Snow on the mountain

[godfry n. glad]

Winter has begun here in the Pacific Northwest in earnest.

Over the past week or so, we've been deluged with a series of Pacific storms, dumping relatively large amounts of rain in the valleys. In addition, the freezing level fell below the level of the nearby outdoor recreation areas and the ski areas are actually going to open this weekend. Of course, we're due yet another storm, projected to dump another 2" of rain here, making the mountain a inhospitable place to be, what with an estimated foot of snow accumulating over the weekend.

So...ski season is here early. The operators are happy, because for the past two years, we've had relatively warm and dry winters and attendance has consequently been way down. The water table folks are hopeful, too, that the snow pack will be replenished this year, offering respite from the ever-present risk of insufficent snowmelt for the area's drinking water.

I'm waiting for the overcast to clear, so I can see the gorgeous mountain with a new mantle of snow. I figure, if I'm lucky, we might get a cold dry stretch for a few days in February.

[Crumb]

[Ensign Steve]

75 degress and sunny, here.

The leaves are turning interesting colors, though. The trees remind me of Empire apples, the way they are green and red at the same time. I'll try to take photos before it's too late.

[Dingfod]

It's 75°F and windy here, winds, 15-25 mph out of the south (the same as every day this week) and drier than a popcorn fart.

[JoeP]

At the opposite end of the seasons, we have also just had the first major precipitation. We've had a few dry storms already (by dry I mean thunder lightning and winds, but a mere smattering of rain). But yesterday afternoon we had a proper downpour (with thunder lightning and wind too), and after it seemed to calm down it got going again late evening. We don't bother to measure rainfall any more but there was plenty.

And some wind damage ... I can see a tree out of my window that wasn't there before ....

[Carnivale Ed]

It's sunny here, just under 30 degress celsius (about 80F, I think). Only seen snow once in my life, when I was about ten. I played in it all afternoon and then couldn't get my boots off. The snow sort of compacted and wedged my foot in. It was totally blue by the time we eventually got it off. Now I stick to the beach...

[Plant Woman]

Originally Posted by godfry n. glad

Winter has begun here in the Pacific Northwest in earnest.

Now wait just a dag-burn minute godfry. It ain't winter yet. Autumn definately, winter—no way.

Get a bit of storms and everyone in the northwest speeds the season up to the next one. I want off'n this here fast dog time goes too fast as it is and we still have six weeks left off autumn.

Yes we are getting lots of snow up in the mountains, Crystal Mountain and Mt. Baker opened up on Friday. Although this early anything can happen, like a warm front come in and melt everything away. Then we'll have salmon crossing the roads. I still have my bulbs to plant, so it can't be winter yet, so cut that out, ya hear?

Besides we only have two seasons here—9 months of wet and 3 months of dry.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by JoeP

And some wind damage ... I can see a tree out of my window that wasn't there before ....

Update. SInce that post I have been up on the roof removing the offending branch - it was split off the trunk by the winds (and the wieght of rain) and had come down, fortunately not hard, on the ridge of the roof. Smaller branches were what I could see out of the window in the gable.

Now the path beside the house is full of pieces of branch and soggy leaves.