SnoCountry SnoCast: Great Conditions Lead Up To Thanksgiving Week

Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine is set for opening day Friday with both manmade and natural snow expected Friday through Saturday as another nor'easter blows through. (Sugarloaf)

As many ski areas make the final preps before a huge holiday week, weather conditions are shaping up great for both the East and the West.

Eastern U.S. & Canada

The Northeast continues to get the benefit of an active weather pattern. Storm after storm has provided shots of snow for the past two weeks, with yet another system on the way. On Friday, Nov. 16, a coastal storm will plow northward, providing snow from West Virginia to Maine. It’s a fast mover, but will have enough juice to crank out as much as 2-6” for most terrain, with the jackpot in the mountains of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine with as much as 6-12” for many mountains. Look for excellent conditions for Loon and Sugarloaf Mountains for opening day Friday. Killington, Mount Snow, and Sugarbush will also be top hits for this coming weekend.

Western U.S. & Canada

The interior West/Rockies have had a great stretch leading into this week with heavy snow for parts of Colorado and New Mexico. Loveland Ski Area boasts its snowiest start to a season *ever* with nearly 7 feet of snow (yes, you read that right) before Thanksgiving.

While no huge storms in the western forecast, conditions will be prime, and temperatures cold enough at night in the teens and 20s for many Western ski areas to turn on the snow machines to lay the final layers before the big Thanksgiving week ahead. Look for some natural snow over the peaks of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming Friday into Saturday with 2-6” of snow on the slopes. Discovery Ski Area Montana should have some fresh snow as they re-open for the weekend.