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Cascade Snowfall and Snowdepth 2003-2004 2003-2004 Snow Season Summary See the main Cascade Snowfall and Snowdepth page for historical snowpack info. Detailed Snow Season Reports: 2005-2006, 2004-2005, 2003-2004, 2002-2003; see also Previous Seasons, Normals & Info, and Cascades El Niño / La Niña NEW: Historical NWAC Snowdepth Data & Plots and Paradise & Crater Lake Snowfall/Snowdepth Plots     The 2003-2004 snow year got off to a fine start throughout most of the Cascade Range, except for the northern end which was often lagging behind. Numerous major storm cycles and generally cold temperatures during December, January, and February built a deep snowpack, well above-normal especially in Oregon and California. By March 1, the current snow season looked like the best one overall throughout the entire Cascade Range since the incredible 1998-99 season, which set snowfall and snowdepth records from British Columbia to central Oregon with well above average amounts farther to the south into California. However, an abnormally warm and dry month of March, especially towards the southern end, reduced snowdepths back close to normal throughout the range. The rapid meltdown continued during the first half of April, while the second half brought only minor relief in the the form of cooler temperatures and some snowfall. The generally cooler and wetter than normal pattern continued throughout most of May, with occasional stretches of sunny high pressure. Higher elevations from Mount Hood north to BC received heavy snowfall during the last week of the month, but most measuring stations were too low to record significant snowfall. As of June 1, snowdepths appear to be sufficient to ensure a fine late spring and early summer of ski mountaineering on the volcanoes from Mount Rainier all the way south to Lassen Peak. The length of the summer ski season may be shorter than normal at the northern end of the range, though, where snowdepths remain well below normal. In southwestern BC, snowdepths are near record lows, below even the severe drought year of 2000-2001: the 29" depth at Tenquille Lake is the lowest for June 1 over the entire period of record since 1953, while the 60" at Orchid Lake (historically the highest-snowdepth site in Canada) is the lowest since 1993 and the 37" depth at Whistler is the lowest in at least 8 years.     The graph and table below summarize snowdepths at 10 important sites throughout the entire Cascade Range during the 2003-2004 season. These high-snowdepth sites are all located about 1000 ft below timberline and are representative of conditions in the subalpine regions on favored slopes (not rain-shadowed areas). Mount Shasta Ski Bowl was the early season snowdepth leader, then Mount Baker Ski Area pulled ahead in December. Mount Hood Timberline Lodge took over the lead during the new year, holding on to it until the end of February when a pair of huge storm systems vaulted Lassen Peak Lake Helen into the top spot, which it has held throughout most of March, April, and May. The late-May snowfall has boosted Timberline Lodge solidly back into the lead as of June 1. The maximum snowdepth recorded at any North American measurement site this year was an impressive 222" at Lassen Peak Lake Helen on February 28, 2004, making it the second year in a row that Lassen has gained that honor (a surprising 245" was recorded there on May 1, 2003, after near-record snowfall of 17 ft in April 2003). Three measurement sites cracked the 200" mark this season (Lassen Peak, Mount Shasta Old Ski Bowl, and Mount Hood Timberline Lodge), while Mount Rainier Paradise fell just short with a seasonal maximum of 192".     