NNE Late Winter - Maple Sugaring and Soft Snow

[eekuasepinniW]

WTF

So much jelly I could make a sandwich.

[dendrite]

So much jelly I could make a sandwich.

Jealous today, but happy tomorrow.

Less snow to melt.

[J.Spin]

Event totals: 2.9” Snow/0.42” L.E.

 

We picked up an additional 0.2” of snow yesterday evening to finish off the event.  I could only get a trace out of it by this morning’s analysis, so there’s no snow density value for this observation.

 

Details from the 6:00 A.M. Waterbury observations:

 

New Snow: 0.2 inches

New Liquid: Trace

Temperature: 13.6 F

Sky: Clear

Snow at the stake: 14.0 inches

 

The next winter storm with an opportunity for snow is expected to come into the area tonight in the form of a Clipper system:

 

.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...

AS OF 356 AM EDT MONDAY...FOR TONIGHT, UPPER RIDGE SLIDES TO OUR EAST AS A DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER JAMES BAY SLOWLY SINKS SOUTHEASTWARD. ATTENDING SURFACE COLD FRONT TRACKS INTO THE REGION FROM THE NORTHWEST OVERNIGHT AND THIS COMBINED WITH POTENT SHORTWAVE ENERGY ROUNDING THE BASE OF THE UPPER TROUGH OVER SOUTHERN ONTARIO/QUEBEC WILL PRODUCE SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS, MOST CONCENTRATED ACROSS NORTH PORTIONS OF THE CWA. PRECIPITATION MAY START OUT AS A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW ACROSS NORTHERN NEW YORK DUE TO WARM BOUNDARY LAYER TEMPS, BUT AFTER MIDNIGHT THE PREDOMINANT PTYPE SHOULD BE SNOW. FRONT IS PRETTY SLOW TO MOVE THROUGH THE NORTH COUNTRY ON TUESDAY WITH SNOWFALL LINGERING OVER MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST VERMONT UNTIL THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES EAST OF THE AREA AND WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS FROM MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON WILL BE LIGHT IN GENERAL, ABOUT AN INCH OR LESS THE THE CHAMPLAIN/LOWER CONNECTICUT/ST. LAWRENCE VALLEYS AND 1- 3" ELSEWHERE. THE HIGHER SUMMITS OF THE NORTHERN GREENS COULD SEE UP TO 6".

 

[Lava Rock]

Looks like all, but southern ME gets a few inches tomorrow. Looking doubtful I'll get to 100". The last month or so has been nothing but disappointment and missed opportunities. Meanwhile yesterday's totals stacked up good for some:

