The Mount Hood resorts are anticipating an excellent snowsport season this year. The first two weeks of the season have seen more skiable terrain than typical and early snowfall conditions due to Mount Hood Meadows’ opening day on November 15, which is the earliest opening day in 15 years.
According to Heather Ibsen, public affairs officer for Mount Hood National Forest, people are thrilled that the late fall and early winter season is going well so far. Now that the sun is shining, the peak should have lovely views and somewhat more springlike conditions.
As of December 2, Mt. Hood Meadows had 54 inches of firm pack in the middle of the mountain and 51 inches of groomed snow at the base. This is 177% more than the average of 29 inches for December 2 in the past.
Additionally, Timberline Lodge has received 54 inches of snow, 12 inches more than the historical average for early December.
The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center says there is a 57% possibility of a La Ni trend developing as of Nov. 14, which is another encouraging indicator for skiers and snowboarders. The Pacific Northwest typically experiences colder and snowier weather during a La Ni winter.
La Ni a winters nearly always deliver for Meadows, according to a blog post from Mt. Hood Meadows on October 30. In the last 40 years, we’ve had 15 winters that were categorized as taking place during a La Ni a period, and all but three of those exceeded our seasonal snowfall average of 430 inches.
The resort receives 493 inches of snow on average during a La Nia winter. Mount Hood Meadows received 531 inches during the most recent La Ni winter, which took place in the 2022–2023 season.
This season, five ski resorts in Mount Hood National Forest are open at different capacities. While Mt. Hood Skibowl provides weekend tubing and Teacup Nordic is available for cross-country skiing, Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline Lodge are currently open for downhill skiing and snowboarding.
In the future, Cooper Spur Mountain Resort hopes to open for the season on December 14 and Mt. Hood Skibowl aims to open for skiing and snowboarding on December 6. Additionally, Mt. Hood Meadows has stated that night skiing will begin early on December 13.
Chiara Profenna discusses faith, religion, and cultural ties. You may contact her at [email protected] or @chiara-profenna on BlueSky, or 503-221-4327.
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust supports The Oregonian/OregonLive in its efforts to provide readers with articles about faith, religion, and cultural ties in Oregon. All content is the exclusive property of The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