Place your mouse over the links below to compare the same plot for the previous season and with normal values for the period of record (this only works if you have a JavaScript-enabled browser). The snowdepths peaked much earlier than the typical April 1 this year due to an abnormally warm and dry March, while last year they peaked as late as May 1 at many locations following unusually large April snowfalls. An archive of the semimonthly snowdepth stats and commentaries during the current season can be found below the graph. Mouse-over links to change season graph, click to load season report: 2002-2003 | 2003-2004 | 2004-2005 | 2005-2006 | Normals ---- BRITISH COLUMBIA ---- ---------- WASHINGTON ---------- -------------- OREGON -------------- ------ CALIFORNIA ------ Mt Cayley Squamish R. 4400 ft Whistler Mtn Ski Area 5400 ft Mt Baker Ski Area 4200 ft Mt Rainier Paradise 5400 ft Mt St Helens Swift Creek 3800 ft Mt Hood Timberline 6000 ft Mt Bachelor Ski Area 6300 ft Crater Lake Park HQ 6400 ft Mt Shasta Old Ski Bowl 7600 ft Lassen Peak Lake Helen 8200 ft 01 Nov 2003 0" 0" 0" 0" 0" 4" 0" 1" 2" 0" 15 Nov 2003 10" 16" 20" 9" 2" 9" 12" 17" 45" 33" 01 Dec 2003 48" 39" 72" 59" 36" 50" 36" 34" 50" 39" 15 Dec 2003 72" 57" 106" 103" 69" 89" 80" 72" 84" 82" 01 Jan 2004 102" 68" 129" 115" 106" 136" 114" 97" 133" 126" 15 Jan 2004 94" 63" 112" 111" 96" 139" 106" 106" 126" 124" 01 Feb 2004 115" 85" 145" 170" 112" 176" 133" 119" 123" 139" 15 Feb 2004 113" 82" 140" 166" 128" 180" 130" 119" 126" 140" 01 Mar 2004 120" 85" 152" 176" 155" 195" 145" 156" 198" 222" 15 Mar 2004 122" 85" 150" 176" 142" 195" 141" 129" 160" 195" 01 Apr 2004 129" 94" 159" 169" 147" 182" 129" 121" 146" 187" 15 Apr 2004 111" 80" 138" 147" 139" 163" 111" 112" 134" 170" 01 May 2004 95" 75" 128" 135" 125" 154" 94" 102" 124" 175" 15 May 2004 76" 62" 101" 118" 103" 132" 70" 83" 102" 144" 01 Jun 2004 46" 37" 64" 95" 74" 121" 47" 57" 79" 116" 15 Jun 2004 18" — 23" 60" 41" 98" — 27" 44" 80" 01 Jul 2004 0" — 0" 8" 0" 39" — 0" 0" 20"   Seasonal Max 145" 100" 176" 192" 164" 204" 159" 159" 201" 222" Date of Max 27 Mar 2004 27 Mar 2004 27 Mar 2004 07 Mar 2004 27 Mar 2004 06 Mar 2004 06 Mar 2004 05 Mar 2004 26 Feb 2004 28 Feb 2004 Semimonthly Snowfall and Snowdepth Reports for the 2003-2004 Season     The tables below show semimonthly snowfall and snowdepth info at 42 measurement sites along the entire length of the Cascade Range, primarily on or near the Cascade volcanoes. The frequency of data collection varies at these sites, from hourly automated telemetry to manual daily or monthly measurements. Note that multiple sites or data sources are found at several of these locations, and their data values typically differ slightly from each other. The codes used below for Data Frequency read as follows: H = Hourly Snowdepth Telemetry, H* = Hourly Snow-Water Telemetry (snowdepth estimated), D = Daily Manual Snowdepth, M = Monthly Manual Snowdepth (Jan 1 - June 1 or less), A = April 1 Manual Snowdepth Only. See Information about Cascade Snowdepth Measurement Sites for more details about these sites including normal snowdepths throughout the season.     The following measurement sites have been added to this list or upgraded for the 2003-2004 season. The NRCS continues its program of adding snowdepth gauges to existing SNOTEL sites, and Lassen Volcanic National Park added a snowdepth telemetry site to the Lake Helen snow course, historically since 1930 the highest-snowdepth site in California (see press release). State / Prov. Measurement Site Location Elevation Data Source and Frequency Information and Notes WA Rainy Pass (far NE of Glacier Peak) 4800 ft NRCS H Existing SNOTEL site with snowdepth, added to list Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) 5600 ft NWAC H Existing NWAC telemetry site, added to list Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) 6400 ft NWAC H New NWAC telemetry site for 2003-4, added to list Mt Saint Helens, June Lake (SE side) 3300 ft NRCS H Snowdepth gauge installed on existing SNOTEL site, added to list OR McKenzie (NW of Three Sisters) 4800 ft NRCS H Snowdepth gauge installed on existing SNOTEL site, added to list Mt McLoughlin, Billie Creek (SE side) 5300 ft NRCS H Existing SNOTEL site with snowdepth, added to list CA Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) 8200 ft CCSS H, M Snowdepth gauge installed near existing manual snow course Snowfall and Snowdepth Info (01 December 2003)     The 2003-2004 snow year is off to a fine start in the northern part of Cascade Range, following the torrential rains and destructive flooding of October and early November. Cold air has since dominated the region, and major storms in the second half of November have brought several feet of new snow to the northern mountains. Snowdepths are