Where’s the snow? Skiing unlikely by Christmas
Dec 17, 2014, 5:25 AM | Updated: 4:54 pm
The chances of skiing by Christmas are looking less and less likely as warm temperatures and a lack of precipitation keep the Cascades more brown than white.
There was hope several weeks ago, especially when Crystal Mountain got an early blanket that allowed it to open for limited operations. But a blast of warm, wet weather that blew through on the Pineapple Express forced Crystal to shut down, and washed away the tiny bit of snow that other local areas had been trying to pack down for a base.
“When the snow level was going up 6,500 or 7,000 feet, it pretty much locked everybody out,” says KING 5 meteorologist Jeff Renner.
Renner says the forecast is calling for snow showers to move into the Cascades Wednesday with snow levels around 3,000 feet, and continue through the weekend.
But unfortunately, it’s not likely to bring enough precipitation for most local areas to open.
Crystal announced Wednesday it plans to open Saturday only from 10am to 3pm with skiing and snowboarding in the Green Valley bowl area, but then expects to shut down again as another Pineapple Express returns.
Renner says next week, another “atmospheric river” streaming warm, wet weather from the South Pacific is setting up for a return engagement around Christmastime.
“I’m sorry to say it, but that would wash anything we get out.”
The National Weather Service is offering a slightly more optimistic forecast for ski areas, with snow in the forecast for the Cascades through Tuesday. But the forecast calls for snow levels to gradually increase by Monday, with snow predicted near 5,500 feet by Tuesday.
As for the lowlands, the forecast calls for a chance of rain through next Wednesday and highs in the upper 40s to low 50s. Christmas Day is shaping up to be clear and cool right now with highs in the low to mid 40s.
