If you follow me on Twitter (and you should, really) you’ll see that I posted a bunch of pictures of a blizzard in Boston. Oh, and a Youtube video. We’re up to 21″ and it’s still snowing. I mentioned this a) because it’s awesome and b) because it looks like this wintry pattern could continue for some time.

Hayward won’t see two feet, but they will see a few inches in the next few days. The models aren’t particularly bullish on snow for Hayward, but the NWS is discussing the possibility of half a foot, starting as some mix but ending as colder, powderier snow. And then … it gets cold with the chance for storms. This is a very favorable weather pattern for the whole country, Northern Wisconsin definitely included. In the last dozen-or-so runs of the GFS, not-a-one has shown any kind of warm up or melt. Many have shown a foot of snow between now and race day. The only concern is that it might be quite cold for the race, but we’re okay with that. Unless there is a drastic change, snow should not be a problem.

Since this site began speculating about weather, this is the best year we’ve seen. Last year—during the winter that wasn’t (it was simply a silly fall that needed a shave and wore a fur coat, kudos if you got that oblique reference)—there wasn’t snow south of Hayward. The year before—despite the winter that most assuredly was—a meltdown the week before the race left the trail with grass poking through in a couple places. This year, despite inauspicious beginnings (that, amongst other things, canceled the Birkie Tour) the trail is well covered, it’s looking to stay cold, and more snow is in the offing.

With that said, we’ll post weather speculation every day or two until we’re within a week and can begin pinpointing the actual weather with a suite of models. Ski fast. Ski the road! (The governor of Massachusetts shut down the roadways, and the transit is closed. There’s not much choice.)