March Break… or March Madness?
It has been an incredible start to March Break at Blue Mountain with soft turns and even some fresh powder over the weekend. Temperatures then spiked into the double digits early Monday, briefly bringing more classic spring skiing to the slopes.
That didn’t last long.
A strong cold front raced through Monday afternoon with gusty winds and then a rapid freeze-up. By Tuesday, it will feel more like February again, with temperatures well below freezing and brisk winds. Expect slick spots in the morning thanks to the flash freeze. I recommend sharp edges and lots of layers. Grooming crews will be working hard to loosen surfaces and take advantage of the colder air to move snow to areas that need it most.
On the positive side, both Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are once again largely ice-free following the recent thaw. That opens the door for some lake-effect flurries through midweek, which will add a bit of natural snow to help freshen up surfaces across the hill.
Thursday to Sunday
The colder pattern eases as we head toward the second half of March Break, with temperatures returning closer to seasonal levels.
Expect firm, machine-groomed granular conditions in the early morning, softening quickly by midday as temperatures climb above freezing. Weak systems passing through the region could bring scattered rain showers or flurries at times, although timing will be tricky. At the moment, Friday morning carries the highest chance of precipitation.
There should also be sunny breaks mixed in through the period, making for some very enjoyable conditions on the slopes. The milder weather will also bring the patios in the village back to life as visitors soak up the late-season atmosphere.
Longer Range Outlook
Typical March ups and downs will continue into next week, but overall temperatures should average near to slightly below seasonal. That’s good news for maintaining the snowpack and keeping conditions solid well into the late season.
At this point, there will still be plenty of snow for the 24h Blue MTN at the end of the month, and we’ll be skiing well into April.
Day-to-Day on the Slopes
Tuesday: Windy and cold with scattered flurries. Wind gusts up to 60 km/h.
High −8°C with a wind chill near −20°C.
Wednesday: Cloudy with late-day flurries. Milder with lighter winds.
High −1°C
Thursday: Mostly cloudy and milder.
High +4°C, winds 10–20 km/h.
Friday: Morning rain or snow possible. Mild early, turning colder later in the day.
High +6°C
Saturday: Partly sunny and pleasant.
High +5°C
Sunday: Scattered flurries with slightly cooler temperatures.
High +2°C
Final Thoughts
We’re now in the home stretch of what has been our second straight blockbuster ski season in Ontario, a rare occurrence and something we shouldn’t take for granted.
Just look west to the ski areas in California, Utah, and Colorado to see what can happen when temperatures run too warm or the storm track stays too far north. Many resorts there have struggled with low snowpack and now record warmth and forcing some operations to close early.
Here in Ontario, we’ve been far more fortunate.
There’s still plenty of time to get out on the slopes, make some late-season turns, and create memories with family and friends as the season marches towards the 120-day mark.
I’ll see you out there!
Senior Meteorologist,
Anthony Farnell
