Heads Up: The First Snow Has Fallen in New York

Sorry, but it's true. We're not even halfway through October and snow has already made its debut in New York.

Winter weather can be surprisingly polarizing in the Empire State. While there are plenty of summer-lovers still refusing to believe that their time in the sun is done, there's an equal number of snowbirds who can't wait for their first excuse to grab their skis and rush to the mountain. It looks like their time may have finally come... or has it?

New York's First Snowfall

"We saw our first snowfall this morning!" began a recent post from Whiteface Mountain's official Facebook page. Photos showed the mountain, which is located upstate in Wilmington, NY, covered in everyone's least-favorite winter weather: wet, slushy snow.

Winter Weather on Whiteface Mountain

It should come as no surprise that the first hints of winter began at Whiteface Mountain. With an elevation of 4,867 feet, some of the state's most extreme weather has been observed on the mountaintop. Earlier this year, scientists reported a new record, with temperatures dropping to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. But back to the snow.

Ski Season? Not So Fast

While there were plenty of overeager skiers and snowboarders sounding off in the comment section, the unfortunate news for them is that a little bit of natural snow doesn't automatically kick off the winter sports season. Despite the precipitation, Whiteface mountain is still solidly in fall foliage mode, with their gondolas currently devoted to transporting leaf-peepers rather than extreme sport enthusiasts.

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The "good news" is that reports are hinting at heavy snowfalls across the country this winter. According to the Farmer's Almanac, "snowfall will be above normal across most snow-prone areas", including New York. As the saying goes, "if you don't like the weather, just wait awhile".