First Accumulating Snowfall in USA
First Accumulating Snowfall in USA
Published : 15-Oct-2024 08:34
Ski areas in upstate New York have reported the first accumulating snow in the US of the autumn/fall.
Whiteface Mountain posted images of snow lying several inches deep at the top of their gondola, along with a dusting at lower levels mixing with fall colours in the trees.
The snowfall comes as ski areas across North America battle to be the first to open for the 24-25 season.
Normally high ski areas in Colorado would be the most likely to be first but this year, so far, it has been unseasonably warm this October in the Rockies and snowmaking has been limited with no natural snowfall since dustings in September. It is looking colder with snowfall forecast later this week but its forecast to be heaviest further north in states like Utah and Montana.
There is also cold weather and snow forecast in the Midwest, where ski areas have managed to be first to open in North America twice in the past 12 years, opening in the first half of October on both occasions thanks to fast snowmaking once temperatures drop enough.
Snow is also forecast in the Pacific Northwest corner of the continent which is also looking promising for the full-season with a La Nina projection to be colder and snowier than average.
As it is the first centre scheduled to open anywhere on the continent is Banff's local Mt Norquay ski area with a tentative date just over a fortnight away on 2nd November.
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