When Will Highway 20 Open in 2016?

Well it’s that time of year. The WSDOT has announced that they are starting the yearly challenge of clearing off Highway 20. Last year I predicted the pass would be clear on April 5th and the actual date was April 3. Nailed. It. OK, now I’ve jinxed this year.

I’ve added last years data to the prediction. Here is the chart. image (1) Using the depth on 3/1/2016 of 39 inches from snotel this means my prediction for this year is April 12 (there is some carefulness about leap year that I am ignoring.)

When Will Highway 20 Open In 2015?

The Washington State Department of Transportation has announced that they will begin the clearing of Highway 20 on March 16. Which leads us to our favorite game: “when will highway 20 open?” Last year I got within 3 days of the correct date. I’ve added the data from last year to produce a new chart of opening day versus snow depth at Swamp creek snowtel along with an updated trend line
chart_2 (1)This year the snow depth at the snowtel on 3/1/2015 was a paltry 29 inches. This is the fourth lowest snow total in the data set, and leads to the prediction that Highway 20 will open April 5. That seems amazingly early, and late season storms could certainly throw a wrench in an early date, but that’s my prediction, crazy as it sounds.

Update: Actual date was April 3.

When Will Highway 20 Open In 2015?

The Washington State Department of Transportation has announced that they will begin the clearing of Highway 20 on March 16. Which leads us to our favorite game: “when will highway 20 open?” Last year I got within 3 days of the correct date. I’ve added the data from last year to produce a new chart of opening day versus snow depth at Swamp creek snowtel along with an updated trend line
chart_2 (1)This year the snow depth at the snowtel on 3/1/2015 was a paltry 29 inches. This is the fourth lowest snow total in the data set, and leads to the prediction that Highway 20 will open April 5. That seems amazingly early, and late season storms could certainly throw a wrench in an early date, but that’s my prediction, crazy as it sounds.

Update: Actual date was April 3.

When Will Highway 20 Open In 2015?

The Washington State Department of Transportation has announced that they will begin the clearing of Highway 20 on March 16. Which leads us to our favorite game: “when will highway 20 open?” Last year I got within 3 days of the correct date. I’ve added the data from last year to produce a new chart of opening day versus snow depth at Swamp creek snowtel along with an updated trend line
chart_2 (1)This year the snow depth at the snowtel on 3/1/2015 was a paltry 29 inches. This is the fourth lowest snow total in the data set, and leads to the prediction that Highway 20 will open April 5. That seems amazingly early, and late season storms could certainly throw a wrench in an early date, but that’s my prediction, crazy as it sounds.

Update: Actual date was April 3.

The Return of Test Dog

2 years ago we took Test dog to the Methow valley and she spent the weekend running crazily around the property and loving life. Sadly shortly after that she came down with diabetes and lost her eyesight. Until our last trip there were still open trenches around the property, so we hadn’t been able to bring her along, but now that they are filled up, she got to return. Welcome back Test Dog!

Waiting for telescope time
Waiting for telescope time
Bed hog
Bed hog
Head tilt
Head tilt