FOX44 - Burlington / Plattsburgh News, Weather & Sports10.18.11 So WHEN Are We Due For Some Snow?

10.18.11 So WHEN Are We Due For Some Snow?

Skiers and riders...I know. You're getting antsy. The waxing is complete, you feel a nip in the air, and you probably never even "pack away" your winter gear anyway just incase an early snow graces our rolling mountains. Well, sorry to break it to you, there's just not enough cold air to throw us a bone here to get much snow on the mountains. While the tippy tops of the Adirondack, Green, and White mountains have had the occasional snowflakes so far this fall season,  nothing yet really for measurable snowfall.

So, your question is probably WHEN are we going to get some snow? The forecast doesn't show much snow below 3000' in the upcoming week (sorry, snowbirds). We just don't have much cold air flow into our region to support snow (rather than rain). Forecast models show temps remaining near or just above average through almost the end of the month, with a possible cold push by the last few days before Halloween.

In a typical year, the highest terrain in Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire gets the first snow. Air temperature is generally colder the higher you go in the atmosphere, so mountain tops can support the wintry precip earlier than the warmer valley locations. For instance, check out this photo from the top of Mt. Washington, NH  on Monday... 

As the jet stream moves southward in the late fall and winter, that allows colder air to slowly filter in north and northwest. Cold air needs to be established over an area for any real measurable snowfall to occur. We just haven't had that yet this season in the valleys, with overnight and daytime temps running slightly above average over the past month and a half.

In a typical year, here is when we get our average first dusting (trace) of snowfall for a few select areas around our region.