now generally above average from northern Oregon into British Columbia. The Cascades of southern Oregon and northern California had largely missed out on the bounty, until the last weekend of the month when a major storm system dumped up to 18 inches of snow, finally boosting snowdepths to well above normal values in northern California. However, many sites in Oregon remain below average, especially low elevation and southern sites. (Italicized numbers are estimated, grayed values are no longer current) State / Prov. Measurement Site Location Elevation Data Source and Frequency Date of Measurement Snow Depth Percent of Normal Seasonal Snowfall Year to Date Max. Depth BC Tenquille Lake (east of Mt Meager) 5500 ft BC RFC H, M 01 Dec 2003 28" 70% —   — Upper Squamish River (NW of Cayley) 4400 ft BC RFC H 02 Dec 2003 48" 90% —   — Callaghan Creek (east of Mt Cayley) 3400 ft BC RFC M no data     —   —   —   — Whistler Mtn, Pig Alley (N of Garibaldi) 5400 ft Ski Area D 01 Dec 2003 39" 93% 70" 45", 29 Nov 2003 Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) 3900 ft BC RFC M no data     —   —   —   — Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) 3600 ft BC RFC M no data     —   —   —   — WA Mt Baker Ski Area (NE of Mt Baker) 4200 ft NWAC H, D 01 Dec 2003 72" 150% 164" 80", 28 Nov 2003 Mt Baker, Wells Creek (north side) 4200 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 35" 230% —   38", 29 Nov 2003 Mt Baker, MF Nooksack (NW side) 5000 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 64" —   —   67", 29 Nov 2003 Mt Baker, Elbow Lake (SW side) 3200 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 37" 230% —   40", 29 Nov 2003 Rainy Pass (far NE of Glacier Peak) 4800 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 52" 160% —   62", 28 Nov 2003 Park Creek Ridge (E of Cascade Pass) 4600 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 49" 140% —   59", 28 Nov 2003 Stevens Pass [see also NRCS site] 4000 ft NWAC H, D 01 Dec 2003 41" 132% —   55", 26 Nov 2003 Snoqualmie Pass 3000 ft NWAC H, D 01 Dec 2003 30" 120% 75" 39", 28 Nov 2003 Crystal Mtn Ski Area (NE of Rainier) 4400 ft NWAC H, D 01 Dec 2003 29" 121% —   38", 26 Nov 2003 Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) 5600 ft NWAC H 01 Dec 2003 61" —   —   69", 28 Nov 2003 Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) 6400 ft NWAC H 01 Dec 2003 34" —   —   42", 26 Nov 2003 Mt Rainier, Paradise (south side) 5400 ft NWAC H, D 01 Dec 2003 59" 123% 131" 68", 29 Nov 2003 White Pass [see also NRCS site] 4500 ft NWAC H, D 01 Dec 2003 17" 85% —   22", 26 Nov 2003 Pigtail Peak (N of Goat Rocks) 5900 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 42" 95% —   50", 26 Nov 2003 Mt Saint Helens, Swift Creek (S side) 3800 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 36" —   —   51", 26 Nov 2003 Mt Saint Helens, June Lake (SE side) 3300 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 25" 125% —   43", 26 Nov 2003 OR Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge (S side) 6000 ft NWAC H, D 01 Dec 2003 50" 111% —   63", 27 Nov 2003 Mt Hood Test Site (south side) 5400 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 31" 90% —   50", 27 Nov 2003 Mt Hood, Government Camp (SW side) 4000 ft NCDC D 02 Dec 2003 21" 140% 60" 46", 26 Nov 2003 Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area (SE side) 5200 ft NWAC H, D 01 Dec 2003 36" 88% —   51", 26 Nov 2003 Hogg Pass (near Santiam Pass) 4800 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 19" 75% —   34", 26 Nov 2003 McKenzie (NW of Three Sisters) 4800 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 28" 105% —   46", 26 Nov 2003 Mt Bachelor Ski Area (north side) 6300 ft Ski Area D 01 Dec 2003 36" 115% —   — Cascade Summit (NE of Diamond Peak) 4900 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 19" 110% —   35", 26 Nov 2003 Crater Lake, Park HQ (SW side) 6400 ft NPS H, D 01 Dec 2003 34" 106% 73" — Crater Lake, Annie Springs (SW side) 6000 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 18" 67% —   26", 26 Nov 2003 Fourmile Lake (east of Mt McLoughlin) 6000 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 17" 100% —   24", 26 Nov 2003 Mt McLoughlin, Billie Creek (SE side) 5300 ft NRCS H 01 Dec 