Grooming newly-made snow at Snowshoe. Photo provided by Snowshoe Mountain Resort.

Good news! Cold temperatures have arrived in the area, and for a change, they will linger more than a day or two. This will give local resorts a much-needed opportunity to make some significant amounts of snow, reclaiming lost ground and building up bases to last into March. A lot of resorts received rain on Thursday, and the loose granular conditions became frozen granular (i.e., icy) as the mercury dropped. Snowmaking and grooming will quickly improve surface conditions over the next several days. Mother Nature may help things along on Saturday; some natural snow is in the forecast, although accumulation is not expected to be heavy.

Snowmaking has already begun at some resorts. Last night, Whitetail made snow on trails including Bold Decision and Angel Drop. Snowmaking is also underway at Wisp, Snowshoe, and others. Every resort in the area should have the snowguns firing tonight.

The forecast for the next week shows ample opportunities for snowmaking. Nighttime temperatures will hover in the low 20’s or teens through at least Tuesday, with high temperatures barely breaking above freezing. Resorts at higher elevations, such as Snowshoe, will have high temperatures in the teens with low temperatures dropping down into the single digits.

With these temperatures, be sure to bring your goggles when you head to the resorts, as around-the-clock snowmaking may be in operation. With solid low temperatures, some natural snowfall, and snowmaking, conditions the next week could be the best of the season.