Greetings snow enthusiasts! If you’ve been eagerly anticipating the start of winter wonderland, it appears we may have to exercise some patience. From the West Coast to the East, the snow seems to be making a fashionably late arrival, leaving skiers and snowboarders longing for that delightful fluffy white powder!

Ski resorts across the U.S. and Canada are feeling the heat, quite literally, as they desperately await the natural snow needed for a full-on ski season. Unfortunately, the mild and dry weather has hindered the resorts from creating that wintry base for eager skiers, resulting in many slopes looking rather desolate.

The melancholy does not end there – this season’s struggles with snow could be a sign of things to come. With the season warming at a faster pace, partially due to human-induced climate change, times are changing. The powerful El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean is disrupting weather patterns worldwide, potentially bringing wet conditions to the West. However, the ideal conditions for a snow boost have yet to materialize.

In the United States, the Sierra Nevada has seen minimal snowfall, with patches of the white stuff visible on satellite imagery, but bare ground dominating the landscape. Even British Columbia’s ski resorts are suffering from below-average snowfall. Whistler Blackcomb is currently at just 57% of its ten-year average summit snow depth, according to CBC news. Ouch.

The situation is not confined to the West, though. Ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast have been sustained by man-made snow, and it seems they will have to depend on it for a while longer.

But wait, amidst all this winter gloom, there may just be a glimmer of hope. This weekend could bring the first major winter storm of the season from Pennsylvania to southern New England, and there is a chance that much-needed snow may finally make an appearance. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Now, about that warm December we just had… The U.S. experienced its hottest December on record, with temperatures in some areas soaring to a staggering 12°F above average for the month. Coupled with the lowest New Year’s Day ice cover in the Great Lakes in at least 50 years, it’s evident that something unusual is happening.

When it comes to the impact on skiing, it’s not just the lack of snow to blame. Human-caused climate change is causing winters to warm at the fastest rate in much of the U.S., and this spells trouble for the ski season across the board. It’s not just about skiers, either; other winter activities are also at risk.

Looking ahead, the future seems to be brighter, but not in a positive way. A report warns that as temperatures rise, snowfall will decline, leading to shorter winters. Ski enthusiasts, brace yourselves.

But let’s not lose hope just yet. After all, it only takes a polar vortex wobble or a series of snowstorms to change the game. The polar vortex is projected to stretch and potentially weaken later this month, which could be the game-changer we’ve all been hoping for.

So, here’s to hoping the snow makes a fashionably late entrance and that we all still get that winter wonderland experience that we’ve been dreaming of. Stay tuned, and let’s keep our fingers crossed for those snowstorms to roll in!