Herb Stevens, the Skiing Weatherman, filed his weekend forecast for the New York resorts ahead of a forecast storm that could make conditions optimal for the state’s slopes. Peek’n Peak is likely to get moderate fresh snowfall and Holiday Valley and HoliMont will get boosts in an already snowy week.

Peek’n Peak is just one of the western New York resorts rich with packed powder after this week’s snowfall. Holiday Valley, Kissing Bridge, Swain and Holimont also offer sweet conditions for the weekend, according to Herb Stevens, the Skiing Weatherman:

The Skiing Weatherman – Western New York – 01/24 from Jux House Media on Vimeo.

Herb Stevens, aka the Skiing Weatherman, says this might be the weekend to hit the slopes in western New York if you’re not into crowds. The holiday rush is over, but the conditions are perfect. Peek’n Peak is at full operation and Swain, HoliMont, Holiday Valley and Kissing Bridge also are fully open or nearly so.

The Skiing Weatherman – Western New York – 01/03/13 from Jux House Media on Vimeo.

Northwestern Pennsylvania emerged relatively unscathed from Sandy’s appearance earlier this week, although creeks aren’t necessarily fishable after all of the rain we’ve received since Monday.

What Sandy did leave behind is a bonanza for birders. Birders’ reports to ebird show seabirds and shorebirds that were caught up in Sandy’s heavy winds were dropped like Dorothy and Toto on area waterways.

Surf scoter, black scoter, semipalmated plover, red-necked phalarope and red phalarope were spotted at Woodcock Creek Lake, Crawford County. And a Pomarine jaeger was identified at Clark Island, in Pymatuning State Park. Black scoter and long-tailed duck sightings also were reported at Presque Isle State Park.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which runs ebird, suggests being on the lookout for uncommon pelagics and passerines all weekend throughout the Great Lakes and Northeast.

Evening grosbeaks also are being seen routinely in Erie, Crawford and Warren counties.

Let us know if you see any uncommon birds in your travels.

U.S. Forest Service personnel reported that a storm that lashed Warren County July 26 caused “moderate to high levels” of damage to trees across the Allegheny National Forest.

Many trails on the Marienville Ranger District were closed as of Friday including the Timberline ATV trail. Crews were clearing district roads that are generally open to the public. Trails that were open were Marienville ATV, Rocky Gap and Willow Creek. Crews were working during  the weekend to clear the Timberline trail. 

Riders should be more debris than is usual on all trails.

“Trails will be assessed once key roads have been made passable,” according to a news release.

If you’re headed to the forest and need a status update, check with the Marienville or Bradford ranger districts for updates.

The Marienville district office was closed Friday because electric and telephone service were out. Brochures and maps were still available to visitors.

The Bradford district office was operating on a generator. Power was out in the surrounding area heading into the weekend.

Most of the recreation areas and access roads around the reservoir, Jakes Rocks, and Rim Rock had been cleared of downed trees.

Weather could make or break your fishing, hiking, hunting or other outdoors outing this fall and winter. GoErie can help you can register to receive local forecasts and severe weather alerts on your mobile phone, or to get an RSS feed of daily weather reports and updates from GoErie.com/weather.