By Rod Hill on 2013-02-22
Today's winter storm brings active weather to the Northwest for the first time in weeks. Timberline lodge reports a foot of new snow since yesterday and two more feet are likely through Saturday morning! Before the flakes started to fall yesterday, the lodge had only seen 30 inches of snow since February 1st.
This weekend's snowstorm will leave Timberline with more than 420 inches of total snow for the season, which is considered normal for the entire winter. Thanks to a snowy December & early January that saw 100 inches of snowfall, this winter will go into the books as a good season. Of course, the snowpack will be measured through May 1st, meaning a 500 inch season looks likely at 6,000 feet.
Despite a below normal January and to date a dry February, PDX continues to see a water year surplus of more than 4.00 inches, which means we still have roughly an extra month of rain in the bucket. The water year is measured October 1st - September 30th and parallels the Cascade snow season. Of course the million dollar question is whether or not we will see a soaking wet spring. As of today, most signs point to normal rainfall March - May, but of course we won't truly know until we live it.
Travelers this weekend should check conditions. Snow covered roads will be likely tonight & Saturday morning down to 1,000 feet or lower. Both the Coast Range & Cascades will be slow going at times.
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