(Mt Baker in snowier times)
The ski resort that regularly scores the world’s biggest snowfall each season, averaging over 19 metres of the stuff, Mt Baker in Washington state, in Western North America, has had to close temporarily for lack of snow.
The ski area is one of a number from southern California up to British Columbia that have been forced to close for periods in recent months, among them Cypress mountain near Vancouver, a venue at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The lack of snow and warm conditions are down to a Pacific weather system which, although most keenly felt closest to the coast, has at times led to unusually warm periods and rainfall rather than powder snow in areas famous for it including Alberta, BC, Colorado and Utah.
Californian areas have again been hit hard by the lack of snow, although after a dry warm January and February March had seen up to three feet of snow fall at Tahoe resorts, dramatically improving conditions.
“This winter has not gotten the best of us. We remain optimistic and hopeful,” said Gwyn Howat, operations manager at Mt. Baker.
