Cascade Snowfall and Snowdepth 2004-2005
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2004-2005 Snow Season Summary (last updated June 2005)
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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
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Season Summary as of June 1, 2005: The 2004-2005 season will go down in the record books
for the worst snowpack in the WA and northern OR Cascades since 1940-41, and the worst in southwestern BC in at
least 12-25 years depending on location. As of March 15, this season was by far the worst ever following a month
of warmth and severe drought, but the next month brought sustained heavy snowfall and a belated return to winter
conditions, salvaging some portion of the spring skiing season in those regions. Surprisingly, Whistler
Mountain set a new April snowfall record with 78", all in the first 18 days of the month, surpassing the
76" from 2003. However, no snowfall was recorded at that measurement site over the next 4 weeks, and
despite the record month, total snowfall for the season is only 289" (70% of normal), the lowest since
1978-79. The 405" of snowfall (60% of normal) thus far at Mount Rainier Paradise is the lowest since the
1940-41 season, which recorded only 313" (the drought-stricken 1976-77 season had 413" as of June 1
and finished with 414"). However, total precipitation this season at Paradise is over 105" (94% of
normal) due to heavy rainstorms in August, September, January, and May, so this certainly can not be labeled a
drought season. The official June 1 snowdepth of 0" makes this the only season since 1941 that Paradise
has had zero snowdepth on June 1 (average depth is 122"), and the maximum snowdepth of 95" reached on
April 15 is the lowest seasonal maximum ever recorded back to 1916-17. Shockingly, this is the only season that
Paradise has ever failed to reach at least 100", and both Mount Baker Ski Area and Mount Hood Timberline
also failed to reach 100" anytime this season. In contrast, during a typical season those three sites reach
almost 200" of snowdepth at some point during March or April. The only Pacific Northwest ski areas to
endure the entire 2004-2005 season without lengthy closures were Whistler, Timberline, and Mount Bachelor, and
as usual these are the only three areas remaining open into May and beyond (although Bachelor was finally forced
to close on May 15, 2 weeks earlier than planned).
In southern OR, the 2004-2005 season was well below normal but not nearly as bad as 2000-2001,
as Crater Lake received 376" of snowfall (72% of normal) this season versus only 279" four years ago.
In the northern CA Cascades, the season was generally above normal throughout but not quite as good as either of
the last two years (although 2004 did have an early spring meltdown which 2005 has avoided). Heavy snowfall at
higher elevations in May has now built the snowpack to well above normal on Shasta and Lassen, ensuring an
excellent spring and early summer ski season. For the third straight season, Lassen Peak Lake Helen was the
Cascades snowdepth leader, recording 174" during the March 31 snow survey with an estimated maximum of
about 178" two days earlier. The central and southern Sierra Nevada enjoyed a banner year, the best since
the huge seasons of 1994-95 and 1997-98, with snowfall and snowdepth exceeding 130-150% of normal at many
locations. Several sites exceeded 200" of snowdepth during the huge storm cycles of early January and late
March. Kirkwood recorded 640" of snowfall at its base and 804" on top through May 1, while the
607" at Mammoth Mountain through June 1 is the second-most ever recorded, with a shot at breaking the
record of 617" if there is heavy snowfall in June. Several Sierra ski areas extended their seasons to
Memorial Day, with Mammoth likely to remain open into July.
See the semimonthly reports below for a detailed discussion of the season . . .
The graph and table below summarize snowdepths at 10 important sites throughout the entire Cascade
Range during the 2004-2005 season (record lows are shown in red in the table).
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). Place your mouse over the links below to
compare the same plot for previous seasons and with normal values for the period of record (this only works if
you have a JavaScript-enabled browser). 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
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---- BRITISH COLUMBIA ---- |
---------- WASHINGTON ---------- |
-------------- OREGON -------------- |
------ CALIFORNIA ------ |
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Mt Cayley
Squamish R.
