MT. BAKER, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington’s early winter mountain snowpack is in pretty good shape, but climatologists say it’s too early to celebrate.
The National Water and Climate Center reports snowpack is at 97% in the North Puget Sound region which includes Mount Baker and North Cascades National Park. Many other regions are even higher.
But experts caution that it’s early, and a coming La Niña weather pattern could take things in either direction.
La Niña generally brings colder and wetter conditions, but Washington state climatologist Guillaume Mauger tells the Seattle Times that it appears to be weaker than usual.
He says that could make for lackluster snowfall, but even an average year would be better than the past two warmer and dryer winters.
Washington’s snowpack is the state’s water storage system that charges streams and provides water for people, industry and agriculture throughout the year.
