Washington snow boosts slopes, not snowpack
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Washington ski areas have logged more than a foot of new snow over the past two weeks, giving the season a much-needed lift. But it's barely denting the state's water woes.
Why it matters: Unusually low snowpack this winter is heightening drought and water supply concerns across the West.
- More than 80% of snow-monitoring stations in several Western states reported snow water equivalent below the 20th percentile — a benchmark for snow drought.
- Washington's snowpack is about 54% of what it should be at this time of year, said Karin Bumbaco, deputy state climatologist at the University of Washington
Stunning stat: Even with normal snowfall through April 1, snowpack totals would still rank below the 10th percentile historically, meaning this year would remain among the driest 10% on record, Bumbaco told Axios.
- Record-setting snowfall next month could push totals back to normal, she said, but that's unlikely.
- Not impossible, though: A similar turnaround happened in 2014, when a dry early winter gave way to a snowy late February and March and the state ended up with a normal snowpack.
Zoom in: Since Feb. 15, most Washington ski areas have picked up about 15 - 32 inches of new snow, said Michael Fagin of Powder Poobah, which tracks Northwest mountain conditions.
By the numbers: Base depths are still well below normal but have improved since mid-month, according to Kirby Cook of the National Weather Service Seattle. As of this week:
- Stevens Pass has 41.8 inches (30-year average: 85 inches).
- Snoqualmie Pass has 35 inches (average: 76).
- Crystal Mountain has 36 inches (average: 65).
- Hurricane Ridge has 42 inches (average: 80).
What they're saying: The next couple of days — late Saturday through most of Tuesday — are going to be "great for skiing," Fagin told Axios.
What's next: A cold front is expected to move in midweek with more mountain snow possible, per NWS.
The bottom line: That could freshen up the slopes again — but it probably won't meaningfully change Washington's broader snow deficit.