PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 9, 2024
The ability to make snow has Maine’s ski areas optimistic about the winter season and confident they can bounce back from the heavy rain and warm temperatures predicted for later this week. Ski Maine Executive Director Dirk Gouwens said., “We really don’t need a lot of natural snow. We do need cold weather, obviously, in order to make (snow).” They might need to, according to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, which says this winter could bring warmer-than-average temperatures. Pandemic-driven surges in attendance, as well as the availability of energy-minded grants, has enabled many of Maine’s peaks to install new and more efficient equipment in the last few years, he said.