Late season snow returns in a big way for Oregon, Washington

Mountain snow will continue through the middle of the week

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Mountain snow is back in full force as some mountain ski resorts near a foot of of snow in late April.

More snow is expected to make its way over the Cascades this week. Oregon’s above average temperatures and dry weather pattern during the month of April helped melt mountain snow and increased the drought threat for others.

This late season snow will help the Oregon Cascades lock in more moisture as the melting process gets underway next month. This stored moisture will be beneficial to the mountains as drought remains a concern in Central Oregon.

Parts of the northwest corner of Oregon fell back into ‘abnormally dry’ conditions last Thursday. The increased drought threat was due to the lack of rain, warmer temperatures and drying east winds. Recent rainfall and high elevation snow has helped slow that threat, but is only a quick fix for now. Much of western Oregon and Washington continues to see a moisture deficit for the month of April. Late season rain and high elevation snow could help to further the drought improvement and postpone the wildfire season. That is if temperatures gradually warm and wet weather remains in the coming months.