Aaron, we have never had a lot of true powder here in the PNW very often due to us having too high humidity and its impact on snow crystals and snow density. This is why I often go inland to find the good stuff. If you want true powder you better head inland. That was the case even back in earlier decades. However, saying that we used to have more days of powder like conditions in earlier years. I will say this I have experienced deeper dumps more often recently and it seems to come when it comes in intense amounts. this does produce a few more avvie issues.
However early years did produce doozies in the lowlands....1969, 1955, 1950, 1916 and several ones in the late 1800s produced massive dumps in the lowlands. Some of those were showstoppers. Unless we have a massive volcano eruption, I think those days are gone for huge lowland snow events around here now if you are in Boston that is a different story.
Yes it was rare even in earlier years that you could skate on the lakes. It was about once every five years or so normally during La Ninjas as you have noted. However, it is now going on close to 15 to 20 years since the local one Long Lake was safe to skate. Recent La Ninyas have not had enough cold in them to do the trick down here at sea level, but you still got good skiing 98-99 was epic. Now during the period Amar calls the Golden Years in the 1950s and the 1960s I can remember two winters where lake Stevens froze so thick that you could drive a car on it. When was the last time that has happened since......never. I am not expecting a nice freeze on Long lake in any year in the future for skating is my prediction.
Folks the weather is changing........it is warming up....around here. Oh and in Alaska what is going on is downright amazing. The further North you go the changes are even more dramatic. If you are not seeing it you have your head in the dirt.....I would say snow but there is not enough of it to put your head in....LOL.