4400 ft |
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Whistler Mtn
Ski Area
5400 ft |
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Mt Baker
Ski Area
4200 ft |
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Mt Rainier
Paradise
5400 ft |
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Mt St Helens
Swift Creek
3800 ft |
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Mt Hood
Timberline
6000 ft |
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Mt Bachelor
Ski Area
6300 ft |
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Crater Lake
Park HQ
6400 ft |
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Mt Shasta
Old Ski Bowl
7600 ft |
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Lassen Peak
Lake Helen
8200 ft |
| 01 Nov 2004 |
| 20" |
|
| — |
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| 28" |
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| 22" |
|
| 8" |
|
| 28" |
|
| 14" |
|
| 23" |
|
| 30" |
|
| 32" |
|
| 15 Nov 2004 |
25" |
32" |
10" |
11" |
0" |
14" |
10" |
9" |
25" |
22" |
| 01 Dec 2004 |
38" |
34" |
25" |
25" |
8" |
28" |
19" |
15" |
25" |
21" |
| 15 Dec 2004 |
64" |
48" |
40" |
36" |
22" |
44" |
48" |
40" |
58" |
46" |
| 01 Jan 2005 |
68" |
51" |
46" |
47" |
51" |
45" |
52" |
59" |
114" |
101" |
| 15 Jan 2005 |
67" |
48" |
58" |
55" |
67" |
52" |
58" |
66" |
118" |
108" |
| 01 Feb 2005 |
60" |
50" |
20" |
39" |
43" |
40" |
50" |
51" |
114" |
117" |
| 15 Feb 2005 |
64" |
55" |
38" |
58" |
54" |
55" |
61" |
53" |
113" |
124" |
| 01 Mar 2005 |
65" |
55" |
34" |
43" |
51" |
43" |
61" |
51" |
130" |
142" |
| 15 Mar 2005 |
58" |
49" |
15" |
34" |
44" |
39" |
57" |
42" |
121" |
124" |
| 01 Apr 2005 |
107" |
92" |
78" |
89" |
77" |
74" |
76" |
81" |
146" |
174" |
| 15 Apr 2005 |
122" |
88" |
79" |
95" |
84" |
88" |
80" |
87" |
144" |
170" |
| 01 May 2005 |
94" |
69" |
52" |
54" |
57" |
65" |
64" |
67" |
134" |
162" |
| 15 May 2005 |
67" |
50" |
20" |
32" |
33" |
53" |
46" |
53" |
131" |
160" |
| 01 Jun 2005 |
43" |
26" |
0" |
0" |
0" |
— |
— |
25" |
100" |
126" |
| 15 Jun 2005 |
15" |
— |
0" |
0" |
0" |
— |
— |
3" |
73" |
100" |
| 01 Jul 2005 |
0" |
— |
0" |
0" |
0" |
— |
— |
0" |
51" |
70" |
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| Seasonal Max |
138" |
102" |
90" |
95" |
86" |
89" |
84" |
91" |
155" |
178" |
| Date of Max |
16 Apr
2005 |
06 Apr
2005 |
17 Apr
2005 |
15 Apr
2005 |
13 Apr
2005 |
14 Apr
2005 |
04 Apr
2005 |
08 Apr
2005 |
29 Mar
2005 |
29 Mar
2005 |
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Semimonthly Snowfall and Snowdepth Reports for the 2004-2005 Season
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The tables below show semimonthly snowfall and snowdepth info at 43 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 for the 2004-2005 season:
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State /
Prov. |
Measurement Site Location |
Elevation |
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Data Source
and Frequency |
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Information and Notes |
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| WA |
Mt Baker, Wells Creek
(north side) | 4200 ft |
NRCS |
H | Existing SNOTEL site with snowdepth, added retroactive to 2003-2004 |
| Mt Baker, Elbow Lake
(SW side) | 3200 ft |
NRCS |
H | Existing SNOTEL site with snowdepth, added retroactive to 2003-2004 |
| Park Creek Ridge
(E of Cascade Pass) | 4600 ft |
NRCS |
H | Existing SNOTEL site with snowdepth, added retroactive to 2003-2004 |
| OR |
Mt Hood,
Government Camp (SW side) | 4000 ft |
NCDC |
D | Long-term daily weather site, added retroactive to 2002-2003 |
| Crater Lake, Caldera Rim (SW side) |
7100 ft |
NWAC |
H | Existing NWAC telemetry site, added to list |
| CA |
Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) |
5800 ft |
NPS |
D | Long-term daily weather site, added retroactive to 2002-2003 |
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Snowfall and Snowdepth Info (01 November 2004)
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The 2004-2005 snow season certainly received a very promising launch, even long before the summer
officially drew to a close. The first snowstorms of the new snow year arrived in late August and early
September, depositing as much as a foot of new snow above 6-7000 ft in the Washington Cascades with lesser
amounts to the north in BC and also as far south as Mount Hood. Then in the middle of the month, even though
the calendar still said summer, an unseasonably cold storm system from Sept 17-19 brought accumulating snowfall
as low as 5000 ft elevation throughout the Cascades of BC, Washington, and Oregon. About 2 inches of snow was
recorded at Mount Rainier Paradise, with 3 inches at Mount Hood Timberline and 2 inches at Crater Lake Park
Headquarters, while much greater amounts fell at higher elevations. This was the coldest and wettest September
in the Pacific Northwest for many years, at least since 1997 and probably even earlier. September ski conditions
on the permanent snowfields of WA and OR were by far the best since 1997.
