Climbing in the NW in an El Nino Year?

[TimL]

Can anyone help me out here? I´m thinking about taking the summer off from work and coming back to the NW a little early this year...say the middle of June til the very end of August. What I´m trying to remember is if the summer after an El Nino year is on average drier with better weather or rainier with worse weather. I seem to remember that the weather last summer wasn´t so good, but I think my perception of NW weather is changing after spending so much time in Spain. Thanks!

[kukuzka1]

In the cascades I think its hit or miss any year, month or week

[AlpineK]

Here's what Cliff Mass has to say about upcoming summer weather

 

NOAA 3 month outlook

 

Above normal temperatures

[img:center]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vgawnhRg_KY/S8UsTugK5QI/AAAAAAAACZA/rhWORCP7gPc/s400/off03_temp.gif[/img]

 

Below normal precipitation

[img:center]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vgawnhRg_KY/S8UsT8W4uKI/AAAAAAAACZI/OvB_YAVV604/s400/off03_prcp.gif[/img]

 

 

You can look at his blog. He describes how predictions and observations differ

Cliff Mass Blog

[DPS]

seem to remember that the weather last summer wasn´t so good,

 

I climbed more in the Cascades last summer than any of the previous 20. I thought the weather was awesome and never got skunked.

[G-spotter]

The forthcoming spring in western Canada is supposed to be drier and warmer than normal so you should be able to say fuck Index and just climb at Squamish for those two months.

[eplanajr]

The forthcoming spring in western Canada is supposed to be drier and warmer than normal so you should be able to say fuck Index and just climb at Squamish for those two months.

 

haha

[TimL]

seem to remember that the weather last summer wasn´t so good,

 

I climbed more in the Cascades last summer than any of the previous 20. I thought the weather was awesome and never got skunked.

 

Thats my point, I've lost my point of reference for "good" Cascade weather.

[RuMR]

Yo Tim...

 

you should drag Drew out some...i'm stuck working but he'd be stoked to tramp around witcha...

[kukuzka1]

thats my point. its a crapshoot

[eldiente]

Not sure if this is a trend or not, but it seems like the summers have been warmer/drier in the NW the past two years. Can anyone confirm? Last year was crazy, every weekend was splitter with such reliability that I stopped checking the forecast when planing trips as it always seemed to be great.

 

-Nate

 

[jmace]

You mean a two year trend

 

All this talk about dry warm summers is pretty much gauranteeing a shit wet summer...

 

 

[G-spotter]

Memory is selective, two summers ago had a lot of rainy days.

[TimL]

Yo Tim...

 

you should drag Drew out some...i'm stuck working but he'd be stoked to tramp around witcha...

 

Sounds good. I'll give you a shout when i get back. I'm sure he can hang the draws on my projects.

[jmace]

Dry and warm and low snow year...you may be sitting out a full forest closure as opposed to worrying about rain...at least in BC they are already talking about it.

 

Last time they went as far as closing down most trails including the backside trail in squamish

 

last year it went as far as a voluntary closure...

[TimL]

Thats what I thought. Last time I was living in the NW after the winter of an El Nino year it was dry, hot and fairly good weather.

[Rad]

There will be plenty of great climbing to be had. Shoot me a pm when you get back, Tim, and let's go climb something.

[RuMR]

Yo Tim...

 

you should drag Drew out some...i'm stuck working but he'd be stoked to tramp around witcha...

 

Sounds good. I'll give you a shout when i get back. I'm sure he can hang the draws on my projects.

 

Thanks Tim...Gimme a call when you get in...