Ski report: Soggy weather will switch to snow in days ahead

Ski and snowboard conditions in Washington’s mountains will be less than desirable for the immediate future, but hopes are high for snowfall to return this weekend.

A Pacific frontal system laden with heavy rains and wet snow is battering the Cascades, creating a winter-weather advisory coupled with an avalanche warning and road closures at some passes through early Friday.

The front is expected to briefly stall over the state with the snow level skyrocketing from 6,500 to 8,000 feet. Once it passes, colder weather will return, bringing light to moderate snow showers through Saturday, changing to partly cloudy skies heading into Monday.

“The snow coverage is very good at all the ski areas despite this current rain, and it is a great change from last year,” John Gifford, president of the Northwest Ski Areas Association, said of the 4- to 10-foot snowpack.

Gifford says the amount of snow this winter is just icing on the cake, and from a business standpoint Northwest resorts are smiling wide from what they’re witnessing on the hills.

“We’ve got a lot of people coming up to ski and snowboard not just here in Washington but Oregon as well,” Gifford said. “Ski areas are saying the number of new people participating in the sport has increased, and that is another positive sign.”

The season’s snowfall totals through Thursday: Summit at Snoqualmie, 247 inches; Mount Baker, 333; Crystal Mountain, 302; Stevens Pass, 244; and White Pass, 207-238.

Avalanche danger and work to clear Interstate 90 has led to a temporary closure Thursday on the road east of North Bend. The Summit at Snoqualmie ski area’s operation was on standby, and won’t open for Thursday night skiing. Check the Department of Transportation website before heading up.

The Mount Baker Ski Area was closed Thursday due to heavy rain and wind, with plans to reopen Friday. Strong winds at Crystal Mountain Resort Thursday also closed the upper area lifts, but the good news is Green Valley has more than 100 inches and should be in good shape once it reopens. Stevens Pass Resort was open, but Highway 2 east of the ski area was closed.

Cross-country trail snow conditions could be quite slushy, but should improve by the weekend at the Summit at Snoqualmie; White Pass; Stevens Pass; Cabin Creek Area off I-90; Leavenworth Winter Sports Club; Methow Trails; and Lake Wenatchee State Park.

At Mount Rainier National Park the gate to Paradise was closed at Longmire due to avalanche hazards. The snow-play sliding hill at Paradise is open depending on weather conditions. Ranger-guided 1.8-mile snowshoe walks are available Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through March 27 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. outside of the Jackson Visitor Center. Be sure to check the website for road conditions and restrictions before heading up. Through Thursday, Paradise was covered with 115 inches of snow. For updates, go to http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm.

Snow totals in Oregon: Mount Bachelor (110-130 inch base), Timberline (111), Hoodoo (64), Mount Hood Meadows (106-174), Willamette Pass (72-118), Mount Ashland (83-116) and Mount Hood Ski Bowl (54-59). Anthony Lakes (52) and Cooper Spur (35) reopen this weekend.

In Idaho, areas open daily include Sun Valley (68-91), Brundage (68-90), Tamarack (58-76), Schweitzer (59-87), Lookout Pass (62-95), Soldier Mountain (58-70), Bogus Basin (55-69) and Silver Mountain (61).

In Montana, Whitefish Mountain Resort is open daily, and has 82-inch base, and 183 inches so far this season. A total of 105 trails and 10 lifts were operating, with lots of untracked powder.

British Columbia snow totals: Whistler-Blackcomb (81), Cypress (131), Mount Washington (81-111), Whitewater (87-88), Manning Park (60-72), Big White (92), Revelstoke (28-71), Fernie (44-89), Mount Seymour (60-118), Red Mountain (83), Grouse Mountain (69-122), Kicking Horse (30-52), Apex (71), Silver Star (54-70), Sun Peaks (57-63), Panorama (27-43) and Kimberley (50).

Latest snow and lift reports:

Which ski areas are open and closed:

Resort		Hours	Base
	Summit West, Snoqualmie	Open: Fri: 4-10pm; Sat: 9am-10pm; Sun: 9am-5pm; closed Mon-Tue; Wed-Jan. 29: 4-10pm	95 inches
	Summit Central, Snoqualmie	Open: Fri-Sat and Mon-Jan. 29: 9am-10pm; Sun: 9am-5pm	95 inches
	Summit East, Snoqualmie	Open: Sat-Sun: 9am-4pm; closed Tue-Jan. 29	95 inches
	Nordic Center, Snoqualmie	Open: Fri-Sun: 9am-3:30pm; closed Mon-Jan. 28. Tubing center open Fri-Sat: 9am-9pm; Sun: 9am-5:45pm; closed Mon-Jan. 28	95 inches
	Alpental, Snoqualmie	Open: Fri-Sat and Tue-Jan. 29: 9am-10pm; Sun: 9am-5pm; closed Mon	104-137 inches
	Mount Baker Ski Area	Open daily: 9am-3:30pm; closed Thu	121-164 inches
	Crystal Mountain	Open daily: 9am-4pm; upper lifts closed Thu	75-101 inches
	Stevens Pass	Open: Fri-Sat and Jan. 27-29: 9am-10pm; Sun: 9am-6pm; Mon-Tue: 9am-4pm	73-95 inches
	White Pass	Open daily: 8:45am-4pm; night skiing Sat until 9pm.; nordic center is also open	70-94 inches
	Mission Ridge Ski & Board	Open: Fri-Mon and Jan. 29-29: 9am-4pm; closed Tue-Wed; night skiing Sat until 8pm	59-65 inches
	49° North Mountain	Open: Fri-Tue: 9am-3:30pm; closed Wed-Thu	76-121 inches
	Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard	Open: Wed-Sat: 9am-9:30pm; Sun: 9am-4pm; closed Mon-Tue	65-82 inches
	Ski Bluewood	Open: Wed-Sun: 9am-4pm; closed Mon-Tue	76-85 inches
	Whistler-Blackcomb	Open daily: 8:30am-3pm	81 inches
	Mt. Bachelor	Open daily: 9am-4pm	110-130 inches
	Leavenworth Winter Sports Club	Open: Icicle River, Golf Course and Ski Hill nordic trails open; Ski Hill/Tubing area Wed and Fri: 3-8 pm; Sat-Sun: 9:30am-5pm	48 inches
	Methow Trails	Open daily: 20 trails groomed Jan. 20-21 at Mazama; 17 at Rendezvous; 21 at Sun Mountain; and 11 at Winthrop	36 inches