October continued the unusually cold and wet pattern of September, especially at the southern end of the
range. The typical fair weather of early autumn was interrupted by two major storm cycles which each dumped heavy
snowfall in the southern Cascades and Sierra Nevada during the 3rd and 4th weeks of the month. The first system
was the bigger one with snow levels down to 4-5000 ft, as Mount Shasta received over 30", Crater Lake
nearly 2 ft, and amounts of a foot reaching as far north as Mount Hood. The jackpot was in the central and
southern Sierra, though, as Mammoth Mountain received 56" from Oct 17-20, enough for the ski area to open
the next day for its earliest opening in 10 years. The next system a week later brought another 18-24"
throughout the Sierra and southern Cascades as far north as Crater Lake, with much less farther north. For the
month of October, Mammoth received a record 82" of snowfall (with data back to 1968), while the Central
Sierra Snow Lab in Soda Springs received over 4 ft, the most in its nearly 60 years of record-keeping. Crater
Lake didn't set any records, but its 56" of snowfall was over 250% of October's normal. Unfortunately, the
northern Cascades from central OR through WA and BC largely missed out on the bounty. A modest system to start
the final weekend of October brought less than a foot of snow. A major system ushering in November turned into
a Pineapple Express, with snow levels rising from 3000 ft to 9000 ft and heavy snowfall changing to torrential
rains for 24 hours, before belated cooling and a change back to snow briefly at its tail end. Only southwestern
BC escaped the bulk of the warming, with Whistler receiving its first major dump of over 14" in the alpine
and 6" all the way down to the village (2200 ft). California missed the good and the bad, since despite
basking in the warm air there was little precip that far south from the main thrust of the system. The trailing
cold front brought several inches of snow to the southern Cascades by November 3.
As of November 1 (before the heavy rains and trailing snow), most mid- and high-elevation sites in
the Cascades are reporting 12-30" of snowdepth. Only a few sites have historical data for this early in
the season, making quantitative comparisons to normal amounts difficult (many of the percentage values listed
below have been estimated by extrapolation). It appears that the snow season is currently running about 2 weeks
ahead of normal in the north and over 4 weeks ahead at the southern end. However, the predicted weather pattern
for the first half of November is not favorable for any major snowstorms in the Cascades, so things may soon
fall back closer to normal. If El Niño conditions continue to develop and strengthen in the eastern
Pacific, then the weather pattern may continue to favor southern Oregon and California throughout the early part
of the season.
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(Italicized numbers are estimated, grayed values are no longer current)
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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 Nov 2004 |
15" |
|
150% |
|
— |
|
16", 30 Oct 2004 |
| Upper Squamish River (NW of Cayley) |
4400 ft |
BC RFC |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
20" |
200% |
— |
21", 30 Oct 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 | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) |
3900 ft |
BC RFC |
M | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) |
3700 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 02 Nov 2004 |
3" |
200% |
— |
— |
| WA |
Mt Baker Ski Area (NE of Mt Baker) |
4200 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Nov 2004 |
28" |
400% |
— |
28", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Baker, Wells Creek (north side) |
4200 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
7" |
350% |
— |
7", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Baker, MF Nooksack (NW side) |
5000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
15" |
300% |
— |
15", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Baker, Elbow Lake (SW side) |
3200 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
— |
— |
| Rainy Pass (far NE of Glacier Peak) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
18" |
270% |
— |
18", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Park Creek Ridge (E of Cascade Pass) |
4600 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
16" |
230% |
— |
16", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Stevens Pass [see also NRCS site] |
4000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Nov 2004 |
24" |
400% |
— |
24", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Snoqualmie Pass |
3000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Crystal Mtn Ski Area (NE of Rainier) |
4400 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Nov 2004 |
4" |
100% |
— |
5", 31 Oct 2004 |
| Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) |
5600 ft |
NWAC |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
17" |
— |
— |
17", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) |
6400 ft |
NWAC |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
