Hello skiers and snowboarders,

 

More early season snowfall is coming up, then a brief break.

 

  • Monday: 6-15” snow, 3,000-4,000 ft levels.
  • New storm tonight: 5-12” for Summit, Stevens, Baker, Whistler.
  • Building bases: 1-3 ft, but lower slopes thin.
  • Next weekend: Another 5-15” snowfall expected.

 

Another healthy round of snow will fall over the Cascades on Monday with moderately low snow levels for this time of year, near 3,000 - 4,000 ft. The 36 - hour new snowfall totals will be 6-15”. With the deepest snow on the upper slopes. It’s a mixed bag on the lower slopes of rain and snow.

 

Good news, it’s been consistently cold enough now for snow making in some areas, to start filling in the gaps on the well-traveled lower slopes. 

 

A quick review shows, currently there is 5-15” of new settled snow at most ski areas, mainly mid and upper slopes. A new storm moves in late tonight and mainly Monday. The new storm will add another 5-12”, aimed mainly at the Summit, north to Stevens, Baker and Whistler. Crystal, White Pass and Mission Ridge will see a respectable 4-10”. The Inland NW will get more snow too, with Silver Mountain and 49 Degrees receiving 4-9”. The additional snow will give us 1-3ft bases, but lower slopes are thin. Snowpack is not quite deep enough, but we are getting there. I’ve seen NW ski areas open with far less snow. Problem is most are not ready to open with insurance, employees, food, final mountain maintenance, etc. That said, by mid- November the planned opening dates and actual snow coverage will come into focus.

 

Besides the recent snowfall, the good news is there is no significant warm atmospheric river (AR) storms in the forecast (7-10 days out). A strong AR pattern could hurt the new, fragile snowpack base. To be fair, actually an early season AR sometimes helps the snowpack. The AR warmth, with rain on snow, creates a dense snow base underlayer for the season, forming a protective covering of the hazards including rocks, sticks, brush, while creating a stable snowpack base.  

 

After Monday’s storm it looks dry with high-pressure blocking storms for a few days his week. By next weekend (Nov 9, 10, 11), expect another round of respectable snowfall 5-15” in 48/hrs. We will be in good shape by mid-November. I am optimistic the opening of ski season will be on time or perhaps early. 

 

 

 

 

 

ZOOM with the Powder Poobah and World Traveler Tony Crocker

Wednesday, Nov 13th

6:30 - 7:30 pm

Plan your best snow trips with tips from Larry’s friend Tony.

Click here for Zoom Registration link.

Weather from Larry, plus guest Tony Crocker will answer your questions about snow stats and global travel.

 

Tony is a world-class ski traveler. But at heart, he’s a numbers guy. He has a degree from Princeton in statistics and was an actuary. He knows snowfall statistics like nobody else...and ski travel. Tony has skied more than 250 ski areas on every continent including Africa and Antarctica (he hiked/skied it). Tony has skied extensively in Europe and Japan.

 

Send your questions in advance: Click here for Google Form Link. Or ask live on Nov 13th.

 

Tony's website is https://bestsnow.net and his travel reports are on First Tracks (https://www.firsttracksonline.com/author/tony-crocker/)

 

THANK OUR SPONSORS - THEY KEEP THE POWDER ALERTS FREE FOR YOU.

 

 

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Proliance Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine: The premier group of orthopaedic surgeons in the Pacific Northwest. 

49 Degrees North Mountain Resort: Chewelah, WA. A hidden giant of the Northwest about an hour from Spokane. 49 Degrees N boasts more than 2,300 acres of lift-accessed terrain with 3 basins, 2 peaks, 7 lifts, 90 marked trails, 1,871' of vertical, and multiple terrain parks.

Silver Mountain Resort: Kellogg, Idaho. A year-round resort an hour east of Spokane and 30 minutes east of Coeur d'Alene. A great resort for all levels and families. Silver Mountain Lodging which includes access to Silver Rapids Waterpark with every room.

Alpine Physical Therapy: A Postural Restoration Certified Center. Physical therapy and sports medicine experts, Seattle, WA.

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Woolly Clothing: Shop online. Merino wool outperforms when it comes to anything that makes you sweat. Plus, it feels amazing on the mountain, at home, in that marathon meeting, or on your daily commute. Seattle, WA.

The Hall: Queen Anne Beerhall and Moss Bay Hall in Kirkland: Famous for beers, pretzels, sports bar and great vibe. Check out their events or stop by for a fresh one. 

Rack N Road: Seattle, Bellevue, and now in Renton. Bring your gear to the mountain safely tucked inside a cargo box or stored on a rack. Rentals, buy & sell used. Racks for Bikes, watercraft and everything else for outdoorsy PNW people.

Crystal Mountain Resort: The largest ski resort in Washington State with 2600 acres & over 50 named runs. Skiers & snowboarders from all over come to ride this world class terrain!

Crystal Mountain Hotels: Crystal Mountain Hotels is the premier destination in Washington State for ski vacations and winter getaways. Just steps away from the Mt. Rainier Gondola and ski to your door accommodations at the Alpine Inn, Crystal Hotels offers everything you need for an amazing trip without spending valuable vacation time in the car.

Zeeks Pizza: At last count, 25 locations from Bellingham to Bellevue. Tacoma, Issaquah and Bothell. Plenty of places to grab a bite any day or on the way back from your favorite snowy destination.