"The outside temperature can't be above 27 degrees, or it isn't cold enough for the water to freeze into snow when it hits the air. If it's colder than 10 degrees, the water will start to freeze before it even does that, jamming the machines in the process. Humidity is another variable. For the past three winters, Marfeo has worked overnights at Yawgoo, from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., whenever it's been possible to make snow. Many nights and even weeks, conditions make that impossible."
"Though this winter is quite cold, the past few years have been warmer and rainier, leading to significantly less snow and drastically shortened ski seasons. New England alone has lost hundreds of ski areas over the past several decades. Yawgoo Valley has long been the lone remaining ski resort in Rhode Island. In 2022 and 2023, Yawgoo was only able to keep one of its six top-to-bottom trails open."
Yawgoo Valley relies on precise temperature and humidity windows for mechanical snowmaking, with optimal temperatures between about 10 and 27 degrees. Head snowmaker Joe Marfeo has worked overnight shifts when conditions allow, but many nights and weeks are unsuitable. Recent years have been warmer and rainier, producing far less snow and shortening seasons; New England has lost hundreds of ski areas. Yawgoo is the only remaining ski resort in Rhode Island. In 2022 and 2023 the resort kept only one of six main trails open, and some trails and tubing remain closed due to inadequate snow cover.
Read at Boston.com
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