Well, folks, it’s the last weekend of March, which means ski resorts will start closing their lifts for the season.
But not this weekend. Many mountains have been able to retain most of their snowpack while adding artificial snow, keeping most of the trails open for the major resorts this weekend.
Northern New England did pick up some natural snow over the past week, with northern New Hampshire and Maine mountains picking up jackpot totals higher than a foot and lower elevations closer to 6 inches.
The late-March snow has held snow depth widely between 4 inches and 20 inches across portions of Northern New England. The mountains are on the higher range of that scale, and then add in whatever the machines can churn out each night.
This means that areas like Sunday River, Killington, Sugarloaf, Jay Peak, Loon, and Ragged Mountain are all open with a handful of trails closed due to ice and shallow depth. Even Wachusett Mountain in Central Mass. is still open this weekend, as are a couple of ski areas in the Berkshires — so enjoy!
Saturday: Coldest day of the weekend, partly sunny
Saturday will no doubt be the coldest day of the weekend, with morning temperatures held to the upper teens and low 20s across New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.
There will be a slight wind of about 5 to 7 mph that will make it feel a touch colder, so pretend that it’s more like February than March and bundle up as you enjoy the slopes.
High temperatures for the day will reach the upper 20s and low 30s across portions of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
In terms of precipitation, high pressure will build just south of the region and will slow down an approaching sliver of energy, which will keep the slopes seeing partly to mostly sunny skies. But there could be a spot flurry to pass through, especially across northern Vermont.
Sunday: More seasonal, still trending dry
If you have plans to hit the slopes on Sunday, you could expect warmer weather than at the start of the weekend. Mid-morning temperatures will push to about freezing across most of the mountains, with maybe a few spots stuck in the upper 20s.
Temps will gradually make their way above freezing across most of the region, eventually reaching the mid-30s at the resorts and perhaps the low 40s for towns and cities at the lower elevations.
In terms of what’s happening above, high pressure will slip to the east, which will promote a southerly flow — this means more clouds are expected across the region on Sunday, with the chance of a spot shower or flurry across Northern New England.
Weekend breakdown
Central/Western Mass.: Saturday sees brisk conditions with highs to the low 30s in the Berkshires, mid- and upper 30s east, under mostly sunny skies. Sunday sees a little more clouds, with a little more warmth. Highs in the low 40s in the Berkshires, mid-40s east. Low chance for a spot sprinkle.
New Hampshire: Saturday is cold, morning temps in the teens and 20s, highs to the upper 20s and low 30s. Partly to mostly sunny skies. Sunday sees increasing clouds with a spot flurry or shower chance. Morning temps in the 20s rise to the upper 30s to mid-40s.
Vermont: Saturday starts frosty with morning temps in the teens. Highs to the upper 20s and low 30s under a mix of sun and clouds. Sunday sees a chance for a spot shower or flurry as highs build from the 20s into the 40s.
Maine: Saturday is very cold with highs to the low 20s after a morning in the teens. Mostly sunny with a spot flurry chance. Sunday is warmer, but still held to the 30s across the ski areas. A chance for a spot shower or flurry is possible.
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Ken Mahan can be reached at ken.mahan@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.