2003 13" 110% —   24", 26 Nov 2003 CA Medicine Lake (west side of caldera) 6700 ft CCSS H*, A 01 Dec 2003 20" 120% —   — Mt Shasta, Horse Camp (SW side) 7900 ft CCSS M no data     —   —   —   — Mt Shasta, Old Ski Bowl (south side) 7600 ft MSAC H 01 Dec 2003 50" 140% —   50", 01 Dec 2003 Mt Shasta, Sand Flat (SW side) 6800 ft CCSS H, M 01 Dec 2003 40" 190% —   40", 01 Dec 2003 Mt Shasta, Brewer Creek (east side) 6200 ft CCSS M no data     —   —   —   — Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) 5800 ft NPS D 01 Dec 2003 0" 0% 17" 6", 16 Nov 2003 Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) 8200 ft CCSS H, M 01 Dec 2003 39" 95% —   39", 01 Dec 2003 Lassen Chalet (SW of Lassen Peak) 6700 ft NPS D 01 Dec 2003 38" 170% 74" 38", 01 Dec 2003 Snowfall and Snowdepth Info (15 December 2003)     The good times continued in December, as a generally cold and wet cycle brought frequent storms and heavy snowfall, with only occasional rain reaching the higher elevations. This was capped by the major storm cycle over the weekend of the December 12-14, which brought heavy snowfall to a surprisingly broad range of latitudes all the way from southern BC to the central Sierra of California. Snowfall amounts during the weekend ranged from 3-4 ft for much of the Washington and Oregon Cascades, with 2-3 ft in northern California. Southwestern BC was the poor stepsister for once, receiving only about 1 ft while the rest of the range got buried. As of December 15, snowdepths are mostly well above average throughout the Cascade Range, even at low elevation sites which have often had early season difficulties in recent years. Snowdepths generally range from 120-200% of normal from Lassen Peak all the way north to Mount Baker, but then drop below normal heading north into BC. (Italicized numbers are estimated, grayed values are no longer current) State / Prov. Measurement Site Location Elevation Data Source and Frequency Date of Measurement Snow Depth Percent of Normal Seasonal Snowfall Year to Date Max. Depth BC Tenquille Lake (east of Mt Meager) 5500 ft BC RFC H, M 15 Dec 2003 44" 80% —   — Upper Squamish River (NW of Cayley) 4400 ft BC RFC H 15 Dec 2003 72" 90% —   — Callaghan Creek (east of Mt Cayley) 3400 ft BC RFC M no data     —   —   —   — Whistler Mtn, Pig Alley (N of Garibaldi) 5400 ft Ski Area D 15 Dec 2003 57" 100% 124" 57", 15 Dec 2003 Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) 3900 ft BC RFC M no data     —   —   —   — Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) 3600 ft BC RFC M no data     —   —   —   — WA Mt Baker Ski Area (NE of Mt Baker) 4200 ft NWAC H, D 15 Dec 2003 106" 156% 241" 110", 14 Dec 2003 Mt Baker, Wells Creek (north side) 4200 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 53" 180% —   53", 15 Dec 2003 Mt Baker, MF Nooksack (NW side) 5000 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 78" —   —   78", 15 Dec 2003 Mt Baker, Elbow Lake (SW side) 3200 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 52" 150% —   52", 15 Dec 2003 Rainy Pass (far NE of Glacier Peak) 4800 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 73" 145% —   73", 15 Dec 2003 Park Creek Ridge (E of Cascade Pass) 4600 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 75" 145% —   75", 15 Dec 2003 Stevens Pass [see also NRCS site] 4000 ft NWAC H, D 15 Dec 2003 72" 164% 126" 72", 15 Dec 2003 Snoqualmie Pass 3000 ft NWAC H, D 15 Dec 2003 68" 189% 152" 70", 14 Dec 2003 Crystal Mtn Ski Area (NE of Rainier) 4400 ft NWAC H, D 15 Dec 2003 51" 146% —   51", 15 Dec 2003 Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) 5600 ft NWAC H 14 Dec 2003 104" —   —   104", 14 Dec 2003 Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) 6400 ft NWAC H 15 Dec 2003 65" —   —   67", 14 Dec 2003 Mt Rainier, Paradise (south side) 5400 ft NWAC H, D 15 Dec 2003 103" 151% 213" 103", 15 Dec 2003 White Pass [see also NRCS site] 4500 ft NWAC H, D 15 Dec 2003 47" 157% —   47", 15 Dec 2003 Pigtail Peak (N of Goat Rocks) 5900 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 77" 115% —   77", 15 Dec 2003 Mt Saint Helens, Swift Creek (S side) 3800 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 69" —   —   69", 15 Dec 2003 Mt Saint Helens, June Lake (SE side) 3300 