Did you catch Sally Showman’s live reports from Mt. Hood Meadows last night?
They were incredible. It was just her, the pouring rain and an empty parking lot on what is typically the busiest ski and snowboarding week of the year.
And look at these 24hour RAIN totals. More than 6″ of rain at Timberline on Wednesday December 27, 2011.
Wind Gusts Top 100mph On Thursday December 28, 2011
As a cold front moved across the Cascades early this morning, Hurricane Force wind gusts hit an incredible peak: 106mph on Mt. Hood! This gust was the first recorded gust of Thursday and it added to the powerful gusts happeningWednesday night. Hurricane Force gusts started at 5pm Wednesday and continued the rest of the night.
Here are hour by hour gusts at elevation 7,000′ up above Timberline Lodge at the Magic Mile Chairlift wind gauge:
- 83mph – 5pm
- 88mph – 6pm
- 81mph – 7pm
- 82mph – 8pm
- 86mph – 9pm
- 89mph – 10pm
- 90mph – 11pm
- 106mph – midnight
- 87mph – 1 am
Falling Snow Levels, Big Mountain Snow Ahead
I don’t know if I totally believe the actual amounts yet, but here it is: our forecast tools are predicting 6″ + Â of snow at mountain pass level on Friday. With 1′ or more for higher ski resorts on Mt. Hood. No matter how much we get, I’m sure we will be switching back to snow with snow levels dropping fast to end the week.
We’ll have to watch for Coast Range snow by Friday evening. Hard to believe when it’s been so wet and warm lately!
I thought I heard Bruce Sussman say that Timberline Lodge had over 8 inches of rain last week. I haven’t been able to verify this, and my husband Bruce is the weather nut! Can you help me??
Sue–you’re right. I did say that Timberline had a two day rain total Weds-Thurs last week of more than 8″! The next day, Friday, they had 15″ of snow in 15 hours. Now that’s a crazy switch!
I hope you guys have a happy new year. Thanks for your question!
Bruce