January 27, 2009

Snow is here


The snow is here--nearly on schedule (light precipitation almost always starts an hour or two before the models indicate). Look at the radar...light precipitation.pretty much all snow is extensive south of Seattle...but the forecast rain shadow over Seattle and to its north is evident. Temperature aloft are cold enough for snow (as seen in the Seattle profiler), but strong southerly winds are pushing in aloft and they will eventually cause sufficient warming to turn it all to rain.s
WSDOT camera show some light snow on the roads in the south sound (see image)...so be careful...cliff

12 comments:

  1. Here in Fauntleroy the snow just started about 6:30a. Now at 7:10 there is just a trace turning the sidewalks white and the edges of the streets. Not snowing hard, just enough to be pretty.


    Doing my snow dance now!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Here in Eatonville it's been snowing since about 6:00 am. I heard the wind (gusting to about 25) around 5:00 am and checked the temp....it was 38....When I woke my daughter up at 6 she asked why school was on time since everything was covered, including the roads....? The temp. had dropped to 31 and it was coming down pretty good....not sure how much we have on the ground though...we already had a bit leftover from Sunday but what fell this morning was blowing around in the wind....This is a first for us! Usually when those S/SE winds pick up we warm up fast and get only rain....never seen the temp. drop again and give us snow! I'm not complaining! I love the snow and the wind! Stay safe everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Temp rising in Bellingham proper. On shore flow scouring out the cold air. We are in the rain shadow vancouver Island. So looks like snow is loosing its chances unless precipitation comes down hard and fast "cooling"...

    ReplyDelete
  4. North Hoquiam has a coating of snow, starting to melt as rains begin.

    Hope it sticks around until daylight!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Anonymous...

    It is actually quite normal for the temp to drop on the onset of precip when the dewpoints are low. The dewpoints were running in the teens and twenties so when the rain/snow falls it pulls heat out of the air and cool sit temporarily. Snow a drop in temp is what they call a wet bulb effect and can cause it to be colder in the short term. As enough warm air gets in here then it will warm up and rain. Just give it time as we do not have any more Cold air to replace the warm air coming in off the ocean so it is just a matter of time. I would say before noon for most of us. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Here is a good article that Scott Sistek wrote in his weather blog this morning about how dry air can make it colder and snow more. Read it here: http://www.komonews.com/weather/blog/38450844.html?blog=y

    ReplyDelete
  7. Olalla: 32 degrees this morning at 7:30. We've had about half an inch of white stuff, providing a very wintry landscape. No precip at all right now.

    - Pete

    ReplyDelete
  8. Snowing hard in NE Portland elev about 200ft. started at 7:30 am.
    it is pretty - but I am ready for spring rains and no more slippery roads and sidewalks!!
    Cliff I LOVE this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Here in Woodinvile at 300ft, just a light dusting of snow(a trace) on the grass and on our driveway. Looks nice thoug Currently cloudy with 30 degrees and DP at 27.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sea-Level - Washington Central Coast. 1/2 inch accumulation on road turning to rain at 8:30am. 36F and Barometer is 30.17 and falling. Wind 7mph East. Surprised when I opened the blinds...

    ReplyDelete
  11. I saw several school buses stuck in compromising positions on Capital Hill. Ironic that the SPS is trying to close schools for good when they can't even make good decisions on when to close due to weather.

    ReplyDelete
  12. it's the transportation people who call in their reports to the district after driving into work or driving the roads. It may not be fair to put the blame on the administration alone.

    ReplyDelete

Please make sure your comments are civil. Name calling and personal attacks are not appropriate.