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 50" 135% —   50", 15 Dec 2003 OR Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge (S side) 6000 ft NWAC H, D 15 Dec 2003 89" 137% —   89", 15 Dec 2003 Mt Hood Test Site (south side) 5400 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 63" 120% —   63", 15 Dec 2003 Mt Hood, Government Camp (SW side) 4000 ft NCDC D 15 Dec 2003 36" 165% 86" 46", 26 Nov 2003 Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area (SE side) 5200 ft NWAC H, D 15 Dec 2003 61" 107% —   61", 15 Dec 2003 Hogg Pass (near Santiam Pass) 4800 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 45" 120% —   47", 14 Dec 2003 McKenzie (NW of Three Sisters) 4800 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 56" 145% —   56", 15 Dec 2003 Mt Bachelor Ski Area (north side) 6300 ft Ski Area D 15 Dec 2003 80" 170% —   80", 15 Dec 2003 Cascade Summit (NE of Diamond Peak) 4900 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 45" 150% —   46", 14 Dec 2003 Crater Lake, Park HQ (SW side) 6400 ft NPS H, D 15 Dec 2003 72" 150% 138" 72", 15 Dec 2003 Crater Lake, Annie Springs (SW side) 6000 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 51" 125% —   52", 14 Dec 2003 Fourmile Lake (east of Mt McLoughlin) 6000 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 46" 160% —   47", 14 Dec 2003 Mt McLoughlin, Billie Creek (SE side) 5300 ft NRCS H 15 Dec 2003 48" 220% —   49", 14 Dec 2003 CA Medicine Lake (west side of caldera) 6700 ft CCSS H*, A 15 Dec 2003 43" 170% —   45", 14 Dec 2003 Mt Shasta, Horse Camp (SW side) 7900 ft CCSS M no data     —   —   —   — Mt Shasta, Old Ski Bowl (south side) 7600 ft MSAC H 15 Dec 2003 84" 160% —   88", 14 Dec 2003 Mt Shasta, Sand Flat (SW side) 6800 ft CCSS H, M 15 Dec 2003 59" 150% —   61", 14 Dec 2003 Mt Shasta, Brewer Creek (east side) 6200 ft CCSS M no data     —   —   —   — Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) 5800 ft NPS D 15 Dec 2003 18" 180% 46" 18", 15 Dec 2003 Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) 8200 ft CCSS H, M 15 Dec 2003 82" 135% —   85", 14 Dec 2003 Lassen Chalet (SW of Lassen Peak) 6700 ft NPS D 15 Dec 2003 68" 170% 131" 74", 14 Dec 2003 Snowfall and Snowdepth Info (01 January 2004)     The excellent cold and wet weather pattern continued in the latter half of December, beginning with a system that hit northern WA and southwestern BC with 2-3 ft of snow on Dec 16-17. Santa brought the next major dump with him on Dec 24-25, depositing 2-4 ft of snowfall over the entire length of the Cascade range, followed by yet another system on Dec 28-29 which again left 2-4 ft from California to northern Washington, with lesser amounts in BC. Finally, 2003 was capped off and the New Year was ushered in by (guess what) another major system, dropping 2-3 more feet of snow from California to southern Washington. These last systems featured very low snow levels, right down to sea level at times in Washington and Oregon and shockingly dropping nearly a foot of snow in Redding, CA, well below 1000 ft elevation. As of January 1, snowdepths remain well above average throughout most of the Cascade Range, even at low elevation sites which have often had early season difficulties in recent years. Snowdepths generally range from 120-200% of normal from Lassen Peak all the way north to southernmost BC, but then drop closer to normal heading farther north into BC. In the region near the Oregon-California border, from Mount Shasta to Mount McLoughlin, snowdepths exceed 200% of normal for this date and are in fact greater than the normal April 1 annual maxima at these sites. (Italicized numbers are estimated, grayed values are no longer current) State / Prov. Measurement Site Location Elevation Data Source and Frequency Date of Measurement Snow Depth Percent of Normal Seasonal Snowfall Year to Date Max. Depth BC Tenquille Lake (east of Mt Meager) 5500 ft BC RFC H, M 28 Dec 2003 67" 100% —   — Upper Squamish River (NW of Cayley) 4400 ft BC RFC H 01 Jan 2004 102" 105% —   109", 28 Dec 2003 Callaghan Creek (east of Mt Cayley) 3400 ft BC RFC M no data     —   —   —   — Whistler Mtn, Pig Alley (N of Garibaldi) 5400 ft Ski Area D 01 Jan 2004 68" 108% 189" 74", 26 Dec 2003 Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) 