13" |
— |
— |
13", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Rainier, Paradise (south side) |
5400 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Nov 2004 |
22" |
220% |
42" |
22", 01 Nov 2004 |
| White Pass [see also NRCS site] |
4500 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Nov 2004 |
3" |
80% |
— |
3", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Pigtail Peak (N of Goat Rocks) |
5900 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
16" |
180% |
— |
16", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Saint Helens, Swift Creek (S side) |
3800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
8" |
270% |
— |
8", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Saint Helens, June Lake (SE side) |
3300 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
2" |
100% |
— |
2", 01 Nov 2004 |
| OR |
Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge (S side) |
6000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Nov 2004 |
28" |
350% |
— |
28", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Hood Test Site (south side) |
5400 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
15" |
200% |
— |
16", 31 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Hood, Government Camp (SW side) |
4000 ft |
NCDC |
D | 01 Nov 2004 |
3" |
100% |
7" |
4", 24 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area (SE side) |
5200 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Nov 2004 |
19" |
250% |
— |
19", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Hogg Pass (near Santiam Pass) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
5" |
100% |
— |
5", 01 Nov 2004 |
| McKenzie (NW of Three Sisters) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
7" |
140% |
— |
7", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Bachelor Ski Area (north side) |
6300 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 01 Nov 2004 |
14" |
200% |
— |
14", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Cascade Summit (NE of Diamond Peak) |
4900 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
8" |
400% |
— |
11", 27 Oct 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Caldera Rim (SW side) |
7100 ft |
NWAC |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
34" |
— |
— |
37", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Park HQ (SW side) |
6400 ft |
NPS |
H, D | 31 Oct 2004 |
23" |
330% |
59" |
26", 27 Oct 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Annie Springs (SW side) |
6000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
15" |
300% |
— |
17", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Fourmile Lake (east of Mt McLoughlin) |
6000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
5" |
250% |
— |
7", 28 Oct 2004 |
| Mt McLoughlin, Billie Creek (SE side) |
5300 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Nov 2004 |
4" |
200% |
— |
6", 26 Oct 2004 |
| CA |
Medicine Lake (west side of caldera) |
6700 ft |
CCSS |
H*, A | 01 Nov 2004 |
18" |
900% |
— |
22", 26 Oct 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 Nov 2004 |
30" |
400% |
55" |
39", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Shasta, Sand Flat (SW side) |
6800 ft |
CCSS |
H, M | 01 Nov 2004 |
26" |
1200% |
— |
34", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Shasta, Brewer Creek (east side) |
6200 ft |
CCSS |
M | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) |
5800 ft |
NPS |
D | 01 Nov 2004 |
3" |
1500% |
21" |
10", 28 Oct 2004 |
| Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) |
8200 ft |
CCSS |
H, M | 01 Nov 2004 |
32" |
400% |
— |
37", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Lassen Chalet (SW of Lassen Peak) |
6700 ft |
NPS |
D | 03 Nov 2004 |
28" |
700% |
58" |
— |
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Snowfall and Snowdepth Info (15 November 2004)
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Well, unfortunately the weather pattern developed as predicted during the first half of
November, and there were no major storm systems over much of Cascades during the period. A large system did
clip the northern edge of the region at the end of the first week, dumping up to 1-2 ft of snow in the Coast
Mountains of southwestern BC, including the northernmost Cascade volcanoes. Another system arrived at the end
of the second weekend, bringing high freezing levels of 8000-9000 ft and rain to most of the range, with cooler
temperatures providing up to a foot of snow above 5000 ft in southwestern BC. Overall, during the first half of
November all measurement sites in WA, OR, and CA lost significant amounts of snowdepth, while sites in BC gained
a small amount. As of November 15, most mid- and high-elevation sites in the Cascades are reporting only 1-2 ft
of snowdepth, with zero snow at lower elevations. The very promising early-season pattern of September and
October has reversed itself, and it now appears that the snow season is running about 2 weeks behind normal in
OR and WA, and close to normal in BC and CA. The predicted two-week outlook for the second half of November is
not favorable either, with above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation expected.
