MOUNT HOOD, Ore. — A snow survey conducted below Timberline Lodge found the mountain’s snow water equivalent, or SWE, at just 43% of normal for this time of year. SWE measures how much water is contained within the snowpack and is a key indicator for forecasting water availability in the months ahead.

Researchers with the Natural Resources Conservation Service reached the remote SNOTEL test site after a quarter-mile hike on snowshoes through the ski area. While snow appeared plentiful on the surface, conditions below told a different story.

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“Hoping to see snow out here, but recognizing that we’re going to see some pretty poor SWE numbers at our Mount Hood test site SnoTel, despite some additional accumulation the last two days,” said Matt Warbritton with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Using a metal tube to measure depth, the team initially recorded 42 inches, though that reading hit an ice layer rather than the ground.

“That number is the depth of snow plus no ground. This happens frequently with this deep of snow, typically snow falls over the course of the season so some ice layers can develop,” Warbritton said.

A second measurement reached the ground, showing a total snow depth of 58 inches. After weighing the sample, the final snow water equivalent came in at 23 inches.

“Which is well below normal,” Warbritton said.

That figure is especially concerning given the timing. Peak snowpack on Mount Hood typically occurs in the second half of April, meaning levels could remain far below average even at their highest point.

“When we haven’t hit peak snowpack yet in the season, is pretty historic and extraordinarily concerning,” Warbritton said.

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Researchers say this year’s conditions mirror some of the lowest snowpack years on record.

“This rivals other low snowpack years, if we think back to 2015, most recently. In northwest Oregon, 2005 was another poor year for snowpack. Statewide, another benchmark is 1977,” Warbritton said.

Snowpack plays a critical role in Oregon’s water system, acting as a natural reservoir that slowly releases water into rivers and streams through the spring and summer. When snowpack is low, that supply is reduced.

“For this region, we’re in a fairly rain dominated watershed, so having near to above normal precipitation for the water year so far can partially offset the poor snowpack. Depending on when that precipitation is falling,” Warbritton said.

Still, not all precipitation is equal. Early-season rain does little to sustain streamflows later in the year.

“If we get early season precipitation, that’s not really going to do much to elevate later season stream flows in the spring and early summer,” Warbritton said.

The impacts are expected to be more severe in eastern Oregon, where snowpack can account for as much as 70% of the water supply. Some areas there have already seen snowpack levels drop to zero far earlier than normal.

“When we see snowpack levels that are already at 0% of normal, where snowpack has melted out up to 50 to 70 days earlier than normal in the Blue Mountains, that’s significant. And not significant in a good way, significant in a bad way,” Warbritton said.

Low snowpack also affects soil moisture, vegetation and wildlife. Earlier melt exposes land to more sunlight sooner, drying out vegetation and increasing wildfire risk. It can also warm streams, posing risks to fish that rely on cold water to survive.

Oregon State Climatologist Larry O’Neill says the situation reflects a broader trend and warns of difficult months ahead.

“This is pretty grim year. It’s obviously a historically low snowpack, and we’re obviously at this point in time we’re kind of letting everyone know that this spring and summer will be especially challenging for Oregon,” O’Neill said.

He says Mount Hood has seen a 20 to 25% decrease in snowpack since the 1980s.

“That itself is a symptom of climate change,” O’Neill said.

Looking ahead, O’Neill says years like this are likely to become more common.