2 weeks Ago
There’s no business like snow business in our winter wonderland following the reasonably gentle storm that we enjoyed — at least, many of us did — this past week. In recent years, it’s been rare for a plowable snowfall to hit the Berkshires at the beginning of December. But this one delivered as predicted, much to the appreciation of forecasters whose accuracy track record is always in jeopardy, especially on a snow day when school superintendents have to decide on closing or a two-hour delay.
Saturday: Partly sunny, less windy, near 30. Cloudy after dark with late-night snow showers, low near 20. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, a chance of morning snow showers, high near 40, low in the upper 20s.
Monday: Cloudy, rain in the afternoon, low 40s; showers likely at night, mid-30s. Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, near 45, chance of afternoon showers; steady rain at night, low 35. Wednesday: Rain, mid-40s; cloudy and colder with snow showers at night, mid-20s.
Thursday: Partly sunny, high in the mid-30s. Partly cloudy at night, low 15. Friday: Partly cloudy, low 30s; near 20 at night.
Saturday (Dec. 14) : Mostly sunny, mid-30s. Sources: National Weather Service and AccuWeather.
com Final snowfall totals from Wednesday afternoon through late night Thursday from the National Weather Service's regional network of weather observers ranged from 11 inches in Cheshire and Savoy, 7 to 8 inches in North Adams and Williamstown, 6 to 7 inches in Pittsfield and Lenox, and 4 to 5 inches in Great Barrington and Otis. As reported by Eagle sports editor Mike Walsh, ski area operators are delighted to be able to open early in the season, far from a foregone conclusion, no-thanks to climate change. Ski Butternut, having escaped a major nearby fire on East Mountain in Great Barrington, is open this weekend and for the season next Friday.
Also now open are Jiminy Peak in Hancock, Catamount in South Egremont and Hillsdale, N.Y., and Berkshire East in Charlemont.
Bousquet in Pittsfield starts its season next Friday. Nordic (cross-country) areas at Notchview in Windsor and Prospect Mountain in Woodford, Vt., also are attracting eager early-season skiers.
Looking ahead, late-night snow showers Saturday into Sunday morning may drop another 1 to 3 inches in the Berkshires, according to AccuWeather.com , followed by a break in the cold snap and a thaw next week. "It’s going to be a temperature roller coaster for much of Northeast," AccuWeather.
com meteorologist Joe Lundberg said. “It’s going to get mild, then a cold front rolls through, then it gets mild again by next weekend.” Light rain sho wers are expected on Monday, with highs topping 40.
The National Weather Service predicts it will be even milder on Tuesday, followed by more rain showers lasting into Thursday, when temperatures return to normal for early December. The extended forecast for Dec. 14-20 from the Climate Prediction Center indicates above-average temperatures in western New England and slightly below normal precipitation.
Day by day ...
Saturday: Partly sunny, less windy, near 30. Cloudy after dark with late-night snow showers, low near 20. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, a chance of morning snow showers, high near 40, low in the upper 20s.
Monday: Cloudy, rain in the afternoon, low 40s; showers likely at night, mid-30s. Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, near 45, chance of afternoon showers; steady rain at night, low 35. Wednesday: Rain, mid-40s; cloudy and colder with snow showers at night, mid-20s.
Thursday: Partly sunny, high in the mid-30s. Partly cloudy at night, low 15. Friday: Partly cloudy, low 30s; near 20 at night.
Saturday (Dec. 14) : Mostly sunny, mid-30s. Sources: National Weather Service and AccuWeather.
com.
