Low snow year at Mt. Bachelor but hope for late season boost

            For many locals eager for deep powder days the 2017-2018 Mt. Bachelor ski season has been a disappointment going into February.

            But some patient veterans are reminding that, while 2018 has not been a banner year, several recently past seasons have performed more poorly. And they’re keeping a bright outlook for February into April, which are often the  most bountiful months for building snowpack.

            Looking at the database of www.onthesnow.com , as of January 31 of this year the lower mountain snowbase was 66 inches at Mt. Bachelor. That’s a 26% deficit to the 90 inches reported for the same date of 2017.

            But going back to 2010, the current base is ahead of the 54 and 42 inch bases for the same January 31 in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

            The perception of this year's slump is partially the result of comparison with the previous year when colder temperatures and strong weather systems resulted in several feet of snow at lower elevations, including in Bend where major snowfall in January of 2017 brought disastrous street conditions, roof collapses including an elementary school gym and ice dam headaches for homeowners.

            Thus far this year snow has been largely a no-show in town, with barely a day or two of any measureable white stuff that mostly disappeared quickly. Closer-in Nordic ski areas, such as Meissner within 20 minutes of downtown Bend, that usually have reliable snow from December into March have been on limited operation with grooming scaled back to preserve the scant snowpack. Late January snowfall increased the Deschutes Basin snow water equivalent from 40% of the median normal on Jan 9 to 51% Feb. 1 according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

           

Mt. Bachelor webcam view downhill Feb 6

         The onthesnow.com database shows that since 2010 the deepest January 31 snowbase at Mt. Bachelor was 114 inches in 2016, followed by 106 inches in 2013. The maximum base depths starting in December and running into the following Spring were all recorded in late March and April, holding out hope that this year will get a late season boost.

            Peak full season snowbases for 2010 though 2017 seaons were reported on March 28 of 2011 and April 2 of 2012, both registered at 170 inches. The lowest snowbase depth for a season was reported on February 28 of 2015, at only 53 inches. It was the only year since 2010 with a seasonal base depth that never topped 100 inches.