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(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 Nov 2004 |
17" |
|
75% |
|
— |
|
26", 07 Nov 2004 |
| Upper Squamish River (NW of Cayley) |
4400 ft |
BC RFC |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
25" |
115% |
— |
42", 07 Nov 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 Nov 2004 |
32" |
120% |
— |
— |
| Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) |
3900 ft |
BC RFC |
M | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) |
3700 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
— |
— |
| WA |
Mt Baker Ski Area (NE of Mt Baker) |
4200 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Nov 2004 |
10" |
45% |
— |
28", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Baker, Wells Creek (north side) |
4200 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
2" |
70% |
— |
7", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Baker, MF Nooksack (NW side) |
5000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
3" |
20% |
— |
15", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Baker, Elbow Lake (SW side) |
3200 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
— |
— |
| Rainy Pass (far NE of Glacier Peak) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
9" |
50% |
— |
18", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Park Creek Ridge (E of Cascade Pass) |
4600 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
3" |
20% |
— |
16", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Stevens Pass [see also NRCS site] |
4000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Nov 2004 |
5" |
33% |
— |
24", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Snoqualmie Pass |
3000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
3" |
— |
| Crystal Mtn Ski Area (NE of Rainier) |
4400 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
— |
5", 31 Oct 2004 |
| Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) |
5600 ft |
NWAC |
H | 11 Nov 2004 |
8" |
— |
— |
17", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) |
6400 ft |
NWAC |
H | 11 Nov 2004 |
9" |
— |
— |
13", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Rainier, Paradise (south side) |
5400 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Nov 2004 |
11" |
46% |
45" |
22", 01 Nov 2004 |
| White Pass [see also NRCS site] |
4500 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
— |
3", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Pigtail Peak (N of Goat Rocks) |
5900 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
9" |
40% |
— |
16", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Saint Helens, Swift Creek (S side) |
3800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
— |
8", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Saint Helens, June Lake (SE side) |
3300 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
— |
2", 01 Nov 2004 |
| OR |
Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge (S side) |
6000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Nov 2004 |
14" |
127% |
— |
28", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Hood Test Site (south side) |
5400 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
2" |
10% |
— |
16", 31 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Hood, Government Camp (SW side) |
4000 ft |
NCDC |
D | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
7" |
4", 24 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area (SE side) |
5200 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Nov 2004 |
6" |
67% |
— |
19", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Hogg Pass (near Santiam Pass) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
— |
5", 01 Nov 2004 |
| McKenzie (NW of Three Sisters) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
5" |
40% |
— |
7", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Bachelor Ski Area (north side) |
6300 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 15 Nov 2004 |
10" |
60% |
— |
14", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Cascade Summit (NE of Diamond Peak) |
4900 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
5" |
80% |
— |
11", 27 Oct 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Caldera Rim (SW side) |
7100 ft |
NWAC |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
26" |
— |
— |
37", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Park HQ (SW side) |
6400 ft |
NPS |
H, D | 15 Nov 2004 |
9" |
60% |
66" |
26", 27 Oct 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Annie Springs (SW side) |
6000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
11" |
80% |
— |
18", 03 Nov 2004 |
| Fourmile Lake (east of Mt McLoughlin) |
6000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
1" |
20% |
— |
7", 28 Oct 2004 |
| Mt McLoughlin, Billie Creek (SE side) |
5300 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
— |
6", 26 Oct 2004 |
| CA |
Medicine Lake (west side of caldera) |
6700 ft |
CCSS |
H*, A | 15 Nov 2004 |
15" |
160% |
— |
22", 26 Oct 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 Nov 2004 |
25" |
140% |
61" |
39", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Shasta, Sand Flat (SW side) |
6800 ft |
CCSS |
H, M | 15 Nov 2004 |
20" |
170% |
— |
34", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Shasta, Brewer Creek (east side) |
6200 ft |
CCSS |
M | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) |
5800 ft |
NPS |
D | 15 Nov 2004 |
0" |
0% |
29" |
10", 28 Oct 2004 |
| Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) |
8200 ft |
CCSS |
H, M | 15 Nov 2004 |
22" |
110% |
— |
37", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Lassen Chalet (SW of Lassen Peak) |
6700 ft |
NPS |
D | 16 Nov 2004 |
12" |
120% |
60" |
— |
|
|
Snowfall and Snowdepth Info (01 December 2004)
|
|
The second half of November brought some relief from the lack of snowfall, especially at the
northern end of the Cascade Range. A moderately-large system from November 17-19 dumped 1-2 ft of snow in the
northern WA and southern BC Cascades, with much smaller amounts of only a few inches as far south as Mount Hood.
This was just enough snowfall for the Blackcomb and Mount Baker ski areas to open for the season the following
weekend (Nov 20-21), the first areas to open in the Pacific Northwest. Mount Bachelor also opened on a thin
base two days before Thanksgiving, but Baker was forced to close that day as a major storm system approached.
Unfortunately, this was another Pineapple Express, loaded with 3-4 inches of heavy rain at freezing levels up to
8000 ft. The trailing cold front brought cooling weather, but little snowfall. However, the weather pattern
shifted by the weekend after Thanksgiving, as a series of smaller systems with cool temperatures finally
delivered the goods. One system brought 8-12" of light dry powder on Saturday to WA and BC, while
simultaneously a second more potent system dove south into California, producing 12-18" of powder from
Lassen south along the length of the Sierra Nevada. Strong winds following that system scoured away much of the
new snow at high elevations on Shasta and Lassen. November closed with yet another small system bringing
4-8" from Mount Hood north to BC into the first of December.
