powderfreak

Yeah 40" is a good ballpark reading for woods skiing. Of course there are a lot of factors, most importantly is snow water equivalent (SWE) or just LE in the snowpack. Next up would be type of terrain, low angle vs. steep and additionally how well it is maintained for glade skiing (if at all). Today was the first day I skied in the woods and the Stake only grew a few inches to 26" or 27" I think, despite the 6-7" storm total through this afternoon (might have grabbed another inch or so this evening). The upper elevation, low angle woods were more than ready despite the stake value. Old-timer and wise skiers and legendary ski patrollers always use 40" as the rough baseline, but the water in the snowpack really matters. That is what supports the skier/rider above the ground and forms the frozen barrier between you and the ground. More so than inches of snow, but we measure inches of snow much more easily and therefor it's a good rough estimate. This current snowpack (or icepack) is rock hard and stout. You will not break through it in any way. The last snow/sleet/freezing rain event added significant QPF that almost entirely froze in the snowpack before this system came along. If you don't see a rock, you will not hit a rock... because it's covered in ice. It can be a slick layer but today's snowfall was just dense enough to bond well. It also fluffed up a bit. Good snow growth in a marginal profile and we came out on the right side of it. Anyway, 40" of upslope or lake effect fluff on 1.5" of water at 25-30:1 ratios is a much different beast than like 4" (maybe more?) of SWE/LE in 27" of "snowpack" (more like block of ice with fresh snow on top). Right now we have the latter. I liked a 4-8" snowfall, given the surface temperatures. 5-10" higher elevations. The forecast was for a decent QPF event despite temperatures. A widespread 0.50"< SWE event for the region.

Weak inverted trough-like feature mixed with blocked, most likely? I don’t know, but there’s some synoptic forcing along with low level orographics keeping snow lingering in the mountains. Moist low levels in place, so sloshing air probably creating flakes fairly easily.

At a 6" system total and still snowing though much lighter than an hour or two ago. It's been over 24 hours now of snow, not the whole time but the vast majority. SWE has to be near 0.60" at a minimum? Pretty similar to what the modeled mean had up here. It's been pretty pasty but the flake size has been good.

1.75" since the 4" this morning at 5am. We are just shy of 6" but it's snowing pretty good right now. Mix of large flakes and small flakes. 1500ft saw 4.5" + 2.0" at 4pm, so it was 6.5" up the road a couple hours ago.

Nice dude! Think you take this one. Good to see a win there.

I’m not even sure where you are to be honest, but years of seeing your posts and photos (thank you) you definitely seem to be in a SNE snow pocket. Also retain snow extremely well it seems.

Closing in on 7" at the mountain. Light snow continues. Fantastic conditions. If Cranmore is anything like today, TBlizz is having fun.

GGEM does its usual and goes nuts for the next two events. GFS is a bit more subdue.

Same over this way, ha.

4-5" range 750-1500ft in Stowe. Not much change with elevation. Probably 10:1 ratios, doubt its any higher than that. There's some water in it.

4” even in Stowe. -SN. Pretty thick stuff.

4” with -SN. Pines are struggling a bit.

HRRR has a happy ending into BOS/Metro-west (is that what you guys call it?).

Heavy snow. 1” past 45 in or so. Enjoy it while it lasts as it should be quick up here.

Heavy snow. 1” past 45 in or so.

Funny how he goes from crying in his beer about mean, passive aggressive posts aimed at those who have no shot and asking for sympathy… to busting balls with barely hidden glee, ha.

30/27 with moderate snow. A quick half inch down. Good snow growth flakes that mean business.

Potential remains up north on the 10-day. Need to see if some of this comes true. The gradient pattern has been progged for a week now.

00z 3km followed that a bit.

What if one 50” storm that melts a week later?

18z GEFS still worth watching for most.

Let’s roll that mentality into the Red Sox season . That’s how I survive summer baseball these years.

Nice widespread snow. Hopefully southern quarter of New England can score soon too.

Really nice hit for RT 2 and north into SVT/SNH/SW ME. SWFE Climo almost as the textbooks draw it up (hopefully that isn't too passive aggressive for some).