By Rod Hill on 2015-02-25
Mt. Hood resorts are hopeful of at least 8" of new snow in time for this weekend! This resorts are still hoping for a good Spring Break season, but the clock is ticking. The Mt. Hood test site reports 30 inches of snow on the ground, that would melt into just over 13" of stored water. The totals are 28% of normal for this time of year and barely above the poor snow season of 2004-2005, when the snowpack finished the year at 44% of normal.
Mt. Hood Meadows continues to make the most of 30" at the base lodge and more than 60" on the upper mountain. The resort is offering discounted lift tickets to attract skiers to the slopes. You can learn more at: http://www.skihood.com/
Extended forecast models show no promise of a changing weather pattern through the month of March. One year ago, a snowy spring dumped 200 inches of snow between March 1st and April 30th. If the snow machine does not get turned on quickly, Mt. Hood will likely finish the season near 50% of normal snowpack at best! The map shows a warm March forecast highlighted in brown shading over all of the west.
It is important to note, that our region is not having a precipitation problem. In fact, water year totals dating back to October 1st are near normal. What we are seeing is unusually high snow levels, brought on by warm temperatures, producing rainy weather systems over the Cascades at elevations tpically seeing snow.
Records at PDX for rainy days, show on average, January and February have 33 total days with measurable rainfall. So far, this year has seen .01" of rain or more only 23 days. The low number of rainy days has produced and illusion of drier than normal rain totals.
We all know that weather patterns often quickly change. Keep an eye, but at this point I expect more warm, pleasant days as meteorological spring begins March 1st.
Meteorologist Rod Hill
February on record pace!