“Build the base!”

With temperatures consistently dipping below freezing during these November nights, ski centers typically begin to make snow this time of year to create a base to withstand any future warm days and nights — or rain. Snowmaking began at Whiteface on Monday, Nov. 15 and at the Olympic Sports Complex’s Nordic Center at Mount Van Hoevenberg on Tuesday, Nov. 16, according to Elise Ruocco, spokesperson for the state Olympic Regional Development Authority, which operates the venues.

Ruocco said the expected opening date for both ski centers is Friday, Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving.

However, in past years, actual opening dates and expected opening dates haven’t always been in synch; it can change depending on the weather. For example, sometimes when a day-after-Thanksgiving opening date is expected, a ski center may actually open on Thanksgiving. And that decision may be publicized one or two days prior to the opening.

Last year, Whiteface opened on Dec. 5, more than a week after the expected opening date. Warm weather delayed earlier plans. And the Nordic Center opened on Friday, Nov. 27 but closed the following Monday for several days due to warm temperatures.

Whiteface opened on Nov. 15 in 2019, Nov. 17 in 2018, Nov. 18 in 2017, and Nov. 24 in 2016.

As of press time, the forecast for the Lake Placid region, according to the National Weather Service office in Burlington, Vermont, calls for high temperatures to drop on Tuesday to about 29 after a high of about 40 on Monday.

For the latest ski center updates, visit https://whiteface.com or https://mtvanhoevenberg.com.