What awaits the Berkshires after a rare snowfall and cold snap in early December? | Weather

After the reasonably mild storm that we – at least many of us – enjoyed last week, there’s no better snow deal in our winter wonderland.

In recent years, it has been rare to see plowable snowfall in the Berkshires in early December.

But this one delivered as expected, much to the delight of forecasters whose exact track record is always at risk, especially on a snow day when school leaders must decide whether to close or delay two hours.

Final snowfall totals from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night, as determined by the National Weather Service’s regional network of weather observers, ranged from 11 inches in Cheshire and Savoy, 7 to 8 inches in North Adams and Williamstown, 6 to 7 inches in Pittsfield and Lenox and 4 to 5 inches in Great Barrington and Otis.

As Eagle sports editor Mike Walsh reports, ski area operators are excited about being able to open early in the season, which is by no means a given thanks to climate change.

Ski Butternut, which escaped a major fire nearby on East Mountain in Great Barrington, is open this weekend and for the season next Friday.

Also now open are Jiminy Peak in Hancock, Catamount in South Egremont and Hillsdale, NY, and Berkshire East in Charlemont. Bousquet in Pittsfield begins its season next Friday. The Nordic (cross-country skiing) areas of Notchview in Windsor and Prospect Mountain in Woodford, Vt., also attract avid skiers early in the season.

Looking ahead, overnight snow showers could decrease by another 1 to 3 inches in the Berkshires Saturday through Sunday morning, followed by a break in the cold snap and a thaw next week, according to AccuWeather.com.

“It’s going to be a temperature roller coaster for much of the Northeast,” said AccuWeather.com meteorologist Joe Lundberg. “It gets mild, then a cold front moves through, and it gets mild again by next weekend.”

Light rain showers are expected on Monday with maximum temperatures of over 40°C. The National Weather Service forecasts Tuesday will be even milder, followed by more showers lasting through Thursday as temperatures return to normal in early December.

The Climate Prediction Center’s extended forecast for December 14-20 indicates above-average temperatures in western New England and slightly below normal precipitation.

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Daily …

Saturday: Partly sunny, less windy, near 30°C. After dark, cloudy with overnight snow showers, low near 20°C.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of morning snow showers, high around 40°C, low in the upper 20s.

Monday: Cloudy, afternoon rain, low 40s; Showers likely at night, mid 30s.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, near 45 degrees, chance of showers in the afternoon; Constant rain overnight, low 35.

Wednesday: Rain, mid-40s; Cloudy and colder with snow showers overnight, mid 20s.

Thursday: Partly sunny, high in the mid 30s. Partly cloudy at night, low in the 15s.

Friday: Partly cloudy, low 30s; around 8 p.m. at night.

Saturday (December 14th): Mostly sunny, mid 30s.

Sources: National Weather Service and AccuWeather.com