I work in the science community; the business of global warming within that community is similar to stock market speculation. With the more news about warming trends the more likely others and eventually you will be copasetic with contributing money, carbon tax, ect... This increases the funding for more scientist to show the result that garnered the $$. You hear very little about the persisting and increasing natural La Nina condition in the pacific, albeit one year of cold weather the la Nina condition is strengthening and there is an freaky hush about it. I am more than encouraged that we live in a country that pays attention to the environment, but be aware that there is big $$ at stake here and with the public sector (government) as the largest employer there is an incentive to pull the teat that produces. Also check out how the data of 1998 - 2005 (Hot, some drought) was always front page and is still prolific throughout the web and scientific journals; while the recent lows and heavy snow pack will be ignored or only honored with potential for negatives - such as - increased storms, snowmelt, rainy cool gloom, any human suffering (China coldest winter on record?). I tell you the scientific community is holding their breath for this la Nina to end and any sign of increased temps to return. I personally hold my breath for the cold to stay and the fresh pow-pow to last until July 3rd!
There seems to be a likely chance that the la Nina that has increased recently to slightly over average, despite the steady speculation and hope by some of it ending, will persist into next fall, or at least provide a "neutral" condition for next winter with an average snowfall. Depending on where you ride, until recently the snow pack was near average and in some cases below. the slightly lower than average temperatures in April have keep the snow pack intact increasing the gap above average melt times.
The previous year we had a little more than half the snow, and I probably have been able to ride one month longer this year. I go to the UW annual review of research and even with global warming, many models show an increase in Northwest snowfall accumulations, just a shorter season.
So I snow checked a dragon to make the most out of it!
