Hunter snow update 12/ 7

In memoriam: Pearl Harbor Day 68th year anniversary today.

The 5 to 6" we got over the weekend is still here due to a nice stretch of cold weather - everything is still white. The snow guns have been on 24/7 and really putting down some good coverage. Hi temp today 36 with no wind and mixed sun/clouds. HGate/B'way/Kennedy are done and they are now blowing Belt, Minya, Ike and some H1 areas. Possibly the west side tonight and tomorrow as they shift snow making around in order to have most of the mtn open for the weekend. Opening day is still planned for this Thursday Dec 10 but some forecast rain on Wed may mess up some conditions. The consumer demo event for this weekend is confirmed.

Next update : Wednesday (will try to hitch a cat ride up for a first hand pre-opening ski report).

Ski ya real soon,

Jon

From CBS6 News, Albany:

This Afternoon: Cloudy and cold.
Snow showers developing.
A coating to less than an inch possible.
Wind: Southerly 5-10 mph
Sunset: 4:21 pm
High: 36

Tonight: Evening flurries.
Variably cloudy.
Cold.
Wind: West 5-10 mph
Sunrise: 7:13
Low: 25

Tomorrow: A mixture of clouds and sunshine.
Clouds increasing by late in the day.
Dry.
Chilly.
Wind: Southerly 5-10 mph
Sunset: 4:21
High: 38

Tomorrow Night: Cloudy.
Snow developing late.
Wind: SE 5-10 mph
Temps: Upper 20's

Wednesday: Cloudy, chilly, damp.
Snow, possibly mixed with sleet or freezing rain, during the morning gradually changing to rain.
Wind: SE 5-15 mph
High: Upper 30s to lower 40s

Thursday: Mostly cloudy.
Windy and cold.
Wind: NW 10-20+ mph
Temps: Low 30's

Detailed Local Forecast

• Today: Cloudy this morning. A few snow showers developing during the afternoon. High 34F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
• Tonight: Scattered snow flurries and snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 22F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
• Tomorrow: Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High 34F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
• Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy skies early will give way to occasional snow showers later during the night. Some sleet may mix in. Low 23F. ESE winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%.
• Wednesday: Cloudy with a wintry mix. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
• Thursday: Chance of a few snow showers. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid teens.
• Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the mid teens.

Hunter update Fri 12/4

Sorry to advise they are now looking at a possible opening next Thursday Dec 10 due to the continued warm weather. It is 47 and sunny here now. We ended up with about 3" of rain Wed night and the ground is saturated, creeks high, grass still green etc. Weather forecasts below.

Cru Chase has been hired as the Special Events Mgr and will be running NASTAR Fri - Mon and the Localmotion races this year among other events. The demo weekend, ITC (instructor training courses) and other early events etc. are being re-scheduled.

http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/

Do a snow dance!

Ski ya,

Jon

First Warning Forecast (WNYT - Albany)

There will be a mix of sun and clouds today with more clouds towards evening. Highs today will be in the upper 40's to around 50. Skies will be mostly cloudy tonight and lows will drop down to around 30.

The weekend starts out dry. Clouds will increase and thicken tomorrow morning and light snow will break out in the afternoon. The best chance of snow will be from Albany to the south and east. In the immediate Capital District and for valleys to the south, snow will mix with rain and times and accumulations will be minimal and mainly on grassy surfaces. Across the Catskills, Taconics, Berkshires and Southern Green Mountains snow will fly into the evening and add up to about 2-4 inches. Highs tomorrow will be in the 30's.

Precipitation will end tomorrow night and there will be a good amount of sun for everyone on Sunday. Highs Sunday will be in the upper 30s.

Next week stars off seasonably cool with a few flurries or snow showers on Monday. A bigger storm is possible on Wednesday with more rain and snow possible. Highs will be in the upper 30s to around 40.

Detailed Local Forecast

• Today: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 41F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
• Tonight: Considerable cloudiness. Low 26F. Winds light and variable.
• Tomorrow: Cloudy with snow showers developing during the afternoon. High 33F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snowfall around one inch.
• Tomorrow night: Mostly cloudy with snow showers around in the evening. Low 23F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
• Sunday: Plenty of sun. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.
• Monday: Clouds giving way to sun. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
• Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

Hunter update 12/3/09

Look at the photo and weep - Sorry to say not looking good for opening this weekend after the heavy rains 1.5" and warm temps 55 overnight and this am. The snow making on both Tues & Wed morning was minimal with only a coating down HBK as guns were turned off by 10 am due warm temps and an inversion. If they do open, it won't be worth the risk. See attached photos: Hunter's melting snow & the wild Schoharie Creek taken from Bridge St. looking east. After last year, possibly the best early opening in its history, this season could be among the worst - I heard that it was the first T'giving without skiing since '64 when Hunter was in its infancy - certainly the first since I became a season skier in '76.

Weather forecasts below.

Skis all tuned and nowhere to go.......... http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/

Jon

First Warning Forecast (WNYT Albany)

The wind will begin to pick up today as the steadiest rain moves out of the region. Low pressure heading down the St. Lawrence Valley will intensify and puller cooler air into the area. There will be breaks in the clouds today behind the storm as temperatures slide back down through the 50's and into the 40's by this evening.

Tomorrow will be quieter, with a mix of sun and clouds and highs in the mid 40's.

Right now the weekend looks calm but we are watching a storm that will develop off the East Coast on Saturday. It looks like this storm will be too far away to bring precipitation to the area but it will be watched closely. For now we can expect more sun to the north on Saturday and a good amount of sun for everyone on Sunday. Highs both days will be in the upper 30's.

