Weather Is As Weather Does
If you read my last blog about La Nina, you will have found lots of scientific data about different types of weather patterns such as El Nino, La Nina, ENSO, and a few other natural weather phenomenon . In 2009 the great Southwest experienced an El Nino which caused the Snow Gods to dump loads of the white stuff all winter long. It was not a record year for annual snow fall here in Taos but it was certainly memorable and powder days were in the double digits.
In 2010, as normally happens, El Nino is typically followed by a La Nina. True to form, it was a year filled with wind and little precipitation. Taos Ski Valley was blessed to have enough snow fall to support the busy seasons during Christmas, President's weekend and then a major snow fall came right before the masses showed up for spring break.
For 2011 the forecasters predicted another La Nina. What does that mean for the winter of 2011/2012? Good question but usually it means the northwest should have an abundance of snow, the central Rockies should have a better than usual winter and the great southern Rockies will have a lower than average amount of the fluffy stuff.
With only two weeks left in 2011, Taos Ski Valley enjoyed a better than normal opening. Then an early December storm left a thick blanket of the powdery white stuff over the early wet snow accumulations that October and November brought. In fact for this early three day storm, Taos reported over 24 inches and the snow. Then it was followed by another early season storm that left all of the powder hounds getting their Christmas wish by insulating the early snows with another 20 plus inches. In fact so much snow fell that many of the steeps at Taos have provided locals with face shots and loads of whooping and hollering. I skied on December 4th and had some of the most memorable early season runs down Als, Inferno, Spencers, Jean's Glade, West Blitz, and Reforma. In fact I had so much fun I researched conditions across the western ski areas from New Mexico to Canada to see if everyone else was partaking in this abundance.
I found that TSV is showing about the best conditions that any ski area has to offer right now.
So skiers and boarders, my conclusion is that weather is as weather does. These early December storms have caused closures along I-40 from Albuquerque east to the NM border for over 24 hours, parts of I-40 west and I-25 north of Albuquerque had been closed intermittently.
Wax em if you've got em and don't forget to bundle up cuz it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW1Ii2emRL4