3900 ft BC RFC M 29 Dec 2003 109" 135% —   — Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) 3600 ft BC RFC M 31 Dec 2003 89" 169% —   — WA Mt Baker Ski Area (NE of Mt Baker) 4200 ft NWAC H, D 01 Jan 2004 129" 141% 326" 134", 28 Dec 2003 Mt Baker, Wells Creek (north side) 4200 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 70" 175% —   77", 29 Dec 2003 Mt Baker, MF Nooksack (NW side) 5000 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 101" —   —   105", 28 Dec 2003 Mt Baker, Elbow Lake (SW side) 3200 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 69" 150% —   72", 29 Dec 2003 Rainy Pass (far NE of Glacier Peak) 4800 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 66" 100% —   76", 17 Dec 2003 Park Creek Ridge (E of Cascade Pass) 4600 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 85" 123% —   86", 28 Dec 2003 Stevens Pass [see also NRCS site] 4000 ft NWAC H, D 01 Jan 2004 68" 110% 181" 74", 28 Dec 2003 Snoqualmie Pass 3000 ft NWAC H, D 01 Jan 2004 66" 127% 197" 70", 31 Dec 2003 Crystal Mtn Ski Area (NE of Rainier) 4400 ft NWAC H, D 01 Jan 2004 59" 148% —   61", 28 Dec 2003 Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) 5600 ft NWAC H 30 Dec 2003 116" —   —   120", 29 Dec 2003 Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) 6400 ft NWAC H 30 Dec 2003 76" —   —   81", 28 Dec 2003 Mt Rainier, Paradise (south side) 5400 ft NWAC H, D 01 Jan 2004 115" 126% 305" 115", 01 Jan 2004 White Pass [see also NRCS site] 4500 ft NWAC H, D 01 Jan 2004 52" 149% —   52", 01 Jan 2004 Pigtail Peak (N of Goat Rocks) 5900 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 92" 105% —   95", 29 Dec 2003 Mt Saint Helens, Swift Creek (S side) 3800 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 106" —   —   106", 01 Jan 2004 Mt Saint Helens, June Lake (SE side) 3300 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 72" 145% —   72", 01 Jan 2004 OR Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge (S side) 6000 ft NWAC H, D 01 Jan 2004 136" 179% —   136", 01 Jan 2004 Mt Hood Test Site (south side) 5400 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 102" 144% —   105", 29 Dec 2003 Mt Hood, Government Camp (SW side) 4000 ft NCDC D 01 Jan 2004 59" 190% 129" 61", 31 Dec 2003 Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area (SE side) 5200 ft NWAC H, D 01 Jan 2004 91" 126% —   97", 29 Dec 2003 Hogg Pass (near Santiam Pass) 4800 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 81" 162% —   81", 01 Jan 2004 McKenzie (NW of Three Sisters) 4800 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 98" 188% —   98", 01 Jan 2004 Mt Bachelor Ski Area (north side) 6300 ft Ski Area D 01 Jan 2004 114" 180% —   114", 01 Jan 2004 Cascade Summit (NE of Diamond Peak) 4900 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 74" 172% —   74", 01 Jan 2004 Crater Lake, Park HQ (SW side) 6400 ft NPS H, D 01 Jan 2004 97" 150% 202" 97", 01 Jan 2004 Crater Lake, Annie Springs (SW side) 6000 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 76" 140% —   76", 01 Jan 2004 Fourmile Lake (east of Mt McLoughlin) 6000 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 73" 175% —   73", 01 Jan 2004 Mt McLoughlin, Billie Creek (SE side) 5300 ft NRCS H 01 Jan 2004 68" 220% —   68", 01 Jan 2004 CA Medicine Lake (west side of caldera) 6700 ft CCSS H*, A 01 Jan 2004 82" 250% —   82", 01 Jan 2004 Mt Shasta, Horse Camp (SW side) 7900 ft CCSS M no data     —   —   —   — Mt Shasta, Old Ski Bowl (south side) 7600 ft MSAC H 01 Jan 2004 133" 190% 185" 133", 01 Jan 2004 Mt Shasta, Sand Flat (SW side) 6800 ft CCSS H, M 01 Jan 2004 101" 180% —   101", 01 Jan 2004 Mt Shasta, Brewer Creek (east side) 6200 ft CCSS M no data     —   —   —   — Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) 5800 ft NPS D 01 Jan 2004 36" 240% 83" 36", 01 Jan 2004 Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) 8200 ft CCSS H, M 01 Jan 2004 126" 154% —   126", 01 Jan 2004 Lassen Chalet (SW of Lassen Peak) 6700 ft NPS D 01 Jan 2004 118" 200% 223" 118", 01 Jan 2004 Snowfall and Snowdepth Info (15 January 2004)     The New Year was ushered in by more heavy snowfall and the coldest temperatures in nearly a decade, with lows dropping below 0 °F at the Washington Cascade