Planning on hitting the slopes this ski season? Now that November is here and the winter chill has kicked in, it won’t be long until winter sports fans across the country are digging out their ski goggles and salopettes.
However, with weather conditions set to be more unpredictable than ever before this season, in order to get the most from your ski break, planning your trip around where you’re likely to get the snowiest conditions is essential. Forecasters are currently on ‘El Nino’ watch to give winter sports fans the best possible predictions in order for them to plan their perfect trip.
Below average temperatures and an active storm track along the coast should bode well for those planning ski breaks in the interior South to the coastal mid-Atlantic and New England this season, however, an uncertain few months lie ahead.
Lower than average temperatures in areas of the interior South, the mid-Atlantic and New England are predicted to create opportunities for snow.
The eastern parts of the county are likely to experience above-average temperatures throughout December, so its likely ski season in these parts will get off to a lukewarm start. Due to milder temperatures at night times and a lack of snowfall, it’s predicted that eastern resorts may struggle to make man-made powder.
The long term forecast, however, looks much more positive for winter sports enthusiasts, with a blast of cold weather and a surge of snowfall predicted for January and February. At present, the long range forecast is showing that north-eastern Pennsylvania and New England as the best spots for the best late-winter snow.
It’s also set to be a mixed bag for the West Coast this season. Southern parts of Oregon are likely to experience increased storminess and snowfall, bringing good ski conditions to both northern and central Sierra Nevada and the southern Cascades, with late January and early February predicted to see the most snowfall. This will give resorts the opportunity to build up significant reserves, with the potential to deliver favorable conditions until early to March.
Those planning on visiting the Four Corners region may want to rethink their plans. Forecasters are predicting less that average snow fall in this area, and warmer than normal conditions could cause snow melt, which would have significant implications on the usually busy resorts OF Colorado.
Further north in Wyoming and Montana, drier than usual conditions may mean the frequency of snowfall is less at both the start and end of the season, but forecasters have predicted an active mid-winter storm that will build up snow pack for the other months.