LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- Cold and snow. Two words skiers and riders want to hear when forecasting the upcoming winter. Those thoughts are falling right in line with what major weather outlets are beginning to predict for the upcoming season.

“I think the Northeast is going to see more than a few, maybe several, systems in the course of the season,” AccuWeather Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok told AccuWeather.Com.

Just don’t take his word for it, other meteorologists and weather outlets are saying the same thing. The National Weather Service is calling for a cold winter for New York State and New England, while Weather.Com predicts a cooler-than-average December 2016 through February 2017 for the Northeast.

As for the Farmer’s Almanac, it’s says winter in the Northeast arrives in mid-November and sticks around through the middle of April. The publication also predicts that “an active storm track will deliver above-normal precipitation to the Southeast, Northeast and New England states throughout most of the winter, especially February.”

The Farmer’s Almanac flagged February 16-19 as a date to watch, calling for a storm to develop near the Virginia Capes bringing as much a one to two feet of snow to the region.

“This is all good news, it’s what we want to hear,” remarked Whiteface Mountain General Manager Aaron Kellett.  “When mother nature brings us snow it’s great, but all our sophisticated snowmaking system needs are temperatures below 30 degrees. We have snowmaking installed on 98 percent of our trails so we are ready for whatever winter throws at us.” 

So if you’re looking to get in on the fun at Whiteface, in Wilmington, N.Y., don’t hesitate. Log onto http://tickets.whiteface.com/categories/all-tickets by October 31 and ski or ride the Olympic mountain, for as little as $36.99 for a single-day lift ticket and for just $69.99 for a two-day pass.

That’s a savings of 60% to ski and ride the eastern United States’ number-two ski resort, as recently chosen by readers of SKI Magazine.

The more than 7,000 readers who responded to the annual poll also tabbed Whiteface Lake Placid number-one for off-hill activities for 27 consecutive years.

“Well known for its rugged terrain and rugged conditions,” is how the magazine describes the Olympic Mountain. It also adds that “each of Whiteface’s three peaks offers black and blue options: From the summit, dive down Skyward or cruise Paron’s; from Lookout, take the scenic tour on Wilmington or bust moguls on Hoyt’s High; from Little Whiteface, cruise Excelsior or plunge down Approach to Olympic-worthy steeps. Beginners get comfy in their own space at the Bears?Den learning area, and everyone appreciates that “the lift-ticket value is unequaled” (Value, No. 4).”

SKI Magazine called the resort’s grooming upgrades, as well as its switch to 100 percent renewable energy as “cutting-edge.”

The article also lists bobsledding, skating, hockey, tubing and Nordic skiing as off-mountain activities that separate Whiteface Lake Placid from other Northeast ski resorts.

“These rankings continue to show how much Whiteface Lake Placid has to offer for skiers and non-skiers alike,” added New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority chairman Pat Barrett. “What we offer, day in and day out, is what separates us from other ski destinations throughout the northeast. So whether guests are here to experience the east’s greatest vertical or find refuge in the region, there’s something for everyone, fitting almost every budget.”

If what’s being predicted for this season pans out, this will be a skiing and riding season that can’t be missed. So prep the skis and board, buy your lift ticket early and welcome in the upcoming 2016’-17 season.

Photos: Photos from 2015-’16 skiing and riding season at Whiteface Mountain can be found HERE. Photos courtesy of ORDA/ Whiteface Lake Placid

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.