OpenSnow Headlines

- Winter Snow Outlook

- Weak El Nino ahead

- Expect new Cascade snow mid to upper slopes by mid October

 

The Inside Story

First, El Nino is not the snow catastrophe everyone thinks it is for the NW. This year's signal is weak and so might be the effects.

It does mean a lower than normal snow pack in the end for the Cascades (10-15%), with almost no impact for Whistler. The snow deficiency may be a bit more pronounced for interior BC into Banff. Bachelor has no significant El Nino signal; so don’t sweat it in Central Oregon. Hood may see less snow at the lower elevations. Sun Valley could feel a bit of a snow squeeze too, but they have fantastic snowmaking, so no worries.

The reality is it doesn’t matter that much. Even when the NW snowpack is a tad below normal, it’s still much better than most areas of the world. In addition, there are no guarantee’s – there have been El Nino’s without snow issues. Plus I’ll be directing you to the goods via Open Snow, so sit down and buckle up – don’t make me stop this car and come back there.

In addition weather forecasters know there are different confidence levels to short and long rage forecasts and the winter ahead has low confidence in the signal, with a weak El Nino.A strong El Nino would be a different story There will be no betting on this one.

More to come when the snow flies - expect upper slope snowfall by the middle of next week.

Your Grand Poobah of Powder,
Lawrence J Schick
Snow Meteorologist