PNW: "Snowfall this season could match record"

[Schmear]

I offer this lame cat emoticon as an antijinx.

Snowfall this season could match record

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...owpack07m.html

If the current weather holds out, snowfall could match the historical record set in 1998-99 when the last strong La Niña rolled in from the Pacific Ocean.

A half-month ago, Western Washington's snowpack was about 50 to 70 percent of normal. Since then, snowpack has jumped to 30 to 50 percent above average, which could make for a good water year at local utilities and hydroelectric plants.

"It's amazing — 1998-99 was our last really big snow season," said Garth Ferber, avalanche meteorologist for the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center. "If this keeps up, we'll match that at least."

It's too early to tell, with several months still left in the season. But water experts say it's unlikely that the rain will stop and the air will turn warm in the near future.

The season has already proven the deadliest for avalanches in the state, with nine people killed or presumed dead since Dec. 1. Ferber said the death toll is unprecedented, and encouraged people heading into the snow to take precautions. That includes keeping to ridges and valley floors, avoiding steep, open slopes and packing an emergency camp. People without backcountry training should stick to controlled areas such as ski resorts, he said.

On Friday, a 13-year-old Mukilteo girl was killed while hiking with a group to Lake 22, off Mountain Loop highway near Granite Falls. Authorities have not yet released the girl's name.

"A creek bed or gully can be a killer even though it's a rather innocuous place" in a lighter snow year, Ferber said.

In an intense La Niña year, temperature patterns in the Pacific cause changes in the weather pattern. In the Pacific Northwest, temperatures drop and more precipitation falls.

The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center reported 224 inches of snow at Mount Baker, 184 inches at Stevens Pass, 187 inches at Snoqualmie Pass and 218 inches at Paradise on Mount Rainier.

The ski resort at Crystal Mountain said it had 30 percent more snow than usual, about 200 inches, for this time of year. Tiana Enger, spokeswoman for Crystal, said the resort has never had an avalanche or fatality in the patrolled area where they control for avalanches.

More snowpack could also be a boon for spawning salmon later this year. Tom Fox, water-resources manager for Seattle Public Utilities, said that in the utilities' last measurement, snowpack was 110 to 120 percent of normal.

Fox says the utility managers manage flow from snowmelt in the Tolt and Cedar Rivers with reservoirs, and if there's more water than the agency needs, that water is directed to fish habitats.

[Squirrel99]

Well if it keeps up ~

+ = Lots of Powder for everyone

- = not a whole lotta backcountry gonna get nailed this year (including a lot of the sidecountry hits)

As long as Feb/March are the big snowfall winners when I've got some weekday flex, that would be nice

[Powow]

Maybe not a lot of backcountry now, but this will make for a long spring/summer season at least.

[grrrr]

Mt. Baker is poo-pooing any such talk, as the season started so late.

On the other hand, we've gotten around 350" as my undereducated guess so far, and it just keeps getting better.

BTW Yesterday was the best yet at Baker, with knee deep butterlicousness and all the good lines filling in. Superman, Fly on the wall and several others were hit (not by me), and everyone was stepping it up.

[SorryBro]

As long as Feb/March are the big snowfall winners when I've got some weekday flex, that would be nice

If Feb/March are "big" snowfall winners this year (out-pacing Dec.), it will be nice for everyone. Probably won't happen (anti-jinx).

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Snowfall any given season could end up matching matching the record.

[Moship192]

Mt. Baker is poo-pooing any such talk, as the season started so late.

On the other hand, we've gotten around 350" as my undereducated guess so far, and it just keeps getting better.

BTW Yesterday was the best yet at Baker, with knee deep butterlicousness and all the good lines filling in. Superman, Fly on the wall and several others were hit (not by me), and everyone was stepping it up.

That fly on the wall line was pretty $$$$ looking, never been in there myself but was stoked to watch it get hit.

[Lani]

This article is so stupidly speculative that it makes me want to spit.

The last few years we've had some very big snowfall cycles early followed by relatively weak February/March totals. Not that I'd mind seeing that pattern change.

[Bud]

Last season was a lot more backcountry friendly...we got a ton of snow way early which opened up lots of opportunities for touring and the avy danger never got all that bad. We even got a mid-January corn cycle which allowed for some fun trips in the alpine for steep south facing terrain.
Of course last spring stunk (for desk-jockeys at least) with all the nice weather being on weekdays...

This season I think I've already skied more inbounds days than I did all last season. Its been fun skiing on the alpine boots and gotamas, but I'm jonesing for some multi-day trips in the north cascades and given this weather I don't think its gonna happen anytime soon. But I'm not gonna bitch about a forecast that has 500ft snow levels and 12-24" of new on the way for tomorrow.

[Gunder]

That fly on the wall line was pretty $$$$ looking, never been in there myself but was stoked to watch it get hit.

I wouldnt consider it hit, but GAPED. Granted a few solid lines got done, but I have never seen so many fags slideslip the shit out of it. If you cant ride it properly stay the fuck off of it. (Moship this isnt directed at you but the idiots that gapped it)
As far as snowfall goes, in feb of 99 we got soemthing stupid like 350 inches in one month.... so I doubt we will break the record this year or even tie it.

[White Chocolate]

I wouldnt consider it hit, but GAPED. Granted a few solid lines got done, but I have never seen so many fags slideslip the shit out of it. If you cant ride it properly stay the fuck off of it. (Moship this isnt directed at you but the idiots that gapped it)
As far as snowfall goes, in feb of 99 we got soemthing stupid like 350 inches in one month.... so I doubt we will break the record this year or even tie it.

I wish i had seen the guy double eject and get punted to the bottom on fly in the wall. i saw people doing the first pillow line off gabls, and willow's pillows, and it was ugly. either sideslipping (boarders) or hack job jump turns (skiers). My guess is that someone is definately going to kill themselves doing something stupid this winter, due to the stupidity factor of people with transcievers and fat skis increasing exponentially.

[skiski]

If the pace of snowfall doubles, this season will smash all existing records. If it stops snowing now for the rest of the season, it will go down as a crappy season. If it's cold tomorrow, it will be cold, but if it's warm tomorrow, it will be warm. That article was brilliant, and oh so very jinxy.

[hop]

I wish i had seen the guy double eject and get punted to the bottom on fly in the wall. i saw people doing the first pillow line off gabls, and willow's pillows, and it was ugly. either sideslipping (boarders) or hack job jump turns (skiers). My guess is that someone is definately going to kill themselves doing something stupid this winter, due to the stupidity factor of people with transcievers and fat skis increasing exponentially.

Word.

Watching those hacks on FOTW was awesome, in a pathetic kind of way. But hey, I'm sure they'll tell you they ripped the shit out of it.

FWIW, thanks Temple for putting that bootpack out the Arm yesterday. I used it this morning and it was awesome. That is all.

[grrrr]

I only saw one boarder hit FOTW, and it was a decent run.

I saw quite a few lines there later, some very obviously crap.

It is getting so nothing is semi-secret anymore.

[whatcomridaz]

I'm not sure why you would side slip fotw except at the tree crux, it was money this year. Speaking of anybody have pics?