Hope you were lucky enough to get a few snow flakes at your house Christmas Day, dear reader. That’s always a treat. Much more are unlikely this weekend, but luckily the mountains aren’t far and a storm is brewing.

Ski and snowboarders should head to local ski areas this weekend for powder turns. An atmospheric river is expected to drop multiple feet of snow on the Cascades in the next couple of days. Mt. Bachelor received more than a foot of snow late Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Along with Mt. Baker in Washington, Bachelor currently has the highest base depth in the country, according to snow report website On The Snow.

The storm system was forecasted to continue through Monday, bringing precipitation and high winds to the mountains. Temperatures are predicted to stay in the 20s through Sunday morning before dropping into the teens.

While the storm has brought snow to the mountains, it’s provided lower Central Oregon areas with a mix of snow and rain. Expect to find trails soggy and muddy. Mountain bikers should probably avoid local trails this week to prevent damaging them. Lowland, sandy trails in the Redmond area will likely soak up this week’s precipitation best and provide the cleanest riding. Take care when running and hiking.

Temperatures in town are forecasted to reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and remain above freezing during the night. There are chances of rain through Sunday.

Below are some recommended spots for recreation this weekend. For mountain biking and other trail-specific updates, check out bendtrails.org and the BendTrails Facebook group.

Snow dumps in mountains all weekend

Mt. Bachelor

Mt. Bachelor ski area received 9 inches of snow overnight Friday, according to the mountain report. The mountain had received 13 inches of snow in 24 hours and 38 inches of snow in a week. More snow was forecasted for Friday and through the weekend: up to 12 inches Friday, 10 inches Saturday and 16 inches Sunday, according to the mid-mountain forecast.

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-20s Saturday and drop into the teens by midday Sunday. Winds could reach 25 mph Saturday morning and 30 mph Sunday.

Bachelor had received 191 inches of snow so far this season, as of Friday morning. The mountain’s base depth was 93 inches.

Hoodoo Ski Area

Hoodoo had received a foot of snow overnight Thursday, staff wrote in the ski area’s report. The ski area was expected to get over 8 inches throughout the day Thursday as well, according to the mid-mountain forecast. Another 5 inches was forecasted for Friday and Saturday, plus 8 inches Sunday and 7 inches Monday. Hoodoo’s base depth was 55 inches, as of Thursday morning.

Willamette Pass Resort

Willamette Pass had received 6 inches of snow in 24 hours, as of Thursday morning, and 11 inches over the week, according to the snow report. Its base depth was 38 inches Thursday. The resort had received a total of 81 inches of snow this season. All 30 trails and three of six lifts were open.

Lower Deschutes fishing consistent

Trout fishing on the lower Deschutes River has been consistent over the past couple of weeks, according to reports on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) website. Anglers have found trout and steelhead between Mecca and Trout creeks, near Warm Springs. Steelhead fishing has been keeping up well for this time of year and is expected to wind down by the end of the year.

Fishing on the Deschutes closes between Warm Springs and Pelton Dam Jan. 1 and reopens April 22. Chinook season is closed on the Deschutes, but coho retention is open through Dec. 31. Chinook are currently spawning in the mainstem Deschutes.

ODFW asks that all steelhead, coho and fall Chinook with an orange external tag that reads “ODFW THE DALLES” are reported to the office at 541-296-4628.

Check out the ODFW’s website for more fishing reports.

Enjoy a holiday skate at local rinks

Central Oregon’s four ice-skating rinks are all up and running. Take family and friends out for a midday or evening skate this holiday season.

The Downtown Redmond Plaza and Seventh Mountain Resort both have outdoor rinks that are open to the public during specific times. Sunriver Village also has its own ice arena, and The Pavilion in Bend has weekly public skate sessions. See websites for fees and more details.

For a full list of conditions updated regularly, visit bendbulletin.com/explore/conditions.

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