Mild winter saving state snow-removal money

SNOQUALMIE PASS, Wash. — This nearly snowless winter has meant mostly idle snowplows at Snoqualmie Pass. 

In fact, the state's avalanche forecaster was asked how many avalanche control operations they've had this winter?

"We've had zero this year," said John Stimberis. "We haven't had to do it once."
 
Indeed, the last time there was so little snow was 2005.  The snow pack on Feb. 17 that year was 23 inches.  Today, it is just 20 inches.  

But even that was eclipsed in 1977.  On this date that year, there was no measurable snow at Snoqualmie Pass.

"We've had 71 inches of total precipitation since October," Stimberis said. "And about 54 inches of that has been rain."

That is showing up in the budget, too. 

The pass began the season with nearly $2.5 million dollars in its snow removal budget.  

So far, about $1.5 million has been spent - a savings of just under $1 million.

To get an idea of just how warm it got there today, at about 2 p.m. the thermometer read a balmy 50 degrees.

"It's terrific, it's terrific," said Billie Lawson. 

The retiree moved to Snoqualmie Pass for the snow.  But she, too, sees a silver lining.

"I'm out here every day enjoying the place that I live, which I love," she said.

But no one thinks the winter is over just yet.  Late February and March can be pretty snowy, too.