A young skier moves down the main trail at Pats Peak against the blurred lights of the cars to pick up and drop off participants in the ski program at the mountain on Tuesday night, January 17, 2023. Despite the rain, the ski mountain was packed with program skiers and night skiers.
A young skier moves down the main trail at Pats Peak against the blurred lights of the cars to pick up and drop off participants in the ski program at the mountain on Tuesday night, January 17, 2023. Despite the rain, the ski mountain was packed with program skiers and night skiers. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Skiers and riders from around the area flock to Pats Peak for lessons and night skiing this time of year, even on rainy nights like Tuesday night. A winter storm is set to bring in snow Thursday evening into Friday.

The storm is expected to begin as rain showers in the Concord area Thursday night and then turn to snow as overnight temperatures are expected to drop to about 26 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a forecast from the National Weather Service.

Friday’s temperatures are expected to rise again to the freezing point causing a wintry mix of precipitation. Total snowfall in the Concord area is expected to be between 5 and 9 inches depending on conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

This winter has so far been unseasonably warm with little snow on the ground causing problems for all kinds of outdoor activities from ice fishing to cross-country skiing. Ski areas have fared a little better with equipment that can blow man-made snow on cold nights.

Tenney Mountain in Plymouth had planned to reopen this winter but has been hampered by warm temperatures. With a cold snap coming in this weekend, Tenney hopes to open as early as next week.