Snowdepths as of December 1 are generally about half of normal throughout the WA and OR Cascades,
while in southwestern BC they are closer to 80% of normal and in northern California they remain near normal at
some sites. The early season Cascades snowdepth leader is the Upper Squamish River site near Mount Cayley in BC
with over 3 ft on the ground, followed closely by the sites at the Crater Lake caldera rim and Whistler
Mountain. Despite the recent gains, the Cascade snowpack is still running a few weeks behind schedule in most
areas. Help may be on the way, though, as a major storm system with very low freezing levels is forecast for
the first weekend of December. However, the two-week long term outlook continues to predict warmer and drier
than normal conditions in the Pacific Northwest.
|
|
|
(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 2004 |
33" |
|
80% |
|
— |
|
37", 18 Nov 2004 |
| Upper Squamish River (NW of Cayley) |
4400 ft |
BC RFC |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
38" |
70% |
— |
42", 07 Nov 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 | 01 Dec 2004 |
34" |
80% |
47" |
— |
| Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) |
3900 ft |
BC RFC |
M | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) |
3700 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 01 Dec 2004 |
12" |
40% |
— |
— |
| WA |
Mt Baker Ski Area (NE of Mt Baker) |
4200 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Dec 2004 |
25" |
51% |
— |
28", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Baker, Wells Creek (north side) |
4200 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
13" |
90% |
— |
15", 19 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Baker, MF Nooksack (NW side) |
5000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
19" |
70% |
— |
20", 30 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Baker, Elbow Lake (SW side) |
3200 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
8" |
50% |
— |
9", 30 Nov 2004 |
| Rainy Pass (far NE of Glacier Peak) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
16" |
50% |
— |
18", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Park Creek Ridge (E of Cascade Pass) |
4600 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
11" |
30% |
— |
16", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Stevens Pass [see also NRCS site] |
4000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Dec 2004 |
13" |
42% |
— |
24", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Snoqualmie Pass |
3000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Dec 2004 |
10" |
40% |
21" |
10", 01 Dec 2004 |
| Crystal Mtn Ski Area (NE of Rainier) |
4400 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Dec 2004 |
6" |
24% |
— |
6", 01 Dec 2004 |
| Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) |
5600 ft |
NWAC |
H | 11 Nov 2004 |
8" |
— |
— |
17", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) |
6400 ft |
NWAC |
H | 11 Nov 2004 |
9" |
— |
— |
13", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Rainier, Paradise (south side) |
5400 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Dec 2004 |
25" |
52% |
81" |
25", 01 Dec 2004 |
| White Pass [see also NRCS site] |
4500 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Dec 2004 |
5" |
26% |
— |
5", 01 Dec 2004 |
| Pigtail Peak (N of Goat Rocks) |
5900 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
19" |
45% |
— |
19", 01 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Saint Helens, Swift Creek (S side) |
3800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
8" |
30% |
— |
8", 01 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Saint Helens, June Lake (SE side) |
3300 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
5" |
25% |
— |
5", 01 Dec 2004 |
| OR |
Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge (S side) |
6000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Dec 2004 |
28" |
61% |
— |
28", 01 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Hood Test Site (south side) |
5400 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
13" |
40% |
— |
16", 31 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Hood, Government Camp (SW side) |
4000 ft |
NCDC |
D | 01 Dec 2004 |
12" |
80% |
27" |
12", 01 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area (SE side) |
5200 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 01 Dec 2004 |
7" |
17% |
— |
19", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Hogg Pass (near Santiam Pass) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
7" |
30% |
— |
7", 01 Dec 2004 |
| McKenzie (NW of Three Sisters) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
12" |
45% |
— |
12", 01 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Bachelor Ski Area (north side) |
