By Rod Hill on 2014-12-17
Mt. Hood often catches up in the snow department seemingly overnight, but as the holiday break approaches, the slopes are bare. In fact, the Mt. Hood test site at 5,300 feet has just 8 inches of snow on the ground. The water storage in the snow would melt into just 2.6 inches of liquid, which is the lowest ever recorded in mid-December. Snowpack measurements at the location date back to 1980. The problem has been a lack of moisture, pointing to a dry November, and high snow levels as storms have arrived in the Cascades.
A year ago the Mt. Hood snowpack was below 50 percent until late January and into early February. Despite the late start, the mountain finished the snow season at better than 90 percent of normal.A late season push of nearly 400" of snow at Timberline saved the water year, but was little comfort for resorts missing out on the important holiday ski season.
A forecast for high snow levels and several inches of rain this weekend will be a wet reminder of what is lacking on the slopes. A dry and clean Highway 26 at Government Camp has meant often easy driving for motorists.
The previous record for low mid-December snowpack was back in 2002. That season was saved by more than 2 feet of snow the last two weeks of the month and had New Year's Day bases of 83" at Timberline, 61" at Meadows and 44" at Ski bowl. The 2002-2003 snowpack season finished at better than 50 percent of normal statewide.
Meteorologist Rod Hill
Strongest Portland Wind Since 1981