NORTH SOUND, NOV. 26: Skiers, snow boarders, sledders – just what you wanted to hear going into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The Stevens Pass resort has announced they are opening on Friday, Nov. 29.
The recent mountain snows have accumulated enough for Stevens Pass to join other ski areas for fun in the snow this holiday weekend, including Mt. Baker, White Pass, Crystal Mountain, and Mission Ridge. Only the Snoqualmie Pass ski areas have yet to open.
As of Tuesday, Nov. 26 morning, Stevens Pass reported 22 inches of snow on the ground. Mt. Baker had 63 inches and Crystal Mountain 33 inches.
Lingering showers are expected Tuesday with the snow level near 3,000 feet, meaning a few more inches of fresh snow may add to the snow totals.
By Wednesday, Nov. 27 higher pressure aloft is forecast to build over the region and begin a drier weather pattern that is anticipated to hold through the holiday weekend.
The only exception may be a weak weather system expected to track through Southern British Columbia for a threat of light precipitation Thursday night, Nov. 28 and Friday Nov. 29 across the northern half of Western Washington. Snow flurries are quite possible from Stevens Pass northward with snow levels hovering between 2,000 and 3,000 feet through the holiday weekend.
Highway road crews have been busy and roads leading to Mt. Baker, Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass should remain in good shape through the weekend. As always and per state law, all motorists driving into or through the passes have to at least carry chains and be prepared to use them as needed.
The Cascade ski areas usually open around mid-December. Being open during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is a welcome bonus. Thanks to snow levels remaining relatively low for over a week now, snow conditions should be nearly ideal.
La Nina – the cooling of the eastern Pacific tropical waters west of Peru, usually results in cooler and wetter than average winter weather conditions for the Pacific Northwest, including a healthy mountain snowpack. So this Thanksgiving, be thankful for La Nina and its likelihood for plenty of mountain snow this winter season.
