Bend Bulletin: Cascades snowpack well above average with more snow expected at higher elevations
A series of powerful winter storms that blanketed Bend with snow and delighted skiers at area ski resorts have left snowpack in the Upper Deschutes Basin at well above average levels.
More snow is expected to accumulate at higher elevations in the coming weeks.
As of Monday, snowpack was 163% of normal in the Upper Deschutes Basin, according to data compiled by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Precipitation for the water year, which began Oct. 1, was 100% of normal in the basin.
Other parts of Oregon are also faring well. Snowpack is 193% in the John Day Basin, 137% of normal in the Willamette Basin, 223% of normal in the Rogue/Umpqua Basin, 218% of normal in the Klamath Basin and 193% of normal in the Harney Basin.
“Snowpack is still looking very good across Oregon for this time of year,” said Larry O’Neil, an assistant professor at Oregon State University’s College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science.
O’Neil said Pacific Ocean temperatures are currently lower than normal, which could be what is driving the wet and cool winter in the Pacific Northwest. A weak La Niña has a 59% probability of forming within the next two months.
"It is essentially a coin flip," he said.
La Niñas favor slightly wetter and cooler weather, and a slightly larger than normal mountain snowpack, he said.
In the shorter term, through the end of this month, O’Neil is anticipating wet weather with snow falling above 5,000 feet. Between 4,000 feet and 5,000 feet, he is expecting a mix of rain and snow.
“There is also an indication of periods of freezing rain over the next week extending into Bend on the east slopes of the Cascades, which will be something to look out for,” said O’Neil. “The forecast strongly supports significant gains of the high elevation snowpack heading into the New Year.”
Camden Plunkett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pendleton, said snow is expected above 4,500 feet on Tuesday. He forecasts a dry period at the end of the week, with mostly cloudy skies in mountain areas.
Central Oregon ski resorts are making the most of the early-season snow. Here are some of the snow totals as of Monday:
• Mt. Bachelor has received 145 inches of snow as of Monday and has a 69-inch base. The ski area has received 25 inches of new snow over the past week.
• Hoodoo Ski Area has a 46-inch base of snow with all lifts operating on its front side.
• Willamette Pass Ski Resort has a 38-inch base and has received 62 inches of snow this winter.
