The Sky Is Crying

The Pineapple Express isn’t a Sea-Tac to Honolulu flight, how ever much Seattlest might wish to be on said flight. The Pineapple Express is a weather event that is currently putting a damper on the Northwest’s January skiing (after an already terrible December). At a time when we're used to mountain storms dropping ungodly amounts of snow on the Cascades and Olympics we're instead experiencing lots and lots of rain as snow lines skyrocket and leave area resorts in their wake.

From the Northwest Ski Report:

The Pineapple Express has come and it is worse than I have ever seen it. Most resorts have closed temporarily. Baker will reopen Fri, the Pass, Crystal are open again, Stevens,White Pass and Mission Ridge ARE STILL CLOSED. CHECK with the ski areas before going. As I drove to work this morning I looked east to the mountains and it is bleak. There is virtually no snow to be seen from Seattle, I have never seen a January like this.

-Stevens Pass is closed awaiting snow.

-The Summit at Snoqualmie is closed.

-White Pass is closed.

-Mount Spokane, closed.

Reading the ski report is like browsing the obituaries or recent election results. Adding insult to the injury is the fact that the usually contemptible ski conditions in the East are currently fantastic (though cold, of course).