Please don’t shoot the messenger.

Frigid temperatures the past week allowed area resorts to make snow around the clock starting last Saturday. For many resorts, the party ended on Friday, as temperatures climbed into the 50’s. Temperatures may reach the 60’s this weekend, and as if that wasn’t bad enough, Mother Nature has some rain in the forecast for early next week.

And things were going so well.

Long-term forecasts indicate that colder temperatures might not return until mid-January. If you need a scapegoat, blame El Nino. (El Nino receives blame for just about everything these days, so why not?)

You should find great conditions at all area resorts throughout the weekend, but conditions may deteriorate rapidly during the next week or two unless a cold snap returns. Snowshoe, Wisp, and Seven Springs will be the least affected, since they have been able to build up a large base. (In Snowshoe’s case, a base depth of 50-80 inches will serve as a comfortable buffer against warmer temperatures.)

Keep your fingers crossed for the return of colder temperatures, and in the meantime, enjoy some early spring skiing.