Blizzard Warning Issued For Wisconsin's Largest Ski Resort
Have you ever put a spoon under your pillow? When we were kids living in Maine, we would wait until a snowstorm and put spoons under our pillows. The idea was that school would get cancelled. Crazily enough, it seemed to work more often than not.
It looks like the kids in Wisconsin have gathered their spoons, or grew up and became social media managers of ski resorts, because at Granite Peak Ski Area, the top resort in Wisconsin and the fourth tallest resort in the midwest, officials announced that "School is out, snow is in."
All D.C. Everest Schools are announced to be closed this Friday, stoking out the kids and hopefully giving them adequate time to enjoy the snow day!
Granite Peak made note that its "lifts spin 9AM-9PM, with free refills likely all day long!"
Free refills has got to be the best saying when talking about a snowstorm.
However, the news wasn't all rainbows and sunshine. Officials at Granite Peak issued a potential blizzard warning. "A blizzard is underway and will continue over the next couple of days. Blizzard warnings will be issued at some point."
According to NOAA, the difference between a blizzard warning and a winter storm warning (which it feels like we've seen a lot of recently!) is that a winter storm warning indicates that heavy snow of at least 6 inches in 12 hours, or at least 8 inches in 24 hours, is expected. It can also be issued if sleet accumulation will be at least half an inch.
A blizzard storm warning, on the other hand, takes that up a notch and indicates that blizzard conditions (low visibility of less than 1/4 mile due to falling and/or blowing snow, and winds at least 35 mph) are expected for at least 3 hours.
"Significant snowfall accumulations are expected, with a large swath of 8" or more. The highest totals will be up to 2' for isolated areas along Lake Superior. Wind gusts up to 60 MPH will cause whiteout conditions, impossible driving conditions (especially after 12:00 PM Friday), power outages (from the wind), significant drifting up to 5' and widespread blowing snow."
"Two waves of precipitation is expected, with the first wave over the next 24 hours. The second wave moves in from the south with additional moderate to heavy snowfall accumulations expected later Friday and into Saturday. This wave will cause the biggest impacts as wind gusts rapidly increase up to 60 MPH."
Bummer that it's a Saturday, you don't get school off on the weekends!
"Between the two waves, freezing drizzle will be possible, especially in eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Illinois. This won't limit accumulations as another wave is expected."
We're about it. Thanks to everyone who put spoons under their pillows this week!
Granite Peak Stats/Info:
Vertical: 700 ft.
Skiable Terrain: 400 ac.
Average Snowfall: 60 in.
Lifts: 7
Trails: 68
Snowmaking: YES
Night Skiing: YES
Mega-Pass: Legendary
Stats courtesy of Granite Mountain.
Related: Second In-Bounds Avalanche In Two Days Rocks Palisades Tahoe
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