...AROOSTOOK COUNTY...   2 NNE NEW LIMERICK    16.0  1052 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   PRESQUE ISLE          15.8   650 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   SHERMAN               15.0  1155 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   HOULTON               14.5  1204 AM  3/16  SOCIAL MEDIA   EASTON                14.0   650 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   1 ESE LINNEUS         14.0  1203 AM  3/16  TRAINED SPOTTER   MAPLETON              12.5   517 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   BLAINE                12.0   648 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   2 NE FORT FAIRFIELD   12.0   117 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   LIMESTONE             11.5   859 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   WESTON                11.0   559 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   CARIBOU               10.1   653 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   WESTFIELD             10.0   559 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   1 S HOULTON           10.0   505 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   2 N PORTAGE            9.5   418 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   2 NE CARIBOU           9.1   353 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   1 N CARIBOU            8.6   750 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   CARIBOU - WFO          8.6  1200 AM  3/16  CO-OP OBSERVER   BRADBURY               6.0   318 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   8 NNW NEW SWEDEN       6.0   935 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   2 NNW NORTH LYNDON     6.0   700 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   FORT KENT MILLS        5.8   430 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   3 WSW PARENT           4.5   123 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   1 WSW PRESQUE ISLE     4.0   955 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   DYER BROOK             3.0   628 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   SAINT AGATHA           2.8  1244 PM  3/15  AMATEUR RADIO   4 SW ESTCOURT STATIO   2.0  1246 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   NEW LIMERICK           2.0   445 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   ISLAND FALLS           2.0   744 AM  3/15  PUBLIC...HANCOCK COUNTY...   ELLSWORTH              8.0  1158 PM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   1 N ELLSWORTH          7.5   859 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   1 WSW EAST SURRY       7.2   733 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   1 WNW SOUTH BLUE HIL   5.5   827 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   SEAWALL                3.5  1202 AM  3/16  TRAINED SPOTTER   5 N ELLSWORTH          3.2   700 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   6 ESE DEDHAM           3.0   500 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   1 ESE MARIAVILLE       3.0   800 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   8 NNW ELLSWORTH        3.0   700 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   EAST SURRY             2.2   800 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   4 N ELLSWORTH          2.1   800 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   EAST BUCKSPORT         2.0   742 AM  3/15  CURRENTLY SLEETING   BROOKLIN               1.6   106 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   PENOBSCOT              1.5   800 AM  3/15  MIXING WITH LIGHT RAIN   BLUE HILL              1.0  1104 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   3 SE HANCOCK           1.0   700 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   HANCOCK                1.0   700 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER   3 SE SOUTHWEST HARBO   0.5   800 AM  3/15  COCORAHS...PENOBSCOT COUNTY...   SPRINGFIELD           12.0   559 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   GREENBUSH              8.0   943 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   BANGOR - CWO           7.6   200 PM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER   1 N BANGOR             7.1   811 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   MILLINOCKET            6.5   436 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   4 SSE SOUTH SPRINGFI   6.0   200 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   EAST NEWPORT           5.5   521 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   LEVANT                 5.3  1030 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER   BRADFORD               4.5   641 AM  3/15  PUBLIC   MILLINOCKET WWTP       4.0   830 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER   4 NE LINCOLN           3.9   500 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   3 ESE NEWPORT          3.5   745 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   CORINNA - COOP         3.4  1100 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER   LINCOLN                3.0   629 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   EAST MILLINOCKET       3.0   239 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   3 WSW ETNA             2.7   645 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   BANGOR                 2.0   100 AM  3/15  ASOS/AWOS   BREWER                 2.0   626 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   MILFORD                2.0   549 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   ORONO                  1.5   240 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA...PISCATAQUIS COUNTY...   1 NW WELLINGTON       15.0   841 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   CHESUNCOOK            15.0   328 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   GREENVILLE            14.5   858 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   GUILFORD              10.8  1157 PM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   KOKADJO               10.0   240 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   1 NW HUFF CORNER      10.0   202 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   NE ABBOT               9.0  1045 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   SHIRLEY MILLS          6.5   948 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   DOVER-FOXCROFT         6.0   130 PM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   2 NE SEBEC CORNERS     5.0  1133 AM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   MILO                   5.0   628 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   EAST SANGERVILLE - C   3.0   431 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER...WASHINGTON COUNTY...   ROBBINSTON            15.0  1216 AM  3/16  PUBLIC   1 S BARING            12.0  1201 AM  3/16  TRAINED SPOTTER   TOPSFIELD             12.0   821 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   BARING                12.0  1047 PM  3/15  PUBLIC   GROVE                 12.0   356 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   2 SE PRINCETON        10.0   727 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   WHITING                8.5  1200 AM  3/16  SOCIAL MEDIA   PERRY                  8.0  1215 PM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   2 ESE CHASE MILLS      6.5   121 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   1 SE COOPER            6.3   700 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   PEMBROKE               6.0   253 PM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   WESLEY - COOP          6.0   700 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER   WEST GRAND LAKE        5.8   700 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER   3 NNE WHITING          5.5   455 PM  3/15  TRAINED SPOTTER   5 SSE PEMBROKE         5.0   700 AM  3/15  COCORAHS   NORTHFIELD             4.5   925 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   WOODLAND - COOP        4.2   700 AM  3/15  CO-OP OBSERVER   EAST MACHIAS           4.0   755 AM  3/15  MIXED WITH RAIN   VANCEBORO              4.0   628 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   WESLEY                 4.0   850 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   MACHIAS                2.0   157 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA   GRAND LAKE STREAM      1.0   117 AM  3/15  SOCIAL MEDIA

[tamarack]

Looks like the St.John Valley got fringed yet again.

