Hunter March 18 update

Hi all,

Apparently my scepticism and economic common sense got the better of me. Hunter apparently will be open during the week due to commitments to spring season pass holders. ( I still have my doubts) What trails will be open is another matter. If ski patrol cannot safely get a toboggan or skimobile to any area it will be closed. It is 74 now and will stay warm overnight for the entire week. The pond skimming too is way up in the air - I do not expect it to happen. The mtn has brown and bare spots like the plague and the snow is melting and running off in mini rivers. Sorry to be so negative but that's how I see it. If you really like the slush then go for it!

Jon

Hunter March 18 - Last day??

Hi All,

With my leg healed, I just returned from a glorious week of skiing in Utah with many Hunterites - Back to reality as they say. Check out the barcharlie facebook page for pics: http://www.facebook.com/barcharlie

Hunter held its St. Pat's bash on the deck yesterday complete with a band and bikini clad models in the 3 hot tubs set up just off the deck. There was a large noisy crowd drinking and dancing but not many on the slushy brown slopes. The temp was in the low 60's - well into the 70's in the sun. After speaking with several of the powers that be, I am reading between the lines - my opinion - that today will be Hunter's last day. (Windham closes today) The mountain will not be open during the week and with predicted record high temps all week there will not be enough snow to open next weekend. Pond skimming will not happen this year and it could be the earliest closing ever. NWS 7 day forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157

Stay tuned for the official announcement.

Jon http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/

Hunter March 6

Hi All

Two great days in a row on an empty mtn. Last night's temps dropped to 12 but rebounded quickly with brilliant sun & blue sky to 40 now (50 on the deck). Skiing I am told was easy on ego snow but no grooming on Minya, Eside or UpperK. Claire's was closed early due to a glaze but opened once things softened up. The main line and Racer's were excellent. The hoses have been removed from the guns so do not expect any more snow making. No closing date has been mentioned as it all depends on weather and crowds. The ground is still white up here but melting fast. Based on past years, when warm weather came early the weekday skiing was curtailed toward the end of March in order to save it for weekends. Pond skimming has been scheduled for March 31. We will get very warm weather and slushy conditions this week. NWS forecast:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157

The mtn has set up 3 hot tubs and a fire pit (gas) in front of the deck as a promo from a hot tub company so expect to see some select bathers in them on Sat -Sun.

No movies posted yet. The Copper Tree Bar is closed for the season. The restaurant in the Hunter Village Square Bldg (Amy's Take-away) has closed - gone out of business. Cosmic Charlies has become the hot new spot on the block.

Ski on...........

Jon http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/

Hunter March 2

Hi All,

The storm left between 7 - 8" of heavy snow. It was mostly cloudy today with temps at 40 now and a light breeze. The trails that were not groomed were cut up early and were very variable. Visibility was a problem with fog covering the top of the mtn. The groomed trails stayed firm for a while before getting very soft.The best run I was told by several people was Wayout which was groomed but stayed firm because the west side was colder. There was a good crowd for a Friday, F lift was opened mid morning but the line at the Flyer was minimal.

3 Movies: Descendants, Carnage & The Iron Lady.

Be prepared for a messy & variable weather weekend.

Jon

Here is the NWS outlook:

This Afternoon: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. South wind around 10 mph.

Tonight: Rain likely before midnight, then rain and sleet between midnight and 1am, then rain after 1am. Low around 35. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 13 mph increasing to between 18 and 21 mph. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday: Rain likely, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Southwest wind between 7 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of snow showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind between 14 and 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. West wind between 11 and 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Hunter Feb 28

Hi All,

We have a winter storm brewing for Wed & Thur. The big question is how much will we get. Hunter just posted a powder alert with a map on its website ( http://echo3.bluehornet.com/hostedemail/email.htm?CID=11290590774&ch=521D799772B68EFD9E065AF11C43BC93&h=eb0a66da4cb7b4ed6be60b8f66e5cd01&ei=svO8HY8NV ) however both Albany stations predict more wet than white south of Saratoga County per below. The forecasts as usual are conflicting and anything could happen here on the mountain top. Today has been very windy and sunny with temps from 30 to now 38. Hunter has not been making any snow but the grooming has been nothing less than spectacular providing excellent surface conditions - great job Skip!

