Mt. Baker Ski Area announces weekend opening for 2019 season
Mt. Baker Ski Area will open on a limited basis Sunday, Dec. 15, after a week of heavy snowfall and a forecast that shows continued cold weather.
Operations will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Heather Meadows base area. Chairs 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be open and possibly Chairs 5, 6 and other parts of the mountain later in the day, the ski area said in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
Heather Meadows day lodge will be open and the Raven Hut mid-mountain lodge will be open with “grab-and-go” service only.
Nearly 3 feet of snow has fallen since Wednesday, the ski area said at its website.
Snowfall for the 2019-2020 season wasn’t posted, but the ski area reported an 18-inch base at Heather Meadows (4,300 feet) and a 52-inch base at Panorama Dome (5,000 feet).
Mid-December is a late opening for the ski area, which is usually operational by late November, said Amy Trowbridge, marketing director.
Early autumn storms dropped 2 feet or so of snow in the mountains, but it melted with November’s balmy weather.
“October was probably the most early snowfall we’ve ever seen,” Trowbridge said for an earlier Herald story.
Current snowpack in the Whatcom County portion of the North Cascades is 26 percent of normal, according to data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Forecast, avalanche danger
A winter storm warning was canceled for the mountains, but the National Weather Service calls for about 3 inches of new snow through Saturday in the North Cascades.
Snow levels are as low as 3,000 to 3,500 feet, the weather service said.
Sunday shows a chance of light snow showers with otherwise cloudy skies and highs around 30.
All this snow means avalanche conditions are “considerable” in the wilderness backcountry, according to the Northwest Avalanche Center.
Backcountry skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers should use caution.
Travelers headed over the mountain passes should carry tire chains, extra warm clothing, water and food.
Even the ski area’s lowest elevations had a foot of snow, Trowbridge said.
Lowland forecast
Lower elevations of Western Washington, including Whatcom County, will see continued rain and showers through Saturday, the weather service said.
Sunday will be mostly cloudy, with skies turning sunny on Monday.
Highs will be in the low 40s, with lows in the 30s.
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 1:19 PM.
