Hello skiers and snowboarders,

 

After a tough week of weather, a dry spell is ahead for a few days.

 

Last night: The snow level edged upward (5,500 ft), as mild air moved into the Pacific Northwest.  The mid and lower slopes saw a rain and snow mix with new snow on the mid and upper slopes. 

 

Today, expect minor (trace-2”) new snowfall with a rain/ snow mix on the mid and lower slopes, from a weak system. Monday and Tuesday a high pressure brings dry weather with partly to mostly sunny skies. Nothing exciting, but late Wednesday, a weak storm moves in with a snow level (SL) of  4,000 ft  and only minor (trace-1”) new snowfall. 

 

There is uncertainty late in the week into next weekend, but right now it looks dry.  That's the best I can do for now.

 

Be advised, this recent feast or famine snowfall pattern could be with us all winter. El Nino, above normal global ocean temperatures and background climate change warming are are in cahoots to occasionally rise our snow levels. 

 

That doesn’t mean a bust of winter weather or always a warm storm. It means we are having a difficult start, and the rest of the season will see good and not as good snow days. This is what I was hinting at in September’s early El Nino outlooks for the NW.

 

And the last week was a good example. What a week!

 

Recapping the previous seven days:

  • We had abundant and promising new snow last weekend. It was looking good.
  • Then, the warm atmospheric river (AR) with high snow levels came in with rain on snow and cut short the fun.
  • The rain really beat up the snowpack.
  • The pack didn’t completely disappear – but it did consolidate and melt part of the existing snowpack.
  • By last Thursday and Friday, lots of new snow was falling again and we gained most of the snow back, and more.
  • Then, last night the snow level edged upward and degraded the new snowfall.
  • The warmth early this Sunday morning resulted in only limited additional melt - not the pounding we endured with the AR.

 

Sorry to say...do not expect any significant snowfall this week.

 

PS - thanks for all the positive feedback about the "offended" comments.

 

Important announcement

 

 “We should constantly be reminded of what we owe in return to what we have” 

          Eleanor Roosevelt 

 

Please consider contributions to your favorite charity for the holidays. Here are a few I have supported and donated time or money to over the years. Consider these or others of your choice. Or just help your neighbor with something or leave a can of food at the food bank.

 

Outdoors For All - https://outdoorsforall.org  

Support outdoor fun for everybody. When I worked for KING 5, I did a report on this wonderful NW organization. 

 

NW Avalanche Center - https://www.nwac.us   

Helping to make winter in the mountains safer. 

 

Washington State Ski and Snowboard Museum - https://www.wsssm.org

Cool history of the people and places of Washington skiing. It’s free. Check it out at Snoqualmie Summit. 

 

Water 1st International - https://water1st.org

A solid organization I have been involved with for over 10 years. Water for drinking and hygiene for the world’s poorest people. A proven, successful program.

 

Be careful, early season conditions exist.

 

Grand Poobah of Powder

larry schick - meteorologist 

 

Link to the Dec 6th Zoom video and transcript.