Wednesday:

Based on webcams in the UP, it looks like at least a few inches of fresh snow will be waiting for first chair at Snowriver, Big Powderhorn, and Mount Bohemia on Wednesday. With the colder temperatures and lack of ice on Lake Superior lake effect snow showers will likely linger at least during the morning in the UP. Webcams near Marquette Mountain also show snow showers Wednesday morning so some fresh snow will likely be waiting there as well. 

For the Traverse City resorts and Searchmont, it looks like a dusting to a few inches is likely with some upside for more if Lake Michigan enhances some of the snow showers in Lower Michigan. Flurries and light snow were falling on the webcams in the Traverse City region with mainly a dusting to 1" being reported so far Wednesday morning. 

Thursday - Saturday:

We are starting to get some clarity for the system that will bring two rounds of rain and snow to the Midwest, with the first arriving Thursday afternoon. For the southern half of the Midwest, round one will mainly be rain with a mix in the UP and mainly snow for the north shore of Lake Superior resorts. 

Snow quality will mainly be wet/thick though there could be periods of drier/fluffier snow, particularly for locations like Giants Ridge, Lutsen, and Loch Lomond where temperatures will be a little colder. Friday's first chair appears to be the best time to find the softest turns as temperatures likely get above freezing by the afternoon for most resorts resulting in mashed potato-like conditions. 

There's a large difference between the pessimistic and optimistic scenarios because the rain/snow line will get dangerously close to the Duluth and Ironwood resorts along with Marquette Mountain which could reduce the snow totals. It should stay mainly snow for Bohemia in the UP. 

ECMWF forecast precipitation types Thursday PM into Friday Afternoon

Pessimistic vs Optimistic scenario (Reminder: this is a comparison of models that are lower on totals vs models that are more optimistic)

Round two arrives Friday PM and lasts into Saturday, with models starting to come into better agreement on the placement of the heaviest snow. It appears the heaviest axis of snow will be a bit further north, with a line from the Twin Cities east into central Wisconsin and then over towards Searchmont.

A collection of the models continue to suggest 6"+ amounts and even double-digit totals will be possible. 

ECMWF & GFS Ensemble favored location of seeing 3-8"+ Friday PM into Saturday

Sunday:

The recent trends are to keep most of the rain and snow near the Canadian border which could mean a very mild day on Sunday with highs reaching the 40s and 50s for some of the resorts still spinning the lifts.

March 3 - April 9:

• An active first full week of April looks likely
  • Tuesday - Wednesday is worth monitoring
• As more information becomes available I'll do my best to keep updating this section for who will be spinning lifts daily and where to find fresh snow 

-Croix

New Closing Dates Announced/Added:

• Wild Mtn - Bonus day April 1
• Welch Village - Bonus day April 1
• Nordic Mtn - Bonus weekend April 1 and 2
• Granite Peak closing on April 9th
• Treetops might be closing on April 2nd - TBD
• Crystal Mountain closing on April 2nd
• Buck Hill closing on April 1st

***Compiled from various sources and subject to change, I strongly recommend calling ahead***

Closing Saturday, April 1:

Big Powderhorn, Trollhaugen, Wild Mtn (bonus day), Welch Village (bonus day)

Closing Sunday, April 2:

Nub's Nob, Snowriver (Jackson Creek), Giants Ridge, Porkies, Spirit Mtn (tentative), Pine Mtn, Marquette Mtn (tentative), Nordic Mtn (bonus weekend added), Treetops (TBD, but this weekend might be their last), Crystal Mountain

Closing Saturday, April 8:

Mont du Lac (Retro Meltdown to celebrate the end of the season)

Closing Sunday, April 9:

Granite Peak

Closing Sunday, April 16:

Snowriver (Black River Basin), Lutsen

***By Geographic Region***

North Shore Lake Superior/Northeast Minnesota
Open: Giants Ridge, Spirit Mountain, Mont du Lac, Lutsen, Bearskin (TBD, likely open into April), Loch Lomond (TBD, likely weekends only in April), Mount Baldy

Closed: Chester Bowl

UP/South Shore Lake Superior/Lake Effect Snow Belt
Open: Birkie, Powderhorn, Porkies, Snowriver, Bohemia, Marquette Mtn, Ski Brule, Pine Mtn, Searchmont (open likely middle to late April)

Closed: ABR, Whitecap, Ripley

Twin Cities Region
Open: Trollhaugen, Buck Hill, Welch Village 

Closed: Coffee Mill, Afton Alps, Mount Kato, Wild Mtn, Hyland Hills, Powder Ridge

Central Wisconsin
Open: Granite Peak, Nordic Mtn (bonus weekend added)

Closed: Paul Bunyan, Christie

Southern Wisconsin Region
Closed: Mt La Crosse, Cascade, Devil's Head, Wilmot, Mountain Top, Sundown (Iowa), Chestnut (Illinois), Sunburst, Alpine Valley (WI), Tyrol, Little Switz

Northern Lower Michigan/Traverse City Region/Lake Effect Snow Belt
Open: Nub's Nob, Boyne Mtn, Crystal Mtn, Treetops

Closed: Boyne Highlands, Otsego, Shanty Crk, Caberfae

Southwest Lower Michigan/Grand Rapids Region/Kalamazoo Region/Lake Effect Snow Belt
Closed: Cannonsburg, Bittersweet, Timber Ridge, Swiss Valley

Southeast Lower Michigan/Detroit Region
Closed: Mt Brighton, Mt Holly, Alpine Valley (MI), Pine Knob

Road Conditions:

• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin