An overproducing lake effect event in the northern Mid-Atlantic gave some much-needed snow. Holiday Valley was the big winner at 9 inches with other surrounding areas seeing 1-6 inches. Here is a look at Holiday Valley Thursday afternoon as the snow-making team adds extra snow to the slopes.

Other resorts throughout the region were blowing snow as well to take advantage of this brief blast of cold air. Expect fewer thin spots and maybe another trail open on Friday and this weekend. 

Friday will be partly sunny with temperatures staying in the 30s to the north but 40s further south. Overall, it will be a great day to get on the slopes for some early season turns. Clouds will increase throughout the day ahead of the next storm system bringing light rain on Saturday. 

This storm system will track well to the north of the region and bring scattered rain showers mainly Saturday morning. Rain will be light along with winds of 5-15 mph as a cold front moves into the region Saturday night. This will bring a few lake effect snow showers to the northern Mid-Atlantic Saturday night and early Sunday. 

Here is a look at the NAM 3 km model’s depiction of precipitation type and intensity from 5 am Saturday, December 3rd to 7 am Sunday, December 4th.

A few snow showers could sneak into the western Mid-Atlantic as well but any accumulations of a trace - 2 inches will be to the north. Here is a look at the NAM 3 km model’s snow accumulations through Sunday. 

Next week will start dry and be seasonable on Monday, December 5th. The storm track remains active and to our north with scattered rain moving back into the region on Tuesday, December 6th. The storm track continues to bring rain to the region but the extended forecast is showing signs of winter weather by mid-December. 

A two-part storm system may bring another round of rain to the region on Wednesday, December 7th but it is too early to have much confidence in this. The models have shown the track and strength of this storm inconsistently over the last few days. 

The rounds of storm systems impacting the western US make it difficult to consistently predict the exact track and strength of storms as they move toward our region. Here are a few key points to keep in mind for the extended forecast:

• The active storm track will continue with plenty of precipitation chances
• It is too early to say whether these storm systems will be rain, mixed, or snow
• It is more likely through Sunday, December 11th storms will be rain and mixed
• The storm track will shift south eventually, and it may be during the December 12th week 

Let’s take a look at the GFS model’s 6hourly precipitation forecast from Tuesday, December 6th to Saturday, December 10th. 

I won’t show the precipitation type because it is too early and uncertain how these storms will track and how cold or warm it will be in our region.

Let’s look at the active storm track via another visual via the probability of precipitation at Snowshoe in West Virginia. The graphic below shows the GFS model’s expected precipitation every 3 hours from December 1st - December 11th.

A whole lot of precipitation is expected over the region next week but it is too early to say when, where, what precipitation type, and how much. 

Stay tuned for more updates, thanks for reading, and I’ll have the next forecast Saturday morning. 

Zach Butler, Meteorologist for the Mid-Atlantic Daily Snow. 

Ski Resorts that are OPEN:

MD: Wisp 
NY:  Belleayre, Holiday Valley, Hunter Mountain, and Windham 
PA: Jack Frost/Big Boulder and Seven Springs
WV: Timberline and Snowshoe 

Re-opening Dates:

Saturday, December 3rd - Blue Mountain, Bristol Mountain, Greek Peak (NY)
Look for Updates - Blue Knob (PA)

Projected Opening Dates:

Saturday, December 3rd - Sawmill (PA)
Friday, December 9th - Peek'n Peak (PA)
Saturday, December 10th - Plattekill (NY), Big Bear (PA), Wintergreen (VA)
Wednesday, December 14th - Shawnee (PA)
Friday, December 16th - Liberty Mountain, Roundtop, Whitetail (PA)
Saturday, December 17th - Hidden Valley (PA), HoliMont (NY)
Thursday, December 22nd - Homestead (VA)
Friday, December 23rd - Laurel Mountain (PA)

Not Announced:

NY: Holiday Mountain Fun Park, Kissing Bridge, Mount Peter, Swain Resort
NJ: Campgaw and Mountain Creek
PA: Bear Creek, Boyce Park, Camelback, Elk Mountain, Montage Mountain, Mount Pleasant, Spring Mountain, Tussey Mountain
VA: Massanutten
WV: Canaan Valley, Whitegrass, and Winterplace