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Where to Hit the Slopes in 2008/09

How does the coming winter look for skiers? According to the Farmers’ Almanac’s famous long-range weather forecast, pretty darn good! This year, the Farmers’ Almanac is calling for a long, cold, snowy winter in most areas of the United States, with the northern half of the country – including New England, New York and Pennsylvania, the Great Lakes and Plains States and the Rockies – taking the brunt of Old Man Winter’s fury. While that may be disheartening for those hoping to save money on heating fuel during a difficult year, it’s great news for ski enthusiasts.

Anyone who enjoys the low, rolling mountains of the Northeast knows there is no better skiing east of the Mississippi than in Vermont’s many unspoiled peaks. With heavy snow and colder than average temperatures predicted for much of the season, Vermont, and nearby resorts in New Hampshire and Maine, will be the place to be this winter. New York’s Catskill and Adirondack ranges, as well as the Poconos and Laurel Mountains in Pennsylvania, will also see some fabulous skiing weather this season.

Across New England and the Mid-Atlantic, heavy snow in late December will usher in not only a white Christmas, but also a magnificent start to the skiing season. Numbingly cold temperatures and a series of heavy snowstorms predicted throughout the following months should keep the slopes covered in white until at least mid- to late-April.

In the western half of the country, Colorado will be king. With 54 peaks above 14,000 feet and an annual average of about 300 inches of snow, resorts in this skier’s Mecca are situated to receive an even heavier than normal coating of the white stuff. Look for a thick blanket to fall over the Christmas holiday, followed by another heavy storm in mid-January and a brutal cold snap in late February. Unseasonably cold mountain temperatures mean the Rockies should stay white into early spring.

In the Southwest, peaks in California, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico will see average precipitation and chilly temperatures during the early months of winter, tapering off to more temperate conditions by mid-March.

Canadians can also look forward to a great season of skiing this year, with major resort areas in Quebec and the Canadian Rockies beginning to see heavy snow by mid-December. As in the Northern U.S., snow is expected to fall into early April in these regions, promising a long winter sports season for snow lovers. And while the forecast for the West Coast indicates a drier than normal year in British Columbia, skiers in the Coast Mountains can expect to find some good cover during January and February.