Little snow, no party: Hoodoo cancels annual New Year’s Eve celebration, awaits fresh powder to open

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) - Hoodoo Ski Area announced Thursday it has canceled its annual New Year's Eve Celebration due to lack of an adequate snow base for skiing and riding.

"Hoodoo's management is hopeful that weather patterns will change soon, allowing Central Oregon's oldest ski area to finally open for the 2023-24 ski season," the announcement said.

The ski area said guests should check skihoodoo.com and follow Hoodoo on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. Questions can be sent to customerservice@hoodoo.com.

The Oregon SNOTEL automated data system shows in its snow-precipitation update that the Upper Deschutes/Crooked River Basin is at just 43% of its median snow-water equivalent for this point in the early winter, though precipitation for the water year to date is 90%.

The current Oregon Drought Monitor shows much of Central Oregon remains in moderate to severe drought and the rest is termed "abnormally dry."