Warmer than average temperatures and heavy rain will bring challenges to outdoor venues hosting the FISU Winter World University Games into the weekend.

What You Need To Know

  • The 2023 FISU Winter World University Games kicks off tomorrow

  • Natural snow is lacking right now in the Adirondacks

  • Heavy rain is in the forecast Thursday night into Friday

  • Snow-making will be tough because of warmer than average temperatures

The 2023 FISU Winter World University Games begin tomorrow with cold, but typical January weather. The games are the largest multi-sport collegiate athletic event in the world after the winter Olympics. This is only the second time the winter games have taken place in the United States. The winter games were last hosted in 1973 in Lake Placid.

After developing a nice snowpack in early to mid-December, the past two to three weeks have featured warmer-than-average temperatures and rain, which has washed away a good deal of the snowpack in the Adirondacks.

The games will start with cold, quiet weather Thursday morning with snow breaking out during the afternoon. Warming temperatures will flip snow to freezing rain, then eventually rain Thursday night into Friday.

While temperatures will turn colder Friday night, this could make for icy conditions for the outdoor events taking place over the weekend.

Massive upgrades to the old Olympic facilities have taken place over the past couple of years to get ready for the FISU Winter Games.

Despite boasting some of the best snow-making in all of North America, above-freezing temperatures during the daytime hours the next several days may limit snow-making at Whiteface Mountain, Gore Mountain, the Olympic Jumping Complex and the Van Hovenberg Olympic Center.

For more on the games, visit this link and think snow!

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