Ride the endless winter!

The 2009-2010 snow season is off to an amazing start! And since the weather looks promising for even more snow, I am issuing my first POWDER ALERT of the season for this SATURDAY MORNING!

The weather pattern looks ideal Friday and Friday night. A weather system dropping out of the Gulf of Alaska will initially bring snow early Friday. But as colder air arrives Friday afternoon, and as another snow-producing weather feature arrives from the northwest, significant snow is likely in the Cascades Friday evening. And with the snow level falling to as low as 1,500 feet, it means that the powder at the higher ski areas will range from moderate density to drier, higher-quality fluff. Not bad for November!

So… how much snow will fall? Below are my forecast probabilities for the period from Friday morning to Saturday morning:

More than 6″… 95% likelihood
More than 12″… 50% possibility
More than 18″… 20% chance

Saturday will be mainly dry… so get up there early to enjoy the fresh tracks. And while my POWDER ALERT is specifically for SATURDAY MORNING, there will be significant accumulating snow during the day Friday as well.

Enjoy!

Drew Jackson
KPTV FOX 12 meteorologist

Check out www.SkiOregon.org for current conditions at all Oregon Ski Areas!

In the Pacific Northwest, El Nino winters are typically a little warmer than usual. But the amount of rain and snow is a lot more variable. For example, at Mount Hood Meadows, their second-snowiest winter on record occurred during an El Nino winter. But one of the most disastrous snow seasons on record, the winter of 2004-2005, was also an El Nino winter. Those are two extreme examples. Most El Nino winters bring snowfall that is not too far from average, with the extreme winters being rare (and impossible to predict in advance).

One positive aspect of El Nino winters is that more often than not, the snow tends to arrive early in the Cascades. I believe we’re seeing that this year. That big late October snowstorm dropped nearly two feet of snow at the higher ski areas, but warmer rain immediately following the storm melted the snow away. That’s the way it works in October, as the snow comes… and goes. But November snow typically grows… and stays! And while this most recent storm brought enough snow to open some runs at Timberline and possibly Mt. Hood Meadows later this week, all Oregon’s ski areas, are starting to build a healthy base. And with more storms on the horizon, the start of the 2009-2010 skiing/boarding season appears imminent!

So… wax your boards and get your gear organized. And keep checking your e-mail, as my first “Powder Alert” could hit your inbox anytime now!

Think snow,

Drew Jackson
KPTV FOX 12 meteorologist

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Powder Alerts by visiting Ski Oregon

Surprises are funny; they are liked by some and disliked by others. However, I think everyone agrees that we all love a pleasant surprise. Mount Ashland Ski Area was a very, very pleasant surprise. Located 20 minutes south of Ashland, Oregon. Mt. Ashland, at 7500ft, is the highest point in the Siskiyou mountain range and the north facing slopes collect an annual average of 300 inches of snow. There are 23 trails in addition to steep chute riding in its famous bowl. All trails are easily accessed by 4 chairlifts.

The reason why Mt. Ashland is different from most all other ski resorts is that it is run as a non-profit. All profits are fed back into the area helping support long term growth for the area, city of Ashland, and it community.  It always feels good to support any small community but doing it while riding powder makes it awesome!

The locals love to say “If you can ski here, you can ski anywhere”. The fact that 50 percent of the mountain is listed as expert terrain makes the resort tag line “It’s steeper here” aptly fitting. The area called the Cirque Bowl is filled with steep lines along with plenty of air to be grabbed for those with the need for flight and speed. With all the advertising of expert terrain beginners and intermediate riders like my lady might think the area is not suited for them. Wrong! The intermediate and beginner terrain comprises the other 50 percent of the mountain making it enjoyable for all levels of expertise. Alia always sends me to ski the morning by myself allowing me to ski where I want while saving the afternoon for us. I was so excited from skiing the morning I couldn’t wait to pick her up and ski the afternoon together.

“Lovey, why don’t you go ahead and ski by yourself for the afternoon since you are having so much fun” was the response when I phoned to let her know I was coming to pick her up at the Mount Ashland Inn. Immediately my radar went off for two reasons. One, she was excited to ski all morning while getting a chance to take a late morning nap. Two, we both work in sales and know that if it is too good to be true, it generally always is. After a few minutes of prodding out comes the real reason………

Photos courtesy of Lucas Balzer

With great dreams comes great sacrifice is what my dad told me all my life.  It sounds inspiring and rings true with much that I do.  Unfortunately it no longer works for my lady after seven years of dealing with me ‘sacrificing’ my home duties for the ‘dream’ powder days.  This is why I have become a regular at Sammy’s flowers in NW Portland and Joe’s Donuts in Sandy.  It allows me to come home with more than a stupid grin on my face from the excitement of the mountain.

The reality is she is very accepting of this passion that skiers and snowboarders share and understands it is a big part of who I am.  The best way I can describe a powder morning is that feeling we all have on our birthday morning.  Your step is a little bit lighter, everyone seems a bit nicer, and you can do no wrong.

Spring deals at every resort along with a forecast for more snow makes it the best time of the season to hit the slopes.  While resorts throughout other states are closing for the season it again shows us why Oregon is so great, powder in April!

Photos were taken at Mount Hood Meadows on April 2, 2009 by Scott Spiker.