passes and even below -20 °F in the high country of southwestern BC during the first weekend of 2004. The heaviest snowfalls over the first week of 2004 were concentrated in the region from Mount Rainier south to Crater Lake, where many sites received 4-7 ft of snowfall, with lesser amounts to the north and south. Heavy snowfall of a foot or more fell even in the lowlands of WA and OR, while Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood reinforced its position as this season's snowdepth leader, reaching nearly 14 ft of base by January 7. But then the weather pattern shifted completely the following week, with warming temperatures and rising freezing levels. As expected, this brought substantial settlement and a significant decrease in snowdepths, capped on January 14 by the first major rains to reach higher elevations up to 6000-7000 ft in over a month. Despite the recent decrease, snowdepths remain above average throughout most of the Cascade Range as of January 15, even at low elevation sites which have often had early season difficulties in recent years. Snowdepths generally range from 110-160% of normal from Lassen Peak all the way north to the central WA Cascades, but then drop to normal or below heading into northern WA and BC. In the region near the Oregon-California border, from Mount Shasta to Mount McLoughlin, snowdepths exceed 150% of normal for this date and are close to or greater than the normal April 1 annual maxima at these sites. (Italicized numbers are estimated, grayed values are no longer current) State / Prov. Measurement Site Location Elevation Data Source and Frequency Date of Measurement Snow Depth Percent of Normal Seasonal Snowfall Year to Date Max. Depth BC Tenquille Lake (east of Mt Meager) 5500 ft BC RFC H, M 15 Jan 2004 65" 83% —   — Upper Squamish River (NW of Cayley) 4400 ft BC RFC H 15 Jan 2004 94" 92% —   117", 09 Jan 2004 Callaghan Creek (east of Mt Cayley) 3400 ft BC RFC M no data     —   —   —   — Whistler Mtn, Pig Alley (N of Garibaldi) 5400 ft Ski Area D 15 Jan 2004 63" 88% 220" 74", 26 Dec 2003 Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) 3900 ft BC RFC M 29 Dec 2003 109" 135% —   — Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) 3600 ft BC RFC M 31 Dec 2003 89" 169% —   — WA Mt Baker Ski Area (NE of Mt Baker) 4200 ft NWAC H, D 15 Jan 2004 112" 104% 370" 142", 08 Jan 2004 Mt Baker, Wells Creek (north side) 4200 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 59" 130% —   77", 29 Dec 2003 Mt Baker, MF Nooksack (NW side) 5000 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 87" —   —   110", 03 Jan 2004 Mt Baker, Elbow Lake (SW side) 3200 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 54" 100% —   76", 04 Jan 2004 Rainy Pass (far NE of Glacier Peak) 4800 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 66" 85% —   76", 17 Dec 2003 Park Creek Ridge (E of Cascade Pass) 4600 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 79" 90% —   90", 08 Jan 2004 Stevens Pass [see also NRCS site] 4000 ft NWAC H, D 15 Jan 2004 65" 89% 222" 78", 07 Jan 2004 Snoqualmie Pass 3000 ft NWAC H, D 15 Jan 2004 70" 108% 247" 87", 08 Jan 2004 Crystal Mtn Ski Area (NE of Rainier) 4400 ft NWAC H, D 15 Jan 2004 54" 112% —   66", 08 Jan 2004 Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) 5600 ft NWAC H 30 Dec 2003 116" —   —   — Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) 6400 ft NWAC H 30 Dec 2003 76" —   —   — Mt Rainier, Paradise (south side) 5400 ft NWAC H, D 15 Jan 2004 111" 99% 378" 145", 07 Jan 2004 White Pass [see also NRCS site] 4500 ft NWAC H, D 15 Jan 2004 54" 123% —   66", 07 Jan 2004 Pigtail Peak (N of Goat Rocks) 5900 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 87" 80% —   105", 07 Jan 2004 Mt Saint Helens, Swift Creek (S side) 3800 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 96" —   —   124", 07 Jan 2004 Mt Saint Helens, June Lake (SE side) 3300 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 67" 120% —   94", 07 Jan 2004 OR Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge (S side) 6000 ft NWAC H, D 15 Jan 2004 139" 138% —   164", 07 Jan 2004 Mt Hood Test Site (south side) 5400 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 100" 115% —   122", 07 Jan 2004 Mt