Mount Hood, OR – What Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort’s communications director Dave Tragethon is calling “the storm of the decade” has dumped nearly three feet of snow in the past 48 hours on the slopes. Snow accumulated at rates of up to two inches of snow an hour and has increased the ski area’s base depth to almost 11 feet. In the past 24 hours, the late season storm has left 19 inches of fresh, light powder.nThe conditions have prompted resort officials to extend the season. Meadows will now operate daily through April 25 and will continue on weekends in May through May 16. The additional six days in May will bring the total days of operations this season at Meadows to 172 days.

At press time, other 24-hour snow totals around the Pacific Northwest from the current storm include:

• White Pass, Wash.: 20 in.
• Mt. Bachelor, Ore.: 18 in.
• Stevens Pass, Wash.: 16 in.
• Crystal Mountain, Wash.: 13 in.
• Brundage, Idaho: 11 in.
• Whistler Blackcomb, B.C.: 11 in.
• Sun Valley, Idaho: 11 in.
• Hoodoo, Ore.: 10 in.
• Whitewater, B.C.: 10 in.
• Kicking Horse, B.C.: 9 in.
• Squaw Valley USA, Calif.: 8 in.
• Mt. Washington Alpine Resort, B.C.: 8″