Hello skiers,
Great news: Expect cooler weather, with snow returning this week.
My, oh my, the mild air and high snowlevels of the last week was pain full. Ouchand we had such a good start the first couple of days of the season for many ski areas. Hey, it's still only November. In the last week, every ski area lost at least some snow, but the rain on snow didnt wipe us out entirely. Mt Bakers deeper base held up well, as did other ski areas. A little new snow fell last night down to about 3000 ft for most ski areas. Respectable new snow is on the way this week, with more sustained lower snow levels, as a cooler westerly flow is aimed at us.
Three storms are in line to help us out this week and deepen the snowpack. Snow levels will be 2500-4000 ft, through Thursday and lowering toward the weekend. The first new snowstorm will be Tuesday (SL 3500, 2-6 new). Then next in line will be Thursday (SL 2000-3500ft, 3-8 new). Then later Friday and Saturday (SL 1500-2500, 2-5 new).
I am somewhat confident in the snowlevels staying below 3500 - 4,000 ft and gradually lowering. Expect the rain/snow mix only on the lower slopes and mainly early in the week. The expected snowfall amounts have more uncertainty, IMO, but we wont get skunked with no new snow for the week. Id say, by Saturday, the five day snowfall total would be 1-2 ft new. Snowfall totals wont go much lower and it could go higher with stalling or a convergence zone forming.
Whistler will have mostly snow from mid mountain to the alpine, with rain in the Village. But late week cooling will mean snow in the Village ( and a little on the road from Squamish) by the weekend. Several storms will visit Whistler Tuesday Saturday worth 1-2 feet of new ( five day total) by Saturday and that is quality new snow! Remember Whistler is farther north and slightly higher in elevation, so snow levels tend to be lower than Washington and Oregon by about 1000ft. However, snow level and snow fall amounts can vary, depending on storm orientation and other local weather factors. Each individual storm is different.
Larry Schick, meteorologist
The Grand Poobah of Powder
Great news: Expect cooler weather, with snow returning this week.
My, oh my, the mild air and high snowlevels of the last week was pain full. Ouchand we had such a good start the first couple of days of the season for many ski areas. Hey, it's still only November. In the last week, every ski area lost at least some snow, but the rain on snow didnt wipe us out entirely. Mt Bakers deeper base held up well, as did other ski areas. A little new snow fell last night down to about 3000 ft for most ski areas. Respectable new snow is on the way this week, with more sustained lower snow levels, as a cooler westerly flow is aimed at us.
Three storms are in line to help us out this week and deepen the snowpack. Snow levels will be 2500-4000 ft, through Thursday and lowering toward the weekend. The first new snowstorm will be Tuesday (SL 3500, 2-6 new). Then next in line will be Thursday (SL 2000-3500ft, 3-8 new). Then later Friday and Saturday (SL 1500-2500, 2-5 new).
I am somewhat confident in the snowlevels staying below 3500 - 4,000 ft and gradually lowering. Expect the rain/snow mix only on the lower slopes and mainly early in the week. The expected snowfall amounts have more uncertainty, IMO, but we wont get skunked with no new snow for the week. Id say, by Saturday, the five day snowfall total would be 1-2 ft new. Snowfall totals wont go much lower and it could go higher with stalling or a convergence zone forming.
Whistler will have mostly snow from mid mountain to the alpine, with rain in the Village. But late week cooling will mean snow in the Village ( and a little on the road from Squamish) by the weekend. Several storms will visit Whistler Tuesday Saturday worth 1-2 feet of new ( five day total) by Saturday and that is quality new snow! Remember Whistler is farther north and slightly higher in elevation, so snow levels tend to be lower than Washington and Oregon by about 1000ft. However, snow level and snow fall amounts can vary, depending on storm orientation and other local weather factors. Each individual storm is different.
Larry Schick, meteorologist
The Grand Poobah of Powder