Very odd system here, with 1.5" of 11:1 snow Sat aft/eve, 2.5" of 6:1 cornmeal overnight, then 3.6" of 30:1 feathers Sunday afternoon, after a 4-5 hr spell with nothing Sunday morning. The event total of 7.6" from 0.67" LE doesn't begin to tell the story.

[Sugarloaf1989]

What's the forecast looking like for the Northern Adirondacks this weekend. I see there may be ULL with snow showers and a cold front, any chance of more sunshine instead?

[dryslot]

Looks like the St.John Valley got fringed yet again.

Very odd system here, with 1.5" of 11:1 snow Sat aft/eve, 2.5" of 6:1 cornmeal overnight, then 3.6" of 30:1 feathers Sunday afternoon, after a 4-5 hr spell with nothing Sunday morning. The event total of 7.6" from 0.67" LE doesn't begin to tell the story.

 

Congrats, I enjoyed my 2"

[tamarack]

Congrats, I enjoyed my 2"

 

Thanks.  Another one like it and I'll be breathing down your neck for winter total. 

[dryslot]

Thanks. Another one like it and I'll be breathing down your neck for winter total.

Probably be tomorrow LOL

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[eyewall]

Yesterday's snoozer brought BTV above the 80 inch mark on the season which is around 10 inches above normal to date.

[Lava Rock]

Congrats, I enjoyed my 2"

I got even less then what I was predicting (2-3") and ended with 1", although I was hopeful when I saw the map at 6-8", but nada. OceanStWx commented about "missed" forecasts the other day. Sure have been getting dealt a bad hand for awhile. 

[dryslot]

I got even less then what I was predicting (2-3") and ended with 1", although I was hopeful when I saw the map at 6-8", but nada. OceanStWx commented about "missed" forecasts the other day. Sure have been getting dealt a bad hand for awhile.

I don't see that changing down here either, Wagons north

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[Lava Rock]

I don't see that changing down here either, Wagons north

Sent from my iPhone

Bit ironic that Bos was supposed to stay mostly rain yesterday and yet they still managed to squeak out enough snow to break the record. how much did they get?

[powderfreak]

 

Event totals: 2.7” Snow/0.42” L.E.

 

We were at Stowe this afternoon and it was snowing just about the entire time.  It came down with varying intensity, sometimes quite hard, and the flakes were always on the small side so the accumulations were dense and provided a very nice resurfacing.  I’d say accumulations were 4-5” by the afternoon, just like the evening update of their report would suggest, and with powder of that density it was more than enough to float you.  Winds were high at times, so after a run on the Gondola, we spent the rest of the stormy afternoon off the Mountain Triple Chair, and it was just run after run after run of sheltered powder in the trees.  It was Mt. Mansfield as usual delivering yet another powder day.  I’ve added a few storm-related photos from the afternoon below:

 

 

 

 

 

Nice, J.Spin.  Today I found an additional 0.5" of pure fluff on the board at 3,000ft so the total was an even 5.0" up there.

 

I saw the Hydro report last night had 4.0" of snow and 0.66" liquid.  That sounds about right and that station captures the heavy/dense snowfalls much better than those fluffy ones when 10" falls and it reports 1-2".  It was really windy yesterday, and the COOP still managed to get a decent sample. 

