Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Snowbird Sunrises, Big the Yeti, and This Week’s Snow Reality
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Snowbird Sunrises, Big the Yeti, and This Week’s Snow Reality
Welcome Back to The Snow Report
Hey friends, I’m back.
I just got home from Snowbird, Utah, where I somehow managed to come away with great skiing, a renewed appreciation for elevation and a sassy new crewneck. It should be a hit with the parents at the PTA meeting.
Snow conditions at Snowbird were solid. I found some powder, spent plenty of time cruising wind-buffed terrain and groomers, and hiked up to High Baldy on opening day, which was equal parts rewarding and humbling.
One of the most memorable moments of the trip was sunrise first tracks. NSAA does early ups for the conference, and riding through the tunnel as the light painted Mineral Basin a beautiful orange hue genuinely felt like stepping into another world.
Why I Was at Snowbird
I was there speaking on a chairlift safety panel, something I’ve been closely connected to through years in the ski industry. And it felt like the perfect opportunity to share more about a project that has become a huge part of my life recently.
Big the Yeti is an animated series for preschoolers and toddlers inspired by my own kids. We’ve grown to more than 54,000 subscribers and over 24 million views, with episodes focused on STEM, animals, puzzles, conservation, and skiing and snowboarding safety.
At the conference, we talked a lot about how to reach kids where they already are consuming content, and doing it in a way that blends imagination with information. Meeting them at eye level. Teaching safety without fear. That is exactly what Big the Yeti is all about.
If you have little ones in your life, I’d love for you to check it out. I’ll leave a link to the channel here.
Now, let’s talk weather.
What’s Going On This Week
As we head into the long weekend, the snow picture across North America is very regional.
The West
Out West, it has been warm and dry for the past week, and that pattern is sticking around through at least midweek next week. A strong ridge of high pressure is keeping storms away from California, Utah, Colorado, and much of the central Rockies.
The best chance for any meaningful snowfall after January 20 favors the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Rockies. Areas farther south are unlikely to see much in the way of new snow during this period.
What this means for skiers: Expect firm mornings, sunny afternoons, and good groomer skiing. Higher elevations may still hold pockets of soft snow, but this is not a powder cycle. If you’re chasing storms, patience will be required.
I think we’re all collectively giving the weather in the west “the bird.”
Midwest
The snow spotlight this week belongs to the Upper Midwest, especially Michigan, where lake effect snow is firing up. Snow starts today and continues well into next week, with some areas looking at a foot or more.
What this means for skiers: Localized but meaningful snowfall. Resorts near the lakes can see frequent refreshes, though conditions may vary dramatically over short distances depending on band placement.
The East
In the East, winter is back in charge.
New England has already picked up snow this week, with places like Sugarbush seeing around half a foot, and additional systems lined up over the next five to ten days.
Farther south in the Northern Mid-Atlantic, several storm systems will move through, favoring northern and western areas with roughly 3 to 10 inches of snow through Sunday.
What this means for skiers: Cold temperatures plus consistent storm chances create reliable winter conditions. Expect a mix of moderate events rather than one blockbuster storm, which is often exactly what keeps surfaces skiing well.
Big Picture Takeaways
West: Quiet, dry, and warmer than normal for now. Better snow chances return late next week, mainly north.
Midwest: Lake effect snow is the headline, especially in Michigan.
East: Cold air is locked in with steady snow chances across New England and the Northern Mid-Atlantic.
If you want to dig into your specific home mountain, you can always find a detailed forecast at OpenSnow.com.
Thanks for being here, and thanks for letting me blend snow science, ski culture, and a little imagination along the way.-Halley
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesnowreport.substack.com
View all episodes
By The Snow ReportWelcome Back to The Snow Report
Hey friends, I’m back.
I just got home from Snowbird, Utah, where I somehow managed to come away with great skiing, a renewed appreciation for elevation and a sassy new crewneck. It should be a hit with the parents at the PTA meeting.
Snow conditions at Snowbird were solid. I found some powder, spent plenty of time cruising wind-buffed terrain and groomers, and hiked up to High Baldy on opening day, which was equal parts rewarding and humbling.
One of the most memorable moments of the trip was sunrise first tracks. NSAA does early ups for the conference, and riding through the tunnel as the light painted Mineral Basin a beautiful orange hue genuinely felt like stepping into another world.
Why I Was at Snowbird
I was there speaking on a chairlift safety panel, something I’ve been closely connected to through years in the ski industry. And it felt like the perfect opportunity to share more about a project that has become a huge part of my life recently.
Big the Yeti is an animated series for preschoolers and toddlers inspired by my own kids. We’ve grown to more than 54,000 subscribers and over 24 million views, with episodes focused on STEM, animals, puzzles, conservation, and skiing and snowboarding safety.
At the conference, we talked a lot about how to reach kids where they already are consuming content, and doing it in a way that blends imagination with information. Meeting them at eye level. Teaching safety without fear. That is exactly what Big the Yeti is all about.
If you have little ones in your life, I’d love for you to check it out. I’ll leave a link to the channel here.
Now, let’s talk weather.
What’s Going On This Week
As we head into the long weekend, the snow picture across North America is very regional.
The West
Out West, it has been warm and dry for the past week, and that pattern is sticking around through at least midweek next week. A strong ridge of high pressure is keeping storms away from California, Utah, Colorado, and much of the central Rockies.
The best chance for any meaningful snowfall after January 20 favors the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Rockies. Areas farther south are unlikely to see much in the way of new snow during this period.
What this means for skiers: Expect firm mornings, sunny afternoons, and good groomer skiing. Higher elevations may still hold pockets of soft snow, but this is not a powder cycle. If you’re chasing storms, patience will be required.
I think we’re all collectively giving the weather in the west “the bird.”
Midwest
The snow spotlight this week belongs to the Upper Midwest, especially Michigan, where lake effect snow is firing up. Snow starts today and continues well into next week, with some areas looking at a foot or more.
What this means for skiers: Localized but meaningful snowfall. Resorts near the lakes can see frequent refreshes, though conditions may vary dramatically over short distances depending on band placement.
The East
In the East, winter is back in charge.
New England has already picked up snow this week, with places like Sugarbush seeing around half a foot, and additional systems lined up over the next five to ten days.
Farther south in the Northern Mid-Atlantic, several storm systems will move through, favoring northern and western areas with roughly 3 to 10 inches of snow through Sunday.
What this means for skiers: Cold temperatures plus consistent storm chances create reliable winter conditions. Expect a mix of moderate events rather than one blockbuster storm, which is often exactly what keeps surfaces skiing well.
Big Picture Takeaways
West: Quiet, dry, and warmer than normal for now. Better snow chances return late next week, mainly north.
Midwest: Lake effect snow is the headline, especially in Michigan.
East: Cold air is locked in with steady snow chances across New England and the Northern Mid-Atlantic.
If you want to dig into your specific home mountain, you can always find a detailed forecast at OpenSnow.com.
Thanks for being here, and thanks for letting me blend snow science, ski culture, and a little imagination along the way.-Halley
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesnowreport.substack.com