By Rod Hill on 2013-01-26
Mt. Hood resorts are thrilled to pick up fresh powder this weekend. The heavy snows of mid-December left a snow depth at Timberline of 114 inches, Meadows 105 inches and Skibowl 64 inches. Total snowfall at 6,000' through Christmas day was 266 inches. Since that day, just 53 inches of snow has fallen at Timberline. Today's snow base is lower than four week's ago and ranges from 44 inches at Skibowl to 83 at Meadows and 102 inches at Timberline Lodge. The snow pack at the Mt. Hood test site is 76 percent of normal to date.
Of course we still have many weeks of snow to go. A typical winter season transitions through heavy snow weeks to dry weeks to heavy again. Compared to one year ago, Mt. Hood above 5,000 feet has received 100 more inches of snow this far through the season. Remember last year saw a booming 222 inches of snow fall on Mt. Hood from March 1st - May 10th. The 2011-2012 snow season ended up exactly normal with 65.5 inches of melted snow water equivalency. Here is hoping for a good 2nd half of the Mt. Hood snow season.
Differences between Sleet & Freezing Rain