Winter 05/06 for the Northeast...worst winter weather EVER?????

[loafer89]

If you believe in the theory of global warming/climate change, which I personally do, then the changes that you can look for in New England's climate would be:

1) A shorter more intense winter season with more snow especially along costal areas.

2) Later onset of fall and earlier start to spring.

3) Higher overnight minimum temperatures-something critical to snowmaking.

4) Severe and short lived temperature changes during the winter.

I firmly believe that the climate is warming up, but I do not believe that mankind is responsible for it, climate change is a natural cycle and it has been changing since the planet was formed.

Being a lover of cold and snow, it sucks to watch winters get warmer and warmer with more unfrozen precipitation.

The climate likes to balance it's self out, I think, and hope that April will be cooler and wetter than normal.

Sorry to be depressing, but this is how I see things, hopefully the future climate will prove me wrong.

 

[tekweezle]

my theory is that the equator is slowly moving north. soon we will be planting palm trees over here.

maybe resorts south of the equator will get snowier. Chile, Argentina, New Zealand could reap the benefit....in couple of hundred or thousand years.

 

[loafer89]

Some theories call for more severe winters in North Western Europe, especially if you believe the Gulf Stream desalizination thing.

I was just reading an article on NSDIC that NOAA confirms this winter as the 5th warmest for the nation as a whole since 1895. On the good side, the nation used 11% less energy for heating this winter, woo hoo.

Climate change happens fast, the little ice age ended in a 6 year span, maybe we can start going back soon.

Crapuweather has scuttlebut about a possible "big storm" for next week, anyone buying this BS?

 

[nelsapbm]

According to Burlington NWS, we are only an inch shy of "normal" for this season. Snowfall in Burlington since July 1 has has been 67.5 inches. "Normal" is 68.5". Last year at this time we had had 89.6".
Here is a cool map: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/nerfc/graphics/snowmaps/sea1_today.jpg

 

[bvibert]

According to Burlington NWS, we are only an inch shy of "normal" for this season. Snowfall in Burlington since July 1 has has been 67.5 inches. "Normal" is 68.5". Last year at this time we had had 89.6".
Here is a cool map: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/nerfc/graphics/snowmaps/sea1_today.jpg

Average, or even above average amounts of snow don't do you any good when most of it melts or is washed away just days after each storm...

 

[riverc0il]

indeed brian. not to mention, so much of that snow fell before christmas when it doesn't count as much. more important than heavy snow is a frozen ground for it to fall on and few thaws so it sticks around and builds up. if ever there was a season for this to be apparent, this is the one.

 

[nelsapbm]

I'm totally with you guys....just pointing out that we've had "normal" amounts of snow this year even thought it doesnt seem like it. Unfortunately it was/is a warm winter.

 

[billski]

That is the key...

Average, or even above average amounts of snow don't do you any good when most of it melts or is washed away just days after each storm...

You nailed it. I would not want to be their accountant this year. Pump out all that $$ onto the slopes, watch it wash away the next week. Omit bulk of skiers and boarders for a week each time. Repeat three times. Rainout President's day week. They may have reservations, but they didn't buy tix. OUCH! I fear for next year's ticket prices.....

 

[tekweezle]

maybe the downturn in the weather will get the ski resorts thinking of innovative ways to attract more customers without the usual "snooty-ness" i come to associate with them. things like offer a spring pass. or not raise prices on lift tickets without careful consideration.

last season was about average. not great but not bad with decent late season snow. Thinking maybe the trend might be shifting, I was heavily tempted to buy one a cheap season pass from either ASC or the Okemo/Stratton. unfortunately, they decided not to let you use it for the rest of that season so I decided not to buy either. good thing for me since i would have barely broke even. so I used that money to go out west instead.

I think the cheap pass is a good idea. it sort of gives them insurance against down periods like this. they have already spent the money. Now if one of them would sell one that lets you ski the rest of the season and into next, they might just slam dunk the competition.

 

[PowderDeprived]

Don't even think about Global Warming, and Climate change. Just get out and do something about it, and just respect the environment more, and encourage others to do the same. That is really the only thing we can do, and that is the best thing to do, short of getting elected president, or becoming a scientist or engineer and coming up with some kind of way to fix and or reverse the problem. Just think positive, thinking of the worst case scenario for skiing is just depressing.

 

[kingslug]

I hear the Dubai indoor ski hill is nice.

 

[tekweezle]

i think they are building one in NJ too. somewhere around the meadowlands

 

[tekweezle]

Hmmm....it seems our "reverse hex" is having some effect. perhaps winter is NOT over just yet.

Go North! from what I am hearing, the North most VT resorts are getting lots of snow.

 

[Schusseur]

Down right sad about the season. Thinking about springing for an April trip West - Vail has lodging for $105/night.

Just need to end the season on a somewhat happy note.

 

[RIDEr]

We'll from the early season farmer reports, they at least got having a late season right.

 

[skibum]

Winter 05/06 for the Northeast...worst winter weather EVER?????
worst for me in twelve years...but I lived in Colorado the last twelve years. My wife and I joked about how New England was going to have a terrible year and Steamboat would have a record year, and yep, it happened. Sorry guys, all my fault.
Check out Steamboat's stats at: http://bigsno.com/BigSno.aspx?CategoryID=941

 

[loafer89]

The perfect cure for my springtime blues was to head north until I nearly ran out of United States. The area around Jay is snowcovered, the lakes are frozen and the temperatures in the low teens make me forget springtime is near.

 

[billski]

What's up with the far north Maine areas such as Saddleback and Sugarloaf? I fear they are cold enough but never saw much white precip....

 

[eatskisleep]

I hope that Wildcat finishes off the season the way it began... a 3 foot powder dump!

 

[riverc0il]

skibum proves it is all relative :lol:

i am going to go on the record and say this winter was and continues to be the winter of the opportunist. if you can pack up and follow the powder without booking a vacation, with only two days notice at best, and without regard to location, this winter has been decent. from 3' at wildcat in october to epic dumps in november and early december, a few short lived and isolated big dumps during winter proper, and now with yet another upslope event slamming into the northern greens, ample amounts of powder have fallen this year and i have sampled often. it is too early to rate the ski season in my opinion, there are still two months to go at least, but i suspect i will be rating the season around a 7 on the 10 point scale. opportunity has knocked frequently this year, and despite nearly three months off, i have capitolized often enough that i'll have no regrets and some fond memories from this season when all is said and done.

not saying it has been a great season by any means, but the opportunities have been there this year for great days those that took advantage will ski away from this season somewhat content whereas those that didn't make it out during the big events will write this season off pretty easily.