Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Stevens Pass to open for skiing
Just in time for today’s scheduled opening of the Stevens Pass ski resort, several feet of new snow is forecast to fall in the latest in a series of fall storms battering Snohomish County.
Another front is moving through the region that’s forecast to bring more high winds, more rain and lots of snow. The unsettled weather is expected to stick around into Thanksgiving week.
A deep low-pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska is spinning off storms, said Dennis D’Amico, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
“We’ve had a little bit of everything,” he said.
Wind gusts as high as 50 mph were expected early this morning with another round of blustery conditions predicted tonight.
Rainfall for the month was running about 2 inches above average, D’Amico said.
“Certainly it’s been wet,” he said.
Ski resorts around the region were opening weeks ahead of schedule.
A winter storm warning was in effect for Stevens Pass through today. Skiers enjoying the first runs of the season can expect up to 3 feet of fresh snow, D’Amico said.
The forecaster has a season pass to the resort, but his skis are staying put today.
“I will not be going because I’ll be here,” he said.
The succession of fall storms has kept forecasters busy.
November typically is the month that brings wind storms and flooding to the region, he said.
While rivers on the Olympic Peninsula are expected to overflow, Snohomish County rivers are not forecast to flood in coming days.
A high pressure system is forecast to build into the area bringing some drier weather next week, but the atmosphere seems like it will stay unsettled through the Thanksgiving holiday, D’Amico said.
Go to www.stevenspass.com for up-to-date reports on snowfall.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Ski area opens
Skiing at Stevens Pass Ski Area opens today, now that El Nino-influenced weather has dumped a few feet of snow in the central Cascades.
Four chair lifts and the Top Phlight Terrain Park will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today while two other lifts may open if conditions permit.
As of Wednesday morning, the pass had 47 inches of snow at the base and 52 inches at the top.
Another front is moving through the region that’s forecast to bring more high winds, more rain and lots of snow. The unsettled weather is expected to stick around into Thanksgiving week.
A deep low-pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska is spinning off storms, said Dennis D’Amico, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
“We’ve had a little bit of everything,” he said.
Wind gusts as high as 50 mph were expected early this morning with another round of blustery conditions predicted tonight.
Rainfall for the month was running about 2 inches above average, D’Amico said.
“Certainly it’s been wet,” he said.
Ski resorts around the region were opening weeks ahead of schedule.
A winter storm warning was in effect for Stevens Pass through today. Skiers enjoying the first runs of the season can expect up to 3 feet of fresh snow, D’Amico said.
The forecaster has a season pass to the resort, but his skis are staying put today.
“I will not be going because I’ll be here,” he said.
The succession of fall storms has kept forecasters busy.
November typically is the month that brings wind storms and flooding to the region, he said.
While rivers on the Olympic Peninsula are expected to overflow, Snohomish County rivers are not forecast to flood in coming days.
A high pressure system is forecast to build into the area bringing some drier weather next week, but the atmosphere seems like it will stay unsettled through the Thanksgiving holiday, D’Amico said.
Go to www.stevenspass.com for up-to-date reports on snowfall.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Ski area opens
Skiing at Stevens Pass Ski Area opens today, now that El Nino-influenced weather has dumped a few feet of snow in the central Cascades.
Four chair lifts and the Top Phlight Terrain Park will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today while two other lifts may open if conditions permit.
As of Wednesday morning, the pass had 47 inches of snow at the base and 52 inches at the top.
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