The first snowfall of the season at Eaglecrest Ski Area on a service road. (Courtesy photo | Charlie Herrington)

The first snowfall of the season at Eaglecrest Ski Area on a service road. (Courtesy photo | Charlie Herrington)

Eaglecrest hit with first snowfall

Winter outlook neutral but leans warm, forecasters say

Termination dust — the powdery snowfall that indicates the end of summer — can now be seen on mountaintops around Juneau, signaling the slow crawl toward winter.

There’s no snowfall yet in the forecast for lower elevations, National Weather Service forecasters say, and early indications are this winter will be about average for temperature and precipitation, if not a bit warm and wet. But Eaglecrest Ski Area has already received its first snowfall of the season, employees say.

The first flakes fell overnight from Thursday to Friday, said Charlie Herrington, who runs the ski area’s newsletter.

Shortly after arriving at work Friday, Herrington and another employee drove about halfway up the runs served by Black Bear Chairlift before about two inches of snow forced them to turn around, he told the Empire. Herrington estimated that three inches fell at the highest elevations of the ski area.

The National Weather Service hasn’t yet recorded any snowfall at Eaglecrest’s base or at any of their weather stations in the Juneau area, forecaster Edward Liske told the Empire on Saturday. The average first measurable snowfall at the bottom of the ski area comes on Nov. 1, Liske said. At weather stations around Juneau, those dates vary from Nov. 1 to Nov. 9.

The outlook for December, January and February is leaning toward an El Niño year, Liske said, meaning there’s a higher chance of a warmer and wetter than normal winter.

But climate indications are mostly neutral and El Niño effects aren’t predicted to be strong this year, Liske added, at least not at this point.

Eaglecrest Ski Area’s opening day is scheduled for Dec. 1. Employees are making fast progress on an extension of water lines for their snowmaking system, Herrington said, which could help keep the ski area open for more days in a low-snow year.

Season pass prices go up on Oct. 14 at midnight, and the ski swap is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3 at Centennial Hall.

By the Numbers:

Average date and earliest and latest first measurable snowfall around Juneau:

(Data from the National Weather Service based on varying data histories)

Auke Bay

Average first snowfall: Nov. 5

Earliest: Sept. 30 (1974)

Latest: Dec. 14 (2002)

Airport

Average first snowfall: Nov. 4

Earliest: Oct. 2 (2000)

Latest: Dec. 14 (2002)

Back Loop

Average first snowfall: Nov. 1

Earliest: Sept. 26 (1908)

Latest: Dec. 16 (1992)

Downtown

Average first snowfall: Nov. 9

Earliest: Sept. 30 (1974)

Latest: Dec. 16 (1992)

Lena Point

Average first snowfall: Nov. 9

Earliest: Oct. 16 (2016)

Latest: Dec. 14 (2002)

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Nov. 17

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree reaches Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to much celebration. (U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree photo)
Santa’s truck-driving helpers are east bound and down to Washington, DC

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree completes multiweek cross-country journey from Wrangell.

The Palmer project would sit in the watershed of the Chilkat River, pictured here. (Scott McMurren/Flickr under Creative Commons license 2.0)
Japanese smelting giant pulls out of major Southeast Alaska mining project

Palmer development, above the salmon-bearing Chilkat River, has for years fueled political divisions.

Juneau Police Department cars are parked outside the downtown branch station on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
JPD’s daily incident reports getting thinner and vaguer. Why and does it matter?

Average of 5.12 daily incidents in October down from 10.74 a decade ago; details also far fewer.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Douglas Island Breeze In on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
New owner seeks to transfer Douglas Island Breeze In’s retail alcohol license to Foodland IGA

Transfer would allow company to take over space next to supermarket occupied by Kenny’s Liquor Market.

A butter clam. Butter clams are found from the Aleutian Islands to the California coast. They are known to retain algal toxins longer than other species of shellfish. (Photo provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Among butter clams, which pose toxin dangers to Alaska harvesters, size matters, study indicates

Higher concentrations found in bigger specimens, UAS researchers find of clams on beaches near Juneau.

An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on Oct. 8, 2024 in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Members of U.S. Senate back disaster aid request amid increasing storm severity

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s request for nearly $100 billion in natural… Continue reading

Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday evening as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ranked choice voting repeal fails by 0.2%, Begich defeats Peltola 51.3%-48.7% on final day of counting

Tally released Wednesday night remains unofficial until Nov. 30 certification.

Most Read