"It is no secret that when it comes to skiing, the East Coast has traditionally played the role of overlooked little sibling when compared to the towering mountain ranges from the Rockies westward. At the beginning of this season, however, as mountains in the Rockies and Cascades push back opening days while waiting for snow, parts of the Northeast have enjoyed a historic start, with some snowfall totals pushing resorts into mid-season form in early December."
"The factors that may have led to this unprecedented start are as diverse as the regions represented on this list, and vary depending on who you talk to. Some give credit to the weak La Niña pattern established to start this winter-pushing the jet stream further north than usual and encouraging colder, wetter storms. Many lean into the logic of the lake effect: storms picking up moisture as they cross the relatively warm Great Lakes."
"Still others throw blind faith into the " Jay Cloud," perhaps the most famously mythologized example of orographic precipitation, cited as responsible for Jay Peak's consistently powder-filled winters. Regardless of meteorological reason, skiers on the East Coast have had more than a few reasons to smile to start this winter. While the snow is still falling throughout the Northeast, there have been 9 clear winners that have stood out above the rest so far:"
The East Coast experienced an unprecedented early-ski season as parts of the Northeast received heavy snowfall, with some resorts reaching mid-season conditions in early December. Meteorological explanations include a weak La Niña shifting the jet stream north, enhanced lake-effect moisture from relatively warm Great Lakes, and localized orographic effects such as the much-cited 'Jay Cloud' at Jay Peak. Skiers on the East Coast benefited from abundant early snow. Nine standout resorts were identified for early-season performance. Mad River Glen reported 30 inches, featuring a historic single-chair and steep, challenging terrain. Cannon Mountain reported 37 inches and is the highest summit among New Hampshire ski areas.
Read at SnowBrains
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