PWMan

Some of the tidal inlets and bays are frozen over.

We really have been blessed during this stretch between the parade of solid if not spectacular storms and excellent retention. And you're right about the immediate coastline; I was driving around Pine Point Beach yesterday afternoon, and it was truly impressive. I've rarely seen depth and drifts like that down there even during some of our more historic stretches. There's usually a noticeable drop-off within the three miles or so from Route 1 to the marsh and beach.

GYX's winter product slashed much of southern/central ME from 4-6 to 1-3, which surprised me based on what I'm seeing in here. Is that a function of less QPF with a more southerly track? Basically a nuisance event either way.

I'll be in Montreal, guaranteeing flurries there and advisory snow at home. Whatever it takes I guess.

As you said, it's subjective. Having solid ice is a real plus for some, and some of us want it to at least feel cold if it's not going to snow. Warm January days don't do it for me. That said, I might feel differently if the cold had been truly extreme; this has been pretty pedestrian. I've yet to approach zero overnight or had a single-digit high. The wind has sucked, but nothing unbearable.

At this point the most exciting thing to track is how much daylight we're adding every week.

Nary a flurry. At least when the cutter comes I won't be gnashing my teeth over pack loss, and maybe that will reset things.

Wife and I are going to Montreal for 3 days starting 1/18, which would be good timing for us if the D10 cutter verifies. Or it could guarantee that it finally snows here.

I was saying to my wife last night that the cold is biting me more now that I'm in my 50s, especially with the constant wind. And as much as I'd love to see some snow and at least not completely waste the cold, there is part of me that's appreciated not having to wrestle with the snowblower. I'm sure we'll pad our stats in March and April when it's all transient. Bring in Joe Milton.

Absolutely brutal. But at least we're stockpiling high draft picks, right?

Even at that resolution the SW Maine snow hole is evident.

Especially those of us who are farthest NE and the most vulnerable to being fringed. Not much room for error.

Unfortunately the winds will make skiing miserable if not impossible for many days.

Wouldn't be a New England ski season without a rainer all the way through the NNE mountains during the holiday vacation week.

My step-dad used to claim that it had to be both the first snow of the season, and that it had to be falling on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Not sure where that came from, though either scenario would obviously be ideal. By that definition, I've only experienced two: 2017 and one year during the late aughts when we got a surprise inch or two from a little disturbance late Christmas morning. Anyway, Merry Christmas to the board! I'm mostly a lurker these days, but always appreciate the insights and nonsense.