Winter Predictions
- Geoff Hatheway
- Aug 14, 2025
- 4 min read
Greetings from Londonderry,
Well, it's that time of year in the midst of the "Dog Days" when thoughts naturally turn to winter and all the early forecasts start coming out as to what we can expect. It's a fool's errand to take stock in these long-range predictions, so we are definitely here for it!
And, who doesn't like colorful maps!
Shockingly, winter in the Northeast will be "snow-filled". But there is some guidance, also supported by NOAA that 25/26 could be above average with snowfall and frequent storm tracks for New England. NOAA is saying "colder and snowier" in the central and eastern regions with either a weak La Nina or ENSO-neutral pattern ("La Nada") which is better than El Nino winters which are warmer in the East.
Personally, I always look for the Wooly Bear caterpillar as a telltale forecast during early fall. The longer the Wooly Bear's black bands are, the longer, colder and snowier winter will be. So stay tuned on that front. But these August forecasts hold out hope for a banger winter here and we will be kicking it off earlier than ever at Magic! So be ready to join us early and often as we get ready to blow snow as soon as temps drop in early November--just two and half months away!
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Tier 2 (out of 4) summer sale pricing on passes runs through September and our payment plans allow you to spread payments over 4 months to November 15th if you purchase now. And, unlimited passes get fully paid for with just 8 ski days here--then all other days you are skiing free!
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To help with an early, on-time delivery of winter, our mountain ops crew is way ahead with lift maintenance and trail clearing. On the lift front, the Green Chair just successfully passed, with flying colors (mostly Green for go!), its mandated once-every-7-years load test. Green Double was first installed in 2018 as part of our plan to make Magic more accessible to beginner and intermediate skiers/riders while also increasing carrying capacity for minimal to no lift lines--now fully realized with the launch of the Black Line Quad to the summit.
Water barrels being filled and loaded on to the chairs for load testing.
Our snowmaking pipe upgrade project, with installation of additional new tower guns from HKD, begins in early September! It brings more firepower for earlier season openings off of Green Chair.
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News: We are excited to have Mary Ellen ("Mellen") Petraska joining us as the new manager of the Black Line Tavern. Many of you will know her already locally from the New American Grill and this a great opportunity to take the BLT to the next level! She’s looking forward to seeing folks tonight for dinner and then she's helping put together a big private Wedding celebration here both Friday and Saturday (so unfortunately no Singo or live music until next weekend when Glen David Andrews Band returns for a summer Mardi Gras celebration). Please join me in welcoming Mary Ellen to the Magic and Black Line Tavern family, and be sure to say "cheers!" to her when you are next at the Tavern.
We hope you have been enjoying the "Dog Days of Summer" Concert Series on Saturday Nights this August. It's free thanks to support not only from the Tavern but our friends at Hunter Excavating! The remaining schedule is as follows:
- 8/23: Glen David Andrews Band's summer Mardi Gras Party
- 8/30: The Martel Band to kick off Labor Day weekend. Also, live music on Sunday 8/31.
- 9/6: The series finale featuring Mike McCann and the Underdawgs
Thursday Corn Hole League sponsored by Kona Brewing begins 5:30p 8/21 with great prizes every week. Get your partners together and email Oliver omauk@magimtn.com to join in or just show up!
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Other good news: The old Dostal's Motel property has finally been purchased and the long-term plan from the property's ownership is to responsibly develop this gateway to Magic Mountain. For far too long, the property was neglected and had fallen into disrepair. We are excited for the property's future development in sync and supportive of Magic's identity and community vision. So here's to the old Dostal's from way-back and a new vision to come!
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Stay cool with snowy winter thoughts as we get Magic ready for a great winter ahead, plus lots of activities and events in the meantime this late summer into fall!
Keeping the soul (and fun) in skiing,
Geoff
Geoff Hatheway
Magic Mountain Ski Area
Where Skiing Still Has Its Soul
- Thursday Locals Dinner 4p
- BLT Closed Friday and Saturday for Rehearsal Dinner and Wedding
- Sunday closed for wedding clean-up
- Thursday Locals Specials and New Weekly Corn Hole League begins 8/21 5:30p
- Disc Golf open every day
- Dog Days of Summer Concert Series 8/23 with Glen David Andrews