 

Anyway, that's a good shot of liquid equivalent into the snowpack...we've been running a bit behind what I tend to think of as a median liquid content for this time of year.  My snow surveys have all been in the teens for snow water equivalent up there, and in spring of 2013 I had almost 8" more SWE in the snowpack than right now... so getting these good shots of liquid in the form of dense accumulation is definitely nice to set-up the snowpack for a longer spring ski season.  As you know, it doesn't stop when the lifts stop, and its always nice to do whatever possible to prolong that skinning/hiking season into May. 

DAILY HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL DATA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
550 PM EDT SUN MAR 15 2015

Station            Precip   Temperature   Present         Snow
                   24 Hrs   Max Min Cur   Weather     New Total SWE
...Vermont...
Mount Mansfield     0.66    28  13  13   Fog          4.0  84

[dryslot]

Bit ironic that Bos was supposed to stay mostly rain yesterday and yet they still managed to squeak out enough snow to break the record. how much did they get?

2.5" I think, Not actually to sure

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[CoastalWx]

Bit ironic that Bos was supposed to stay mostly rain yesterday and yet they still managed to squeak out enough snow to break the record. how much did they get?

2.9". They wre progged to flip to snow after any brief rain. That's what happened.

[powderfreak]

The ski areas should have another decent little event from 06z tonight through 06z Wednesday... pretty much all the models are flagging the Spine for a little orographic event with 0.2-0.5" QPF for the 24 hour period.

 

Here's the 4km NAM...

 

 

And the RGEM...

 

 

 

I'm thinking the ski areas should pick up another 3-6".  The BTV Froude number forecast shows a blocked flow tomorrow morning, becoming unblocked in the afternoon and evening.  I think this will favor the west side just based on how the models are showing the QPF spread, so if I was going to think of localized jackpots it would be Bolton to Smuggs stretch on the west side.  But you never know exactly how these things will shake out.  Either way, another shot of snow should be coming for the ski areas up here.

 

 

[powderfreak]

BTV WRF also flagging a half inch of QPF at Jay Peak and in the Bolton-Stowe-Smuggs stretch of the northern Spine.  It'll be interesting if this can get its act together and produce a few good pulses of snow tomorrow.

 

[powderfreak]

BTV weighed in with the afternoon AFD...

 

.SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 351 PM EDT MONDAY...COLD FRONT WILL BE SLOW TO MOVE THROUGH
THE NORTH COUNTRY ON TUESDAY. WINDSHIFT INTO THE NORTHWEST WILL
OCCUR AROUND 12Z IN ST LAWRENCE VALLEY BUT NOT UNTIL MIDDAY ACROSS
SOUTH-CENTRAL VERMONT. THE ARRIVAL OF THE REAL COLD ADVECTION WILL
NOT OCCUR HOWEVER UNTIL PASSAGE OF STRONG MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE IN
THE AFTERNOON. SO THREAT OF PRECIPITATION WILL EXIST FOR MUCH OF
THE DAY...MAINLY IN THE FORM OF SNOW SHOWERS...BUT A RAIN/SNOW MIX
STILL POSSIBLE IN SOME AREAS...ESPECIALLY THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY AND
LOWER ELEVATIONS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL VERMONT. THERE IS ALSO THE
POTENTIAL FOR A FEW SQUALLS FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH EARLY
AFTERNOON AS WE WILL HAVE SOME LOW LEVEL INSTABILITY AND ENOUGH
MOISTURE WHILE SHORT WAVE MOVES THROUGH. MAX TEMPS TUESDAY WILL
ONLY BE IN THE MID 30S ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHERN NEW YORK...BUT WILL
REACH THE UPPER 30S AND LOWER 40S IN MUCH OF VERMONT. TOTAL
SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS FROM TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON WILL
BE LIGHT IN GENERAL...ABOUT AN INCH OR LESS IN THE THE
CHAMPLAIN/LOWER CONNECTICUT AND ST. LAWRENCE VALLEYS...AND 1-3
INCHES ELSEWHERE. THE HIGHER SUMMITS OF THE NORTHERN GREENS COULD
SEE UP TO 6 INCHES.

