The Ski Diva, puts these early days of enthusiasm in perspective.  See her astute advice on surviving what she calls the White Ribbon Of Death here.

And yet, according to NOAA, this year’s El Nino has become a stronger predictor this year.  OpenSnow, our favorite snow forecaster, explains that despite the early showing, this year might be less snowy than we’d like.

Nevertheless, now is the time to:

  • Start/continue your conditioning program,
  • Bring your gear into your local shop for a tune-up,
  • Consider a season pass while early bird specials are still available,
  • Read the ski magazine reviews of new equipment and ponder your next possible purchase,
  • Think about a destination resort where you can find senior-friendly specials,
  • Re-convene your ski club and start getting excited about the season ahead,
  • Check out deals and discounts at the Snow Shows coming to your city or town,
  • Wash/dry clean last year’s contents of your stowed away ski bag.

Meanwhile, let’s remember winter is a special time for senior snow enthusiasts.  In describing winter, Robert Frost says,

It lifts existence on a plane of snow
One level higher than the earth below,
One level nearer heaven overhead
And last year’s berries shining scarlet red.
 (A Winter Eden, Robert Frost)
Let’s get ready.
mikemaginn

Flash: Colder, Snowier Winter 2015 Forecast For New England

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Latest Prediction from WBZ-TV Meteorologist Forecasts Cold and Snow

With the season just getting started, we’ve been diligently watching snow forecasts as we know know you have as well.  As we reported in an earlier post, Joel Gratz, our favorite snow meteorologist who prognosticates at OpenSnow, has been compared a number of weather models and found a consensus for dry in the Northwest, snowy in the Far West, and uncertain from the Rockies to New England.  But, then he says, don’t trust long range forecasts.

2015 Snowfall Predictions for New England Credit: WBZ-TV Graphic

2015 Snowfall Predictions for New England
Credit: WBZ-TV Graphic

With a couple of more months of data and many models to contemplate, Barry Burbank, Boston’s WBZ-TV meteorologist, has just put a new winter prediction in play.  Barry says that he’s “relatively confident of a cold and snow winter overall.”  He is calling for more snow in the New England area, 10-20 inches above average, for a total forecast of 55-65 in Boston.  That places 2014-15 as the third consecutive year above average.  He also is calling for cold, speculating that the Polar Vortex that vexed the Midwest last winter will be moving eastward.  Below average temperatures should reign especially in January when he expects an “outbreak of arctic air.”

So, New England senior snow enthusiasts, this is good news.  It also means you have to dress for the weather, prepare your equipment your car, and your self.  As the old Swedish expression says: “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.”  Get ready.

Here’s Barry.  Click here for WBZ’s Winter 2015 video report.