Any week-day on the mountain is better than sitting at your desk or in your car - wherever you work!

Ski ya,

Jon

WRGB:

Weather Advisories: A WINTER STORM WATCH is in effect from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday..
.
Snow will develop across the region midday Wednesday and get steadier by Wednesday evening and continue into Thursday morning..
The snow will mix with some sleet and freezing rain and perhaps a period of rain south of the Mohawk valley resulting a wide range of accumulations across the region.

WNYT:

High pressure will build in today and keep it dry, although clouds will be mixed with sunshine and it will be blustery and colder than yesterday. Highs will be in the upper 30s.

Clouds will increase tonight out ahead of the next storm and lows will be in the lower 20s.

A strong storm will approach on Wednesday. It will be dry to start the day off but snow will move in by late morning or early afternoon and it will be snowing in most places with a couple of inches on the ground for the evening commute. Highs will be in the lower to mid mid 30s.

We're still sorting out the finer details, but the thinking is that the snow will mix with sleet and eventually change to rain from about Saratoga County south tomorrow evening. Further north it will remain mainly snow, including the Adirondacks and the Greens into the overnight hours. It is in these locations where the heaviest snowfall totals are expected.

More snow or a rain-snow mix is expected on Thursday on the back side of the system. Additional accumulation is likely. Highs will me in the mid 30s.

Sunshine will come back on Friday with highs near 40, and the next storm will bring mostly rain on Saturday with highs near 50.

Hunter Feb 23

Hello Hunter fans,

Today brought early rain which ended by 9 am then sun and clouds but a strong wind with temps holding steady at 37 - 38. There was a light wet dusting of snow on top. The surface conditions were consistent loose soft granular on frozen granular turning very soft by late morning. Skiing was said to be excellent with great visibility. There were no lift lines. The weather definitely looks ugly for Friday with a mixed bag of wet tricks and colder for the weekend.

The movies have still not been posted - maybe later today but here is the link: http://www.catskillmtn.org/retail/movie-theater/index.html

Be prepared for crazy weather,

Jon

Albany WNYT forecast:

A stronger storm system will head our way tonight into tomorrow. it will be dry this evening with precipitation moving in after Midnight. Right now it looks like rain south of Albany while snow is likely from I-90 north. Most of the hills and mountains will pick up 1-3 inches of snow by sunrise tomorrow with the valleys transitioning from snow to rain and getting 1" or less. Overnight lows will be in the lower to mid 30's.

The transition to rain will continue through the morning tomorrow from south to north before the steady precipitation winds down. Highs on Friday will vary by region, with average readings around 40.

Windy and colder weather will arrive for the weekend with snow showers and highs in the low 30s on Saturday; more sunshine but still lower 30s for Sunday.

NWS Forecast:

This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. West wind between 14 and 17 mph.

Tonight: Snow, mainly after 2am. Low around 30. West wind at 7 mph becoming east. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday: Rain, snow, and sleet, becoming all rain after noon. High near 38. East wind 8 to 15 mph becoming southwest. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers before 7pm, then a chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Breezy, with a west wind between 16 and 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 33. Breezy, with a west wind between 17 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy and breezy, with a low around 16.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

Hunter Feb 22

Hi All,

The reports from skiers have been very favorable all week with sweet soft surface conditions and inversion temps (warmer at the top than at the base) on a few days. Spring conditions have prevailed especially in the afternoons. The weather pattern for the next few days into the weekend is very hard to predict as computer models differ quite a bit. It is 48 here now and mostly cloudy with some spotty rain due soon. There is the possibility for some snow making Friday and/or Saturday nights if the temps drop enough. The hoses have not yet been disconnected from the snow guns. The crowds have been relatively light for a holiday week without any significant lift lines - actually hardly any.

NWS forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157

Movies not yet posted but here is the site: http://www.catskillmtn.org/retail/movie-theater/index.html

Big sales have started at the ski shop.

Ski safely and stay thirsty my friends,

Jon