Next week stars off seasonably cool with a few flurries or snow showers on Monday and Tuesday, And potential a bigger storm on Wednesday. Highs will be in the upper 30's to around 40.

Detailed Local Forecast

• Today: Windy. A few showers this morning with partly cloudy skies during the afternoon hours. High 53F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
• Tonight: Rain and snow tapering off this evening. Clearing overnight. Low near 30F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precip 30%.
• Tomorrow: Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High near 40F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
• Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 26F. Winds light and variable.
• Saturday: Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
• Sunday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.
• Monday: Clouds giving way to sun. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Hunter update

Hi All,

Snow guns were turned on early this am as temps dipped into the mid 20's. We are now experiencing a natural snowfall / dusting as temps sit near 34 but no real accumulation expected tho it is sticking to the ground. Weather prediction is for rain on Wed night into Thursday before turning colder again. See below forecasts.

Don't forget that all reports are posted to my blogsite ( http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/ ) and comments are welcome there as well.

Ski ya soon,

Jon

First Warning Forecast (wnyt Albany)

Temperatures will turn fairly chilly tonight behind a cold front sliding South of Long Island and New England. Skies may slowly clear from North to South overnight. Low temperatures will slide into the teens in the Adirondacks and Green Mts, and the 20s elsewhere.

We'll have a mix of sun and clouds tomorrow with highs in the lower 40's. Wednesday starts off nice before the clouds increase during the late afternoon. Rain will arrive with the next system Wednesday night and Thursday with colder air to follow heading into the upcoming weekend.

Detailed Local Forecast (weather.com for 12442)

• Today: Snow showers this morning becoming more scattered later. High 37F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy skies. Low 26F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
• Tomorrow: Sunshine early then becoming cloudy later in the day. High near 45F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
• Tomorrow night: Windy with evening showers evolving to a steady, soaking rain later at night. Low 38F. Winds SE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
• Thursday: Windy with showers ending. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the upper 20s.
• Friday: A few snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 20s.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Salomon binding safety recall

Hi All - sorry forgot to include the below link to this safety recall for those of you with Salomon skis (thanks to Mike Scharf for this).

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10045.html

Jon

Hunter ski report - tentative opening Dec 5-6

Hi All (75 of you now on the list) and welcome to season 3 of my ski reports.

As you know the weather has not cooperated for snow making. It is 56 here now and partially sunny but with rain and warmer than normal temps predicted for the next 5 days at least. Other than a few new snow making guns, pumping stations and some paint on the lifts there has been no major work on the slopes over the summer.

The Zip line project is a signed deal but unfortunately construction has been delayed until spring.

The following is official from the Hunter website today:

Mother Nature has not been at her best lately, but after lots of time and speculation we've got a tentative opening date: December 5 - 6, 2009! The guns & crew are reading for snowmaking, which could begin as early as this weekend.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and pray for snow / colder temps.

Ski ya soon I hope,

Jon

First Warning Forecast (From NBC WNYT Albany Ch 13)

High pressure over the Canadian Maritimes will bring more clouds, areas of fog and drizzle and a few rain showers to the Capital District for the next few days. There could be a few breaks of sun from time to time and highs will reach into the lower to mid 50's through tomorrow.

The next storm will move into the Great Lakes on Thursday. We will stay mainly dry with just a couple of showers possible in the evening. Highs will be in the lower 50's.

On Friday, that storm will transfer its energy to the East Coast. A secondary storm will form near the Delmarva Peninsula. The exact track and strength of this storm will determine our weather. Right now it looks like a cold rain for Friday with highs in the lower 40's.

It will turn windy and cold for Saturday. Look for rain and snow showers behind the storm with highs near 40 and in the mid 40's with a mix of sun and clouds on Sunday.

Detailed Local Forecast (weather.com for 12442 Hunter)

• Today: Considerable cloudiness. High 47F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly cloudy skies. Low 33F. Winds light and variable.
• Tomorrow: Cloudy. High 49F. Winds light and variable.
• Tomorrow night: A few showers early with overcast skies late. Low 38F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
• Thursday: Cloudy. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 30s.
• Friday: Snow. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper 20s.
• Saturday: Snow showers possible. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

Zip Line Update

Hi All,

I attended The Town of Hunter planning board meeting last night at which the project was presented, discussed and approved. There will be a public hearing on the issue in 2 weeks as required by state law but that is just a matter of formality. Construction can commence after the meeting and the first phase (of three) which would be the challenge (obstacle) course near the base lodge could be completed by end December weather permitting. The other two phases would be built in the spring. The zip line course from the top of the mtn will be the longest in the world consisting of six zip lines zig-zagging 3 miles and terminating near the top of "C" lift. They are studying installing parallel zip lines so two can zip along side by side but independently. The courses will be open 365 days a year employing about 25 people during lift hour operations subject to weather conditions. They will provide a small fleet of back-up six wheel drive army type all terrain vehicles which can transport 12 people at a time up or down the mtn in the event of lift failure (which we all know is a given). No zip lines or canopy lines will criss-cross the slopes or require any tree line cuts. The zip line weight limits per person: 60 lbs min / 260 lbs max (sorry Victor) - no age limit. This is the single largest project on the mtn top since the mtn was developed for skiing. If successful, more such projects can be developed on the west side. Paul Slutzky spearheaded this so when you see him, please show your appreciation.

Zipping along soon,

Jon