About a week ago, the Colorado mountains received a nice little snow storm that interrupted my depression brought on by warm weather and sunlight. Who knew such a condition existed? The notion that Winter may be ending and spring riding is upon us is saddening. Where did this season go? It seems like just a few weeks ago people we’re praising El Nino for supplying a near endless stream of fresh pow, but now we’re trading in our ski jackets for oversized t-shirts.
Last week, for the first time in four months, I ordered an iced coffee on the way to work. Iced. A major switch-up from the steaming brew that I usually rely on to warm me after climbing into a frigid car.
When I arrived at work, I stepped out into a giant puddle.
Splash. Pant leg soaked.
Let me say this loud and clear: I AM NOT READY FOR SPRING. It’s still February.
I decided to appeal to a proper meteorological mind to either squelch my fears or give me a hard dose of reality.
Joel Gratz, the founder of OpenSnow.com – my go-to website for anything snow-related – chatted with me via e-mail about the possibility for winter to return to the West before the season ends. So what’s up with this spring-like weather in recent weeks?
“We often see dry and warm spells,” Gratz said. “This one in late February is somewhat odd during an El Nino year, but no two El Nino years are the same. Both past El Ninos and current models show more precipitation in March.”
Yes!!
In fact, Joel believes “it will snow through April and perhaps into May with few if any days of rain.”
Don’t even think about closing early, Vail or Copper or Big Sky or any of you resorts in the West. All in all, lovers of the light and dry should take a deep breath, enjoy this little window in which iced coffees are feasible, and get ready for more deep days.
