PORT ANGELES — Well, it was a nice preview anyway.
Snow was reported Sunday afternoon at Hurricane Ridge, but higher temperatures later in the week should make the white stuff a thing of the past.
The 18-mile Hurricane Ridge Road was closed Sunday afternoon due to the snow at the Ridge, according to Olympic National Park’s recorded roads and weather information line.
Weather conditions were reported as 25 degrees with snow flurries, cloudy skies and calm winds.
There was no inch count, but the information line reported that no peaks or valleys were visible through the flurries.
The somewhat early arrival of winter’s defining characteristic was met enthusiastically by at least one of the area’s downhill skiers.
“Snow? That’s awesome,” said Lori Gray of Port Angeles’ Hurricane Ridge Snow Club.
The anticipated opening date for the Ridge’s rope tow is mid-December, and people can also go sledding, cross-country ski and snowshoe if there’s enough snow, she said.
“I don’t know if we will have enough snow, but if we do, then we could conceivably be open Dec. 16,” Gray said.
Olympic National Park’s guided snowshoe walks don’t begin until January.
Information on Hurricane Ridge skiing is available at hurricaneridge.com.
But as for snow-related activities this week, those Grinches at the National Weather Service might have other plans.
The seven-day Olympic Mountains forecast calls for mostly sunny or mostly clear skies through Wednesday afternoon, with the freezing level climbing to 6,000 feet.
Wednesday night’s forecast is mostly cloudy, with a chance of rain and a 5,000-foot snow level.
Then from Thursday through Sunday, the forecast shows rain to be likely, with the snow level at 5,000 feet.
________
Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-417-3532 or brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
