Ski hill creates late night whiteout at Jack Garland Airport

Laurentian Ski Hill has had its share of challenges this season. 

Not only did they have the tough task of dealing with mild December temperatures, now in January with the conditions perfect for snowmaking, they’ve had to shut their snowmaking down. 

That’s because when the conditions are right, the Laurentian Ski Hill snowmaking equipment can literally create whiteout conditions at Jack Garland Airport.  

Last night just around midnight, the airport made an emergency call to Laurentian Ski Hill to have them shut their equipment down. 

“The snowmaking equipment, depending on the conditions, will make snow that comes right up the hill and create its own snowfall,” said Airport Manager Jack Santerre.

Laurentian Ski Hill Manager Trish Pecore says the hill had its guns going most of the day and admittedly knew there was a overnight snowmaking risk due to the conditions.  

“We are so desperate to make snow right now that we did try to keep the system running, but we were aware of the fact that there was a good chance that we were going to get a phone call in the middle of the night,” said Pecore. 

“The airport calls us up and we come rushing in and everything is shut down as soon as possible.”   

The snow making equipment creates a form of ice fog, which makes its way up the hill towards the airport.  Those conditions occur when winds come out of the south or when there is no wind at all.  

Santerre says last night’s man made snowfall limited visibility and actually forced the snow sweepers out to clear the runways.   

While it's a nuisance, Santerre says they have a great communication line with the ski hill and when that wind starts blowing the ski hill always turns off their snow making equipment.