April 11th, 2025
The Snow Preservation Act of Spring 2025.
I think that best sums up the weather pattern we are in right now.
Ever since that early March meltdown we’ve had a net gain of snow every week.
And this week was almost off the charts, not for the amount of snow, but for how cold and dry it was.
I hope some of you got a chance to test the product.
It was the driest powder snow we can get this time of year. It even rivaled some mid-winter conditions.
But we can’t stop the sun from rising.
And every day the sun is coming up and getting higher in the sky.
Climatologically speaking, we should start warming up at some point here.
I guess that is happening now.
After such a dry fluffy snow on Monday night into Wednesday, then gorgeous blue sky for a time Thursday ... when the temperature actually did get back about 32° for a few minutes ... It started snowing again!
That was a nice little shot over the bow with that inch of snow first thing Friday morning.
I was unsure if we could pick up measurable snow early Friday, so hopefully that’s a better sign for this weekend.
Even though it’s Friday, the weekend forecast is still a moving target. Much like talked about earlier in the week, there’s a big upper level low with a series of pulsing surface low pressure systems coming up from south to north along the east coast of the United States.
Initially tapping into that very cold air, it was pretty easy to get it to snow Thursday night.
But now it’s more challenging.
Another challenge is the visibility.
Both the temperature and the dew point up around 32°. So we have fog mixed with our precipitation.
Or maybe better stated, we have some precipitation mixed with our fog.
The cloud level did lift pretty high during the afternoon Friday. With not too much wind, quite a nice day.
Next up, another low pressure system tracking near Nantucket overnight will bring another shield of precipitation our way for most of the day Saturday.
The forecast dilemma, is it cold enough for all snow?
It probably is cold enough for all snow, above 2000 feet.
It may be a case where it’s snowing at the top, and raining at the bottom.
It’s not even a lock that we’re going to have precipitation. Some of the guidance actually keeps us just to the north and west of the action. But that’s kind of what I thought on Thursday night. And look what happened. So I’m going to lean towards a damp Saturday, especially in the afternoon.
A little like last Saturday, where we have a possible dry start before the wintry mix arrives between 10 and 11 AM. The temperature is likely in the mid 30s. So it’s probably going to be a wet one.
Wind is not a factor though.
Visibility is a factor. It’s likely dense fog.
But there is a chance ~ that for a few hours ~ we’re getting 1/2 to 1 inch per hour snowfall up top for a while.
My gut feeling is about 4 inches of very dense snow on the top third of the mountain.
Good base material! Ha ha ha.
But certainly snow preservation! The mountain is all white again!
Tommy Bahama shirts and sunglasses remain in their closets and cases.
It looks like nothing happening though overnight Saturday into early Sunday.
Probably stays rather foggy. Maybe a touch of drizzle.
So we will probably have soft snow for our Sunday. With just a chance of some light wintry mix.
A drier day is likely. Wind is still not a factor. But we probably do stay foggy with at least some mist in the air much of the day.
We likely get a day off from precipitation on Monday. And in a warmer air mass, also quite windy from the south.
Maybe some brakes of sun temperature in the 40s.
But there’s another cold front aimed at us Tuesday.
With some showers of rain Monday late, changing to snow from the top down on Tuesday.
Low pressure is going to be tracking to our north as cold air blows in Wednesday with upslope snow ~ increasing in intensity ~ and decreasing in density.
Though nowhere near as cold or unstable as it was this week, it is still cold enough, and unstable enough that we are going to have accumulating snow here Tuesday night into Thursday morning.
The very top of the mountain will probably have another powder day or two, let's call for another 8 inches over the period.
As for texture, it will be a challenge at lower elevations, but there’s a chance that it could still be slippery even down to the base.
Temperatures are likely in the 20s up top and 30s down low mid week.
Wind will be ramping up, so there is a chance of some lift hold issues.
Late next week warms up, then cools off again next weekend.
"lather, rinse, repeat"
The pattern says, mid-week is best.
But the snow will be preserved for next weekend, maybe even added too.
There is little sign of any extended warmth or sunshine,
Does that mean I get to keep posting here on this website?
Maybe!
OK, let's talk again Tuesday.
We'll set the stage for Easter Weekend.
Happy 'Spring-Skiing and Riding'!
TK
