Well, I know I am excited. The forecasts for the first winter storm of the season have held together and NOAA has issued the first Winter Storm Watch of the season for the west slope of the Sierra Nevada. As long as everything holds together, we should see significant snowfall, and not just the colder temperatures we highlighted in our last post.
The mid-day run of the GFS shows the potential for about a foot of snow at the crest by Sunday. Some models runs have called for a bit more, some a bit less. With the storm till taking somewhat of a direct north to south path, it’s tough to predict exactly how much moisture will come with the low.
The forecast still calls for the temperatures to remain low through at least next week, if not longer. That should allow some serious snowmaking to take place. Daytime highs will only reach the mid-30’s, so it’s possible that some all day snowmaking will happen. There have been some days over the last week that it seemed impossible that any local resorts might open by Thanksgiving. We just might get there yet.
I know I will be happy to not stare at completely brown mountains on the webcams anymore. Here’s the afternoon view from the Summit RoundCam. By this time tomorrow it should be looking much more winter-like.
The Other Storm That Is Brewing
Contrary to what some people say, we are not turning the corner yet on COVID. There is no way it’s going to disappear in the next few weeks. Looking at the facts, the opposite is true. Several California counties have seen an escalation of cases and are faced with going back to more severe restrictions.
California, nor Placer County, has not publicly released any guidance on ski area operations. It could be a very bad thing if COVID cases continue trending upwards. Look back through your social media feeds and you might recognize that some people may have played it a bit fast and loose during the Halloween party scene. We are starting to see the result of that now with new cases at record levels nationwide over the last few days.
If we want to see a lift served ski season, we need to be making smart decisions now and every day. If you haven’t learned how to use FaceTime or Zoom by now, it’s time to learn so you can avoid that big Thanksgiving family get together. It’s also time to choose to wear a mask in public, even if it’s a bit uncomfortable. When you’re out in public, give people space. If you’re sick, stay home and don’t share your sickness with others. We can’t get complacent or just “get tired of dealing with it” when it comes to COVID…not if we want to go skiing and riding.
Dang it, Mark, unfortunately I agree. I hate wearing a mask as much as the next person. But I do it b/c I want business to stay open and I don’t want to freak out others.
I have to say that the reservation system will suck, especially when we wake up with 12+ over nite and find out the inn is full
As of now, Squaw Alpine will not have a reservation system. That said, if we move into a more risky category, it could become a reality. That is a requirement for “amusement parks” operating in California in the orange tier.