[Lava Rock]

2.9". They wre progged to flip to snow after any brief rain. That's what happened.

And yet they still did better then up in southern ME. Sorry, I'm happy for BOS, but it's a little salt in the wound.

[#NoPoles]

My coworkers said the sap is flowing fast, and I heard from a friend that the sugaring season in NY is off to a banner start

[eekuasepinniW]

My coworkers said the sap is flowing fast, and I heard from a friend that the sugaring season in NY is off to a banner start

Maybe I should make my own syrup again.  I tried it when I was a kid-- tapped every kind of maple on my land, including norway maples.  After the first batch worked out well, I made a second batch and ended up over-evaporating.  It turned into maple candy as it cooled, and later became maple brick.

 

The real problem took about a year to discover.  There is evidently a tiny amount of sugar in the steam, and our range hood didn't catch it all.  It left the kitchen ceiling sticky, which slowly accumulated dust, pollen, and cat fur.  It was a huge pain to get off a textured ceiling.

 

Don't make syrup in your kitchen.

 

/random sap story

[dendrite]

My co-worker hasn't started tapping yet. I think he's planning to Wed night.

[mreaves]

Maybe I should make my own syrup again. I tried it when I was a kid-- tapped every kind of maple on my land, including norway maples. After the first batch worked out well, I made a second batch and ended up over-evaporating. It turned into maple candy as it cooled, and later became maple brick.

The real problem took about a year to discover. There is evidently a tiny amount of sugar in the steam, and our range hood didn't catch it all. It left the kitchen ceiling sticky, which slowly accumulated dust, pollen, and cat fur. It was a huge pain to get off a textured ceiling.

Don't make syrup in your kitchen.

/random sap story

I've heard many a similar story. Use one of those propane fired turkey fryers, outside. I've known quite a few home sugarers who have had success with them.

[dryslot]

The rich get richer.........Congrats Eastport

 

[#NoPoles]

Maybe I should make my own syrup again.  I tried it when I was a kid-- tapped every kind of maple on my land, including norway maples.  After the first batch worked out well, I made a second batch and ended up over-evaporating.  It turned into maple candy as it cooled, and later became maple brick.

 

The real problem took about a year to discover.  There is evidently a tiny amount of sugar in the steam, and our range hood didn't catch it all.  It left the kitchen ceiling sticky, which slowly accumulated dust, pollen, and cat fur.  It was a huge pain to get off a textured ceiling.

 

Don't make syrup in your kitchen.

 

/random sap story

 

 

My co-worker hasn't started tapping yet. I think he's planning to Wed night.

I keep adding to my list of things that I want when I grow up...a tiny log cabin, open floor plan with a loft bedroom, backyard chickens, bees for honey, and now for some absurd reason I want to get into sugaring...

 

too bad i can't figure out how to grow up

[mreaves]

I keep adding to my list of things that I want when I grow up...a tiny log cabin, open floor plan with a loft bedroom, backyard chickens, bees for honey, and now for some absurd reason I want to get into sugaring...

too bad i can't figure out how to grow up

That sounds like a lot of people who move to VT. Of course, some have bigger bankrolls than others.

[#NoPoles]

That sounds like a lot of people who move to VT. Of course, some have bigger bankrolls than others.

yeah, my "wants" are way bigger than my bankroll...but, it's fun to think about...sometimes...

[#NoPoles]

Mitch, have you started building yet? i forsee some g2g's at your place! 

[wxmanmitch]

Mitch, have you started building yet? i forsee some g2g's at your place! 

 

No, not yet. While I'm not totally certain I'll build this year, it's impossible to begin construction right now anyway as there's still about a 40" pack up there per NOHRSC. After that it's mud season, which probably lasts until mid May there. If I don't build this year, it should be next.