A storm that blew in Friday and Saturday piled sea foam high on the beaches at Rialto Beach.
More enjoyably for skiers, it also piled snow high on Hurricane Ridge.
The National Weather Service predicted that the storm would be the snowiest of the season at Hurricane Ridge, and the clouds indeed cooperated, dropping 25 inches of snow within a 24-hour period from 4 p.m. Friday through Saturday afternoon.
And that estimate might be low.
“It was probably more than that, but the snow has settled,” said Dennis D’Amico, forecaster for the National Weather Service
The official snow depth at Hurricane Ridge was recorded at 99 inches Sunday afternoon.
Snow continued falling through 8 p.m. Saturday, and snow levels dropped to about 1,500 feet.
The storm’s rain totals for lower elevations were less impressive.
They measured 1.73 inches of rain in Forks, 0.63 inches in Port Angeles, 1.27 inches at Jefferson County Airport, and 0.41 inches in Quilcene, according to the Weather Service.
And there is more to come. A new storm is expected to drop rain today through Tuesday night.
That rainfall may be enough to cause flooding on some rivers, D’Amico said.
The heavy snow caused a risk of avalanches, and the road to Hurricane Ridge was closed Saturday and Sunday.
For road closure information, phone the Olympic National Park hotline at 360-565-3131.
Ski tows will be open at the popular snowplay area south of Port Angeles from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting.
The bunny lift rope tow costs $12 for both all-day and half-day skiing.
Intermediate and bunny lifts are $24 for all day and $22 for a half-day.
The Poma lift is $32 for all day and $30 for half-day.
For more information, visit www.hurricaneridge.com.
A seven-day entrance pass, which allows a private vehicle to enter any of the park’s roadways, costs $15.
The Olympic National Park Annual Pass, good for one year after the purchase date, costs $30.
Those who don’t want to drive can hire a van service.
All Points Charters & Tours provides twice-daily van service from downtown Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge from Wednesdays through Sundays.
To reserve a spot on a van, phone 360-460-7131 or email tours@goallpoints.com.
Shuttle vans leave the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center on Railroad Avenue at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and will pick up passengers at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., at 9:05 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. before the 45-minute drive to Hurricane Ridge.
Vans leave Hurricane Ridge at about 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The round-trip fare is $20 per person.
Van fare does not include the entrance fee for Olympic National Park.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
