when does snow season start in the mountains? (Berlin, Grafton: ski resorts, Valentine's day)

[mrdude]

my fiancee and i are wanting to go to the white mountains for a weekend of snow skiing, etc. we've searched all over and can't find any information about when snow season starts. i know that there's no definite time, but is october a safe bet or is that too early?

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by mrdude

my fiance and i are wanting to go to the white mountains for a weekend of snow skiing, etc. we've searched all over and can't find any information about when snow season starts. i know that there's no definite time, but is october a safe bet or is that too early?

Yes, their can be some snow in October in some of the higher elevations of the White Mountains, especially near Mount Washington. The snow season would probably start the earliest in Coos County and the higher elevations of Grafton and Carroll Counties. November and December would probably be better for skiing climatologically speaking because the low temperatures start to get a lot cooler in the mountains compared with October.

[DareToDream]

Hi MrDude - Last year, if I remember correctly, the popular ski areas around us weren't able to make snow until .... oh gosh, November or December, maybe? Anyone else remember? It was, according to people who have lived around here for years, a "weird winter" and a lot of the ski areas were hurting until January or February - I wish I could be of more help. I think if it was me, I'd aim for later in the year, but I'm relatively new to the area - maybe you could call or email the ski areas you're interested in and they could give you a better idea?

[roerinaci]

Hey Windchimes, If I remember correctly it started in late January,because
we came up to littleton the second week of Febuary and they just had gotten
a big storm,I remember being a little concerned because I wanted to go their
when their was snow and it happened very late this year:

[DareToDream]

Hi roerinaci! You know, you're right! I remember now, how I kept saying, "Watch, we haven't had any kind of major snow, we're scheduled to close and move on Valentine's Day...THAT'S when we'll get a ton of it"....Guess I kinda sorta jinxed us....I still haven't lived that down

[daniellefort]

The last 2 years in COOS county near Berlin and errol, my brother didn't even register his snowmachines because there was not enough snow to use them. That industry was hurting for the hotels and ski resorts all year long. It seems over the years, the snow is not as much as it used to be. I remember being a kid walking to school in 3 feet of snow every week was the norm and now it seems that's about the most for the whole season up there. I would wait until January which is the coldest month of the year that way the ski resorts will at least have the cold weather to make artificial snow in case the real stuff doesn't come on its own.

[unknown stuntman]

Most resorts will be opening in November, especially Thanksgiving weekend. Don't hold out much hope for natural snowfall, it has been very scarce most winters in New England since the early 90's and was nonexistent until Valentine's Day this past winter in New Hampshire.