Arctic melt 20 years ahead of climate models - environment - 19 December 2008 - New Scientist

Though scientists tend to agree that summer ice at the North Pole will eventually disappear, they haven't settled on a date. And one group now claims to have evidence that Santa may have to start swimming much sooner than we thought.
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As the summer melting season finished up this year, they waited with bated breath to see how much, if any, ice would survive.

4.67 million square kilometres remained at the end of September.
"The Arctic is the heat sink of the Northern hemisphere; the circulation patterns of the oceans could change dramatically," says Serreze.
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What's more, the effects from this rush of heat seem to already be bleeding out into neighbouring Alaska and Siberia.

12/19/08: More snow, cold head for Aspen | AspenTimes.com

ASPEN — The snow in Aspen just keeps on coming, but it may be too cold to enjoy it by Saturday.

A winter storm that dumped up to a foot of snow on local ski slopes over the past two days has moved out, but another system is headed for Aspen Friday night. So are plummeting temperatures and a brutal wind chill.

12/16/08: Study: Climate change may force skiers uphill - International Herald Tribune

DENVER: A study of two Rocky Mountain ski resorts says climate change will mean shorter seasons and less snow on lower slopes.

The study by two Colorado researchers says Aspen Mountain in Colorado and Park City in Utah will see dramatic changes even with a reduction in carbon emissions, which fuel climate change.