6300 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 01 Dec 2004 |
19" |
60% |
— |
19", 01 Dec 2004 |
| Cascade Summit (NE of Diamond Peak) |
4900 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
10" |
60% |
— |
11", 27 Oct 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Caldera Rim (SW side) |
7100 ft |
NWAC |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
36" |
— |
— |
37", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Park HQ (SW side) |
6400 ft |
NPS |
H, D | 01 Dec 2004 |
15" |
47% |
77" |
26", 27 Oct 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Annie Springs (SW side) |
6000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
16" |
60% |
— |
18", 03 Nov 2004 |
| Fourmile Lake (east of Mt McLoughlin) |
6000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
5" |
30% |
— |
7", 28 Oct 2004 |
| Mt McLoughlin, Billie Creek (SE side) |
5300 ft |
NRCS |
H | 01 Dec 2004 |
3" |
25% |
— |
6", 26 Oct 2004 |
| CA |
Medicine Lake (west side of caldera) |
6700 ft |
CCSS |
H*, A | 01 Dec 2004 |
17" |
100% |
— |
22", 26 Oct 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 Dec 2004 |
25" |
70% |
72" |
39", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Shasta, Sand Flat (SW side) |
6800 ft |
CCSS |
H, M | 01 Dec 2004 |
23" |
110% |
— |
34", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Mt Shasta, Brewer Creek (east side) |
6200 ft |
CCSS |
M | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) |
5800 ft |
NPS |
D | 01 Dec 2004 |
5" |
78% |
40" |
11", 28 Nov 2004 |
| Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) |
8200 ft |
CCSS |
H, M | 01 Dec 2004 |
21" |
50% |
— |
37", 26 Oct 2004 |
| Lassen Chalet (SW of Lassen Peak) |
6700 ft |
NPS |
D | 01 Dec 2004 |
19" |
85% |
80" |
— |
|
|
Snowfall and Snowdepth Info (15 December 2004)
|
|
The first week of December finally brought some much needed snowfall throughout the Cascade Range,
before disaster struck in the form of heavy rainfall. A northwesterly storm system with very low freezing
levels moved in during the first weekend, bringing 1-2 ft of powder to southwestern BC and the Mount Baker area,
while several inches fell as far south as central Oregon. Then the first major storm cycle since October moved
ashore beginning December 6, bringing several feet of snow throughout the range. A pair of back-to-back systems
hit California on December 6-8, each dumping 20-24" of snow on Shasta, Lassen, and the Sierra Nevada.
Simultaneously, a major system pulled into central Oregon, especially along the usually drier east slopes of the
Cascades where Mount Bachelor received about 4 ft during the same 3 days with several inches falling even in the
towns of the High Desert. During this time, the main crest of the Cascades from northern OR to WA also got hit
with 2-3 ft of much needed snowfall, but disaster was just around the corner. The tail end of this complex of
storms (which included remnants of a Pacific typhoon) latched on to a warm tap of tropical moisture in
southwesterly flow and turned into a monstrous Pineapple Express, the worst of several such systems throughout
this early season. The fresh powder was immediately inundated by heavy rain as the freezing levels ballooned
from 2000 ft to over 9000 ft within a few hours. Two days of torrential downpours from December 9-10 brought
4-6" of rain throughout the OR and WA Cascades, compacting and even washing away much of the fresh snowfall
and dashing the hopes of skiers and ski resorts. Somehow, California's luck again held and it received only a
small amount of rain following its big dumps, then basking in sun while OR and WA soaked. Southwestern BC
caught a few hours of heavy rain, but its northerly latitude largely saved it from this particular Pineapple
Express. After this calamitous turn of events, the pattern again shifted back to the generally fair weather
which has dominated much of the past two months, with storms diverted far north into Alaska and BC. Temperatures
cooled, and the southern edges of those systems brought a few inches of snow into WA and OR, while California's
daily sunshine brought rapid snowpack settlement and soon turned the south-facing slopes to corn.
Overall, snowdepths increased significantly throughout the Cascade Range during the first half of
December, but hardly changed as a percent of normal. As of December 15, snowdepths are generally about half of
normal (although highly variable) throughout the WA and OR Cascades, while in southwestern BC they are closer to
80% of normal and in northern California they remain near or slightly above normal. The early season Cascades
snowdepth leader remains the Upper Squamish River site near Mount Cayley in BC with over 5 ft on the ground,
followed closely by the sites at the Crater Lake caldera rim and Mount Shasta Old Ski Bowl.
