Hunter skiing 12/29

Hi All,

Brrrrrrrr. Two good things: Hunter got the quad fixed (broken drive shaft) at 11 pm last night and after a test run this am it began loading shortly after 9. Secondly: Lots of new snow was blown last night on the main trails. The weather was and is a major factor today with base temps around +8 and summit at -6 with very strong gusty winds made the real feel at least -12 to -15. The quad ran slow - only slightly faster than "D" so it was a coooold ride up. All other lifts were operating normally. Snow making was suspended for the day today but lots of wind blown powder on all front side trails - best on Minya, Lowercross, & Ike. All open exposed areas and off ramps were however badly wind blown. Snowmaking should resume tonight but the wind blows alot into the woods. The west still had not opened by noon time as the wind from over there sounded like a freight train. The only saving grace today with the weather was the visibility as hazy sun prevailed but not enough to warm things up at all. Temps are expected to be around 0 to +2 tonight here in town with slightly warmer temps and flurries tomorrow. We could have snow new years eve and they are tracking a storm for Friday. There was a large crowd today but not on the slopes - minimum lines. The tubing park is open with about 12 lanes. The movie in town Wed thru Sun: "Princess and the Frog".

A hiker fell off the Kaaterskill Falls and was killed on Sunday (23A closed briefly): http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2009/12/29/news/doc4b399cf5dd5bf542958711.txt

Bundle up!!

http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/

Ski ya,

Jon

Detailed Local Forecast

• Today: Windy. Snow flurries and a few snow showers throughout the day. Wind chills may approach -15F. High around 10F. Winds WNW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of snow 30%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy and windy. Low 7F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
• Tomorrow: Mostly sunny skies. High around 25F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
• Tomorrow night: Cloudy. Low 17F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
• Thursday: Snow. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
• Friday: Snow showers possible. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid teens.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy and windy with snow showers. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the upper single digits.

Weather Advisories: A WIND ADVISORY has been issued for the entire area except for Rutland, Otsego and Delware counties through 7pm this evening. WNW winds will be sustained at 20-30 mph through today with gusts possibly reaching 50 mph. Winds will gradually decrease tonight.
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A WIND CHILL ADVISORY also remains in effect through 10am tomorrow for northern Herkimer, Hamilton, northern Fulton, northern Warren, western Greene, western Ulster, and Berkshire counties, where the combined effects of bitter cold temperatures and strong winds will act in concert to create wind chills down as low as -20. Wind chills across the rest of the region will generally range from -5 to -15 for much of the day.

This Afternoon: BITTERLY COLD.
A mixture of clouds and sunshine.
Generally dry with just a few flurries possible in the western Catskills.
Windy.
Wind: WNW 20-30 mph, gusting above 40 mph at times
Sunset: 4:30 pm
Temps: Near 10, wind chills between -5 and -15

Tonight: Mostly clear.
Diminishing wind.
Very cold.
Wind: Westerly dropping from 20 mph to near 10 mph
Sunrise: 7:25 am
Low: 6 (wind chills -5 to -15)

Tomorrow: Mostly sunny during the morning, but with increasing afternoon clouds.
Less windy.
Less cold.
Wind: Westerly shifting to southerly 5-15 mph
Sunset: 4:30 pm
High: Mid 20s

Tomorrow Night: Clouding up.
Dry.
Not as cold.
Wind: South 5-10 mph
Low: Mid teens

Thursday: Cloudy skies.
Flurries possible.
Wind: South 5- 10 mph
High: Near 30

Friday: NEW YEAR'S DAY.
Cloudy skies.
Some snow likely.
High: 31