Snow here to stay or warming up to melt away?

With the recent weather dipping cooler in the Southlands here in California, many of the higher altitude weather areas are fearing an increase in temperature again to melt away the snowfall that they have gotten. Although it snowed in Mammoth last week and even is snowing today, the extended weather forecast is predicting bright and sunny days til close to Thanksgiving. Of course, weather is highly unpredictable and anything can chance, but I fear, like many other years we may be opening the lifts too early in joy of an early snow and may end up closing down for a few weeks.

Picture from 11/9/15

With the recent purchase of Bear Mountain and Snow Valley by Mammoth, came along with it the addition of snow blowing machines and technology in Mammoth. For decades, Mammoth has primarily relied upon good winters to bring snow faring travelers to its destination, but as the years have grown warmer and winters have become drier, alternative snow making methods have been adopted. Most of California's resorts rely entirely if not mostly on this technology to create the snow we enjoy. Mammoth and Tahoe have been hesitant to implement this type of technology.  With the recent purchase of Bear's top snow resorts, they have begun to add this process to their trails.

Snow making at Big Bear

This has allowed us to create better coverage, throughout the season to battle our lack of rain. Will this be enough to bring us through the warm weather that's expected? Guess we will have to wait and see!! Bear Mountain has set opening day for Friday the 13th. Hope that's not an unlucky opening day!