Welcome to Winter 2025-26! Let the Flakes Fly

The Greylock Snow Day staff cordially welcomes you back to all the flake following madness that we are expecting for the winter of 2025-26. It's great to be back and have all you loyal readers back "dialed in" on the wintry weather in store for us.

The weather pattern was active in October with one nor'easter and an almost one to end the month. Rain totals were above normal for the month (over 4.5 inches of rain compared our typical 2.8 inches). It's unusual that we had no snow at all as we usually get flurries or snow showers at some point, but we did not register any frozen precipitation at the GSD Home Office in Williamstown prior to Halloween.

Image courtesy of Northeast Regional Climate Center (at Cornell).

With the clocks switching back this weekend, it's time to start thinking seriously about our up-coming winter. Temps are starting to drop below freezing in the overnight hours, so we know snow and other frozen precipitation will soon be falling in our neck of the woods.

The long-range winter forecast for New England is only moderately encouraging. This winter we will be feeling the effects of a La Nina pattern, which generally means that temps will be slightly high for southern New England but colder for northern New England. Also, generally La Nina usually means a slightly wetter winter.

Translating this info into snow storms is tricky. Typically, snow totals be normal or slightly above normal for the winter when La Nina is in effect. Because of the increased chances for precipitation but the warmer temps, we will probably see several storms start out as snow change over to sleet then all rain. Also, we may get a moderate or heavy snow storm but then see the snow melt away in the following days. The good news about a La Nina winter is the increased chances for precipitation and storms.

According to two reliable models (the North American and the Euro), there is the chance for measurable Monday or Tuesday, November 10 and 11. The Euro is showing a possible 2-3" snowfall for Tuesday. The GFS (North American) is showing a more substantial event (see below). We'll keep an eye on it, but it's been our history with the models that they are typically shakier early in the season than in the middle of winter.

The Saturday (11/1) afternoon run of the North American model for Monday, November 10th.