Greetings and welcome!
Not much has changed since yesterday.
On the way to work yesterday morning I saw that Iron Snowshoe had groomed overnight. The trails continue to look good. That rain on top of the 6-8″ of snow a couple of weeks ago has really saved us.
Yesterday stayed cloudy and in the 20s so we had no melting. There was a little freezing drizzle in the morning and again last night. It did not add up to anything.
The arctic air coming for the weekend is expected to shield us from the storm for Saturday and Sunday. Right now it looks like the storm will follow the last storm’s path and hit IL, OH and on to the east coast with more snow. It would be great if it moved 200 miles north and gave us a nice surprise but that is not in the forecast.
About our best shot at significant snow is 10 days out on the GFS model. I am not too excited about it, it seems like there is always a storm 10 days out when we are in an arctic snowless pattern. I am up for a pleasant surprise.
On one of the weather nerd websites that I follow there is a good bit of discussion about or ElNino breaking down or getting milder. Is it happening? Yes to some extent, but some people there thought that it would strengthen again in a month or so.
It has been my observation that a transition out of ElNino conditions can be good for us. It would be great if Feb and March turned out like last April did with a couple of feet of snow. Right now it is just wishful thinking.
Time to make the donuts.
Have a good Tuesday and thank you for visiting!
RJB
Just FYI Team Winnebagoland has an ATV-UTV ride out of Dunbar this weekend would not get anywhere close to area. If anybody knows where they plan on riding, and can post it would help Snowmobilers plan there rides, last year they had something like 40-50 machines the trails are going to be destroyed hopefully the clubs will be able to get them back in shape afterwards.
I have many late season memories. Back in the 90s, I used to think riding until the end of April was the norm! If you believe in climate change just wait a few hours and it WILL change…… Not too happy when the season ends in mid March. You’re so right about the fan cooled sleds – we have a couple of ’03 fan cooled Polaris 550 classics which are all weather and all trail conditions usable Last season was a bummer when we got that big dump of snow in April AFTER most of the trails were closed. Thanks again Ray for the updates!
Re. late season snow…. Late season snow play is the best… The trails and ski slopes are less crowded, the days are longer (plus daylight savings time), and the weather is usually milder (but not always!)….. Some of my best rides were late season and in NEW….in fact, back in ’96(?), you guys had an epic Winter (we here in FIB-land had squat) where i rode the first week in April!!! Started in Spread Eagle and rode solo west into da yoop….did about 250 miles in 1.5 days/1 nite…. Another year, i rode in mid or late March—started in Langlade one late afternoon, went north to Iron River, MI and circled back south… It was one of my most epic rides—rode solo 450 miles (i know, it’s crazy…almost ran out of gas between Lily and Pickerel) over 2 days/nites! You gotta love those fan-cooled sleds…reliable, good mileage and can run in any weather (it was an AC Z-440)!
So, Ray, if you don’t get squat till late March or April, like last year, i don’t wanna hear no complaining!!! ANY snow day is a GREAT day….don’t lament about it….embrace it…no matter when it comes! Plus, it’s good for the WW rivers.
Happy trails and THINK SNOW (any time)!!!
Sqwib