A new storm arriving Wednesday night will bring increasing snow to the Cascades and Blue Mountains. The heaviest snow will fall Thursday morning, but nearly continuous snow is likely all the way through Thursday night.

Snowfall totals should be close to 2 feet from Wednesday night through Friday morning!

Initially, the snow will be a little wet, as the freezing level will be near 4,000 feet early Thursday. However, the freezing level will fall during the day Thursday, dropping to 1,500 feet by Friday morning. The snow will become increasingly dry and fluffy from Thursday afternoon into the evening. Thursday will be the stormy, snowy and powdery all day… Friday will be calmer & drier with fresh powder in the morning.

Enjoy the endless winter!

Drew

“This is the best snow I have ever ridden!”  was my favorite quote overheard in the lift line at Mount Hood Meadows last week.  After a roller coaster of weather between January and February my man Jack Frost has decided to give it one last hurrah before the arrival of spring.  The last three weeks have seen storm cycles that dropped huge amounts of cold and dry powder.  These storms were followed by cold temperatures and sunshine making it a riders dream, giving us the best conditions in all the west.

Anyone who thinks winter in Oregon is over, think again!

The snow is great and so are the deals on the mountain.  With the Unlimited Spring Pass lasting through May 25th at Timberline for $99, Fusion Spring Pass combining Timberline and SkiBowl for $179, to the Unlimited $99 Spring Pass at Mount Hood Meadows which also gives a $10.00 credit for use anywhere at the resort there is no excuse why all the riding dreams cannot be fulfilled in this late blooming winter.

So to all the Oregon dreamers, get out and enjoy the beauty of the mountains!  In these tough economic times it is good to know that not only do we have the best snow in the west but the deals as well.

Photography by Randy Boverman, http://randyboverman.com/

A new storm system will drop into Oregon from the northwest on Saturday bringing heavy snow showers. While there will be some temporary breaks in the falling snow, I expect nearly continuous snowfall from Saturday morning through Monday morning – with a storm total of 20-30 inches likely!

The snow level will be no higher than 1,500 feet into early next week, and with temperatures at the ski areas in the teens to low 20s, this new snow will be about as light & fluffy as it gets in the Northwest.

Similar to the last storm, this coming storm will feature the heaviest snow in the north Oregon Cascades and the Blue Mountains in northeast Oregon. But the mountains in central and southern Oregon will get significant snow too.

High winds are a possibility again, however, so there will be heavy drifting…and lift operations will likely be affected at higher-elevation ski areas.

Enjoy!

Drew

A storm system will drop into Oregon from the northwest on Thursday bringing heavy snow. Steady snow will increase during the day with 12-18 inches of new snow likely by the time the storm dies out Friday morning.

The snow level will lower to 2,000 feet later Thursday, so the snow will not be too wet or thick.

While Thursday will be increasingly snowy, Friday is likely to be the bigger powder day, as significant new snow is expected Thursday afternoon and evening. (Night skiing Thursday night should be EXCELLENT!)

In this weather pattern, the heaviest snow will be in the north Oregon Cascades (Mount Hood area) and also the Blue Mountains in northeastern Oregon. But central and southern Oregon will get their share as well – just not quite as much as the northern and eastern areas.

Enjoy!

Drew

Between now and Wednesday, there will be several inches of new snow… but the snow level will be a little higher than I’d like to see it. It’ll bounce around between 3,000 and 4,500 feet over the next couple days. While that’s low enough to allow the precipitation to fall as snow at all of our Oregon ski areas, the temperatures will be 27-33 degrees… which means that the new snow will be a little wet & heavy. The heaviest snow through Wednesday is likely to be in the central Oregon Cascades (Hoodoo, Bachelor, Willamette Pass.)

Beginning later Wednesday, the situation will improve. My POWDER ALERT is for WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. The snow level will lower – down to 1,500 feet by Friday morning – so the snow quality will improve with ski area temperatures in the teens to mid 20s. There should be 8-15″ of new snow (at all ski areas) from later Wednesday through Thursday… and this will be on top of the several inches of wetter snow that is expected to fall before Wednesday. Lastly, there won’t be much wind with the storms this week… so there won’t be much blowing or drifting snow this time around. Just deep powder spread evenly throughout the ski areas.

Enjoy!

Drew

What started off as a hectic, late for the mountain morning, was quickly remedied with six inches of new powder and the sun peaking through Sunday at Mt. Hood Meadows.  Haley went to her sixth ski lesson and they had her going down “Mercury” and “Apollo”.  Forty years ago those would have been references to NASA missions.  Today, it referred to the black diamond runs my eight year old daughter skied down during her “Snow Blaster” Lesson.

During her morning lesson, I disappeared up the express lift did a quick minute run down “Middle Fork” and “Show Off” to warm up and then spent the next two hours exploring the bowls.  Lunch with my daughter was hot cocoa, peanut butter and jelly and sliced apples…mmmmm.  Then off again.  This time I decided to follow along with Haley and her instructor, Rolando.  Afternoon had some great runs, smaller crowds, breaks in the clouds with a little sunshine.  Life is good.  Quick stop at “Joe’s” for a delicious maple bar on the way back home because we were too late to stop in the morning!