More snowpack means more electricity this summer
The Pacific Northwest has emerged from winter with an above average snowpack, and that's good news for the region's hydroelectric dams. Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco says, “The...
View ArticleState struggles to open some mountain passes due to snow
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Fresh snow in the mountains has slightly delayed the reopening of one high mountain pass in the Washington Cascades. Highway crews are on track to reopen two other scenic cross state...
View ArticleMore snowpack means more electricity this summer
The Pacific Northwest has emerged from winter with an above average snowpack, and that's good news for the region's hydroelectric dams. Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco says, “The...
View ArticleState struggles to open some mountain passes due to snow
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Fresh snow in the mountains has slightly delayed the reopening of one high mountain pass in the Washington Cascades. Highway crews are on track to reopen two other scenic cross state...
View ArticleRain, followed by rain, and some deep mountain snow
At least three or four more days of rainstorms are headed to the northwest. They'll cycle through approximately every 18 hours, says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass, a professor of Atmospheric Sciences...
View ArticleStrange Snow Finding Suggests Fewer Trees Mean More Water
Quick quiz: In springtime, does snow melt faster out in the open or in the shade? You might figure it melts faster in the sunshine, and that seems to be the case for cold climates. But in places with...
View ArticleYear Starts With Wash. Snowpack At 45 Percent
A dry start to winter has left the snowpack in Washington far short of normal.The U.S. Department of Agriculture's snow survey office in Mount Vernon says as of Jan. 1, snowpack readings were 45...
View ArticleHold On Tight To Your Valentine: Wet, Windy Weekend Ahead
We’re getting the “weather we need,” so get ready for a wet and windy weekend, says KPLU expert Cliff Mass.“Our water supply was well below normal,” said Mass, who teaches atmospheric sciences at the...
View ArticleMass: Chances Of Snow This Weekend, But Don't Bet The House On It
The weekend forecast includes chances of snow, but nothing's for certain, says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass."This is a hard one," said Mass. “There’s a lot of uncertainty here. I’ll tell you that...
View ArticleSki Season Outlook: Not So Good, Says Cliff Mass
KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass says his email inbox has been full of questions about when the snow will return to western Washington, especially in the mountains and ski areas.“In fact, things are not...
View ArticleUnreliable Snowfall Boosts Ski Resort Interest In Snowmaking
It's been a tough winter so far for many Cascade Mountains ski resorts. Five in Oregon and Washington have suspended operations until they get more snow.Workers at the Summit at Snoqualmie are even...
View ArticleDrought Report Points To Commodity Losses Due To Water Shortages
The state Department of Agriculture says last year’s drought will cost farmers and ranchers dearly. The initial assessment of losses to the industry due to water shortages for 2015 is $336 million.The...
View ArticleScientists Seek A Better Tally Of Soot On North American Snowpack
A couple winters ago, a team of Northwest scientists jumped in a pickup and traveled hundreds of miles around the U.S. and Canadian backroads. They were after samples of dirty snow.
View ArticleSummer Water Outlook Has Grounds For Optimism As Well As Caution
April 1 is, on average, generally considered the date of the peak snowpack in the Northwest. And around now, is when many irrigation districts begin filling their canals to get ready for watering...
View ArticleMountain Snowpack In Northwest Melting Fast This Spring
The early heat wave across most of the Northwest is forecast to start winding down Wednesday. It might have felt nice while it lasted, but the unusual warmth --record-setting, in some cases--...
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