Look for depth and grooming

Sounds like what you’d look for in a person, right? In this case it applies to mapping out your skiing options for the next few weeks. The snow coverage is shrinking, but there’s still some great skiing to be had, especially in areas that have good snow depth and take care of it.

In terms of timing, either the midweek or Saturday. If some snow comes in, Saturday could be a nice fresh-powder day. Sunday the snow will turn pretty soft by midday due to rising temps.

The picks for this week that are in range of downstaters include: Prospect Mountain, Garnet Hill, Lapland Lake, and Notchview.

Able to take a long weekend? Think about the White Mountains- Jackson NH, Great Glen, Bear Notch look like they have pretty good skiing, to judge by the waxing recommendations. Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe and Osceola are also good bets.

As usual, hit up the ‘State of the touring centers’ link for details. Snow depth map below. The areas in the darker blue where the depth is greatest are probably your best bets through the rest of March. Osceola says they’ve got enough base to make to April 15!

Weather outlook

Daytime temps in the 40s to 50s Wednesday and Thursday from the far north to the NYC area, then 30s to 40s Friday and Saturday. Sunday gets warm again, up to almost 60 downstate and in the mid-40s at the Canadian border. For the most part, nighttime temps will go below freezing, allowing snow to harden for the following day.

Modest lake effect snow Tuesday. On Thursday morning precipitation moves in from the west with patchy rain, snow, and wintry mix, but mostly rain. On Friday this could become mostly snow in northern NY, VT, NH and ME. The precipitation will dissipate early on Saturday. In terms of snow, don’t expect a lot.

More rain late Sunday and early Monday, and it could fall as snow in the Adirondacks and northern VT/NH.