|
|
|
(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 2004 |
52" |
|
95% |
|
— |
|
53", 14 Dec 2004 |
| Upper Squamish River (NW of Cayley) |
4400 ft |
BC RFC |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
64" |
81% |
— |
70", 10 Dec 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 Dec 2004 |
48" |
84% |
85" |
52", 10 Dec 2004 |
| Orchid Lake (south of Mt Garibaldi) |
3900 ft |
BC RFC |
M | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Grouse Mountain (North Vancouver) |
3700 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 15 Dec 2004 |
28" |
65% |
— |
— |
| WA |
Mt Baker Ski Area (NE of Mt Baker) |
4200 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Dec 2004 |
40" |
59% |
— |
60", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Baker, Wells Creek (north side) |
4200 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
20" |
70% |
— |
32", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Baker, MF Nooksack (NW side) |
5000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
30" |
70% |
— |
38", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Baker, Elbow Lake (SW side) |
3200 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
11" |
30% |
— |
22", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Rainy Pass (far NE of Glacier Peak) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
35" |
70% |
— |
40", 10 Dec 2004 |
| Park Creek Ridge (E of Cascade Pass) |
4600 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
33" |
65% |
— |
45", 10 Dec 2004 |
| Stevens Pass [see also NRCS site] |
4000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Dec 2004 |
22" |
50% |
— |
38", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Snoqualmie Pass |
3000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Dec 2004 |
11" |
31% |
62" |
34", 08 Dec 2004 |
| Crystal Mtn Ski Area (NE of Rainier) |
4400 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Dec 2004 |
13" |
37% |
— |
33", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Chinook Pass (east of Mt Rainier) |
5600 ft |
NWAC |
H | 11 Nov 2004 |
8" |
— |
— |
17", 01 Nov 2004 |
| Mt Rainier, Sunrise (NE side) |
6400 ft |
NWAC |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
32" |
— |
— |
— |
| Mt Rainier, Paradise (south side) |
5400 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Dec 2004 |
36" |
52% |
141" |
61", 09 Dec 2004 |
| White Pass [see also NRCS site] |
4500 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Dec 2004 |
4" |
13% |
— |
17", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Pigtail Peak (N of Goat Rocks) |
5900 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
29" |
45% |
— |
44", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Saint Helens, Swift Creek (S side) |
3800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
22" |
55% |
— |
43", 08 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Saint Helens, June Lake (SE side) |
3300 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
9" |
25% |
— |
33", 08 Dec 2004 |
| OR |
Mt Hood, Timberline Lodge (S side) |
6000 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Dec 2004 |
44" |
67% |
— |
58", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Hood Test Site (south side) |
5400 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
20" |
40% |
— |
— |
| Mt Hood, Government Camp (SW side) |
4000 ft |
NCDC |
D | 15 Dec 2004 |
8" |
36% |
43" |
24", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Hood Meadows Ski Area (SE side) |
5200 ft |
NWAC |
H, D | 15 Dec 2004 |
19" |
33% |
— |
35", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Hogg Pass (near Santiam Pass) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
15" |
40% |
— |
34", 09 Dec 2004 |
| McKenzie (NW of Three Sisters) |
4800 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
21" |
55% |
— |
36", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Bachelor Ski Area (north side) |
6300 ft |
Ski Area |
D | 15 Dec 2004 |
48" |
100% |
— |
68", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Cascade Summit (NE of Diamond Peak) |
4900 ft |
NRCS |
H | 14 Dec 2004 |
19" |
65% |
— |
— |
| Crater Lake, Caldera Rim (SW side) |
7100 ft |
NWAC |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
61" |
— |
— |
64", 10 Dec 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Park HQ (SW side) |
6400 ft |
NPS |
H, D | 15 Dec 2004 |
40" |
85% |
125" |
54", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Crater Lake, Annie Springs (SW side) |
6000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
31" |
80% |
— |
50", 08 Dec 2004 |
| Fourmile Lake (east of Mt McLoughlin) |
6000 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
13" |
45% |
— |
24", 08 Dec 2004 |
| Mt McLoughlin, Billie Creek (SE side) |
5300 ft |
NRCS |
H | 15 Dec 2004 |
8" |
40% |
— |
18", 08 Dec 2004 |
| CA |
Medicine Lake (west side of caldera) |
6700 ft |
CCSS |
H*, A | 15 Dec 2004 |
39" |
150% |
— |
53", 08 Dec 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 Dec 2004 |
58" |
110% |
114" |
71", 09 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Shasta, Sand Flat (SW side) |
6800 ft |
CCSS |
H, M | 15 Dec 2004 |
48" |
125% |
— |
65", 08 Dec 2004 |
| Mt Shasta, Brewer Creek (east side) |
6200 ft |
CCSS |
M | no data |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake (NW side) |
5800 ft |
NPS |
D | 15 Dec 2004 |
1" |
10% |
46" |
11", 28 Nov 2004 |
| Lassen Peak, Lake Helen (south side) |
8200 ft |
CCSS |
H, M | 15 Dec 2004 |
46" |
75% |
— |
60", 08 Dec 2004 |
| | |