Hood, Government Camp (SW side) 4000 ft NCDC D 15 Jan 2004 45" 115% 160" 77", 07 Jan 2004 Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area (SE side) 5200 ft NWAC H, D 15 Jan 2004 100" 115% —   120", 07 Jan 2004 Hogg Pass (near Santiam Pass) 4800 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 68" 110% —   88", 04 Jan 2004 McKenzie (NW of Three Sisters) 4800 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 78" 125% —   107", 04 Jan 2004 Mt Bachelor Ski Area (north side) 6300 ft Ski Area D 15 Jan 2004 106" 140% —   124", 08 Jan 2004 Cascade Summit (NE of Diamond Peak) 4900 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 64" 125% —   85", 04 Jan 2004 Crater Lake, Park HQ (SW side) 6400 ft NPS H, D 15 Jan 2004 106" 134% 277" 120", 08 Jan 2004 Crater Lake, Annie Springs (SW side) 6000 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 87" 130% —   104", 08 Jan 2004 Fourmile Lake (east of Mt McLoughlin) 6000 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 67" 145% —   79", 02 Jan 2004 Mt McLoughlin, Billie Creek (SE side) 5300 ft NRCS H 15 Jan 2004 62" 165% —   74", 04 Jan 2004 CA Medicine Lake (west side of caldera) 6700 ft CCSS H*, A 15 Jan 2004 74" 185% —   82", 01 Jan 2004 Mt Shasta, Horse Camp (SW side) 7900 ft CCSS M no data     —   —   —   — Mt Shasta, Old Ski Bowl (south side) 7600 ft MSAC H 15 Jan 2004 126" 160% 221" 138", 09 Jan 2004 Mt Shasta, Sand Flat (SW side) 6800 ft CCSS H, M 15 Jan 2004 91" 140% —   102", 02 Jan 2004 Mt Shasta, Brewer Creek (east side) 6200 ft CCSS M no data     —   —   —   — Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) 5800 ft NPS D 15 Jan 2004 27" 150% 100" 41", 02 Jan 2004 Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) 8200 ft CCSS H, M 15 Jan 2004 124" 120% —   133", 02 Jan 2004 Lassen Chalet (SW of Lassen Peak) 6700 ft NPS D 15 Jan 2004 103" 137% 257" 118", 02 Jan 2004 Snowfall and Snowdepth Info (01 February 2004)     Following a predominantly dry week, winter finally returned in the last week of January, with a major storm cycle dropping 3-4 ft of snow from northern WA to southern OR, with somewhat lesser amounts in BC and much less in CA. Unfortunately, a huge wedge of warm tropical air was pulled into OR and WA as the system intensified at the peak of this storm cycle, bringing massive amounts of rain (up to 4-6 inches) at elevations as high as 6000-7000 ft, while BC and even CA miraculously escaped the heavy rain. Thankfully, the rain was again followed by heavy snowfall over the final 2 days of the month, topping things off with 1-3 ft of fresh light powder at low snow levels from southern OR to BC. As of February 1, snowdepths remain above average throughout most of the Cascade Range, even at low elevation sites which have often had difficulties in recent years. Snowdepths generally range from 110-150% of normal from Lassen Peak all the way to southernmost BC, but then drop to near normal or below heading farther north. Mount Rainier (Paradise) and Mount Hood (Timberline Lodge) are now vying for superiority as this season's snowdepth leader, with both reaching depths of over 14 ft and already matching or slightly exceeding their typical April 1 annual maxima. In a small region near Mount McLoughlin in southern Oregon (which is historically the lowest snowfall region in the main Cascade Range), snowdepths exceed 160% of normal for this date and far surpass the normal annual maxima at these sites. (Italicized numbers are estimated, grayed values are no longer current) State / Prov. Measurement Site Location Elevation Data Source and Frequency Date of Measurement Snow Depth Percent of Normal Seasonal Snowfall Year to Date Max. Depth BC Tenquille Lake (east of Mt Meager) 5500 ft BC RFC H, M 01 Feb 2004 80" 88% —   — Upper Squamish River (NW of Cayley) 4400 ft BC RFC H 01 Feb 2004 115" 96% —   121", 30 Jan 2004 Callaghan Creek (east of Mt Cayley) 3400 ft BC RFC M 29 Jan 2004 62" 105% —   — Whistler Mtn, Pig Alley (N of Garibaldi) 5400 ft Ski Area D 01 Feb 2004 85" 105% 267" 92", 30 Jan 2004 Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) 3900 ft BC RFC M 05 Feb 2004 125" 116% —   — Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) 3600 ft BC RFC M 27 Jan 2004 93" 115% —   — WA Mt Baker Ski Area</