And it is snowing about roughly 500-600 ft right now in the central Sound...here is the proof at Peter Benda's home (Bellevue) at 1170 ft:
Both the UW WRF model and the NOAA Rapid Refresh suggest that Seattle and other locations near the Sound will not get any real snow (a few flakes mixed in at most at sea level). Perhaps some light snow (quarter to an inch) on the very highest hills. Here is the latest Rapid Refresh total accumulations through two times: 1 PM Saturday and 9 PM tonight (click to make bigger). The mountains will get several inches to perhaps a half foot.
The big threat will come Sunday night/Monday morning as cooler air moves back into the region and a warm front approaches. Unfortunately, for Seattle snow lovers, this air is still marginal for snow over the central Sound southward. Northwest Washington is a different story...they will get snow...so if you are in Bellingham, be prepared!
Here is the latest predicted snowfall totals for the 24h period ending 4 AM Monday. Up to a foot in the Cascades, light snow from Seattle northward, on the Kitsap Peninsula, and on the northern Olympic Peninsula (which may interrupt the golf in Sequim on Monday). With temperature on the edge for rain versus snow, there would be more snow on the top of Seattle's hills. But the snow over the Sound lowlands will be light.
Keep in mind that only a slight change in temperature and precipitation intensity could shift the snow boundary north or south. And another thing to consider: each model run cycle has reduced the threat of this snow event. Meteorologists call this dprog/dt or dmodel/dt (those who know some calculus will understand the name!). In any case, there is uncertainty in any forecast, particularly with snow predictions.
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Announcement: The Northwest Weather Workshop will be on Feb 28th/March 1st in Seattle.
The NW Weather Workshop is the big annual gathering of those interested in the weather of the Pacific Northwest and everyone is welcome. For more information, including the agenda and registration information, please check out: https://www.atmos.washington.edu/pnww/
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Snowing in Port Angeles. Big flakes, thinking about sticking but not yet.
ReplyDeleteSnowing pretty well in in Mukilteo right now. Seeing a lot more shades of blue on the radar than green throughout the Sound right now.
ReplyDeleteSnowing in Redmond Ridge. Nothing sticking yet either. Started as a rain snow mix and switched to straight snow after an hour.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cliff! We are prepared in Bellingham! One tenth of us have winter tires and about the same percentage has any experience driving in snow. But we'll go forth anyways - slipping and sliding up and down the hills and having a jolly good time! Hurray for snow!
ReplyDeleteSnowing since 7 here at lake Goodwin..sticking to grass and plants (1/4") none on driveway 36°
ReplyDeleteThink it *just* switched back to rain in the hills above Duvall.
ReplyDeleteSnowing in Langley (300' elev.) Light dusting on the ground with air temp right at freezing.
ReplyDeleteSnowing lightly with an inch on the ground in Anacortes (410')
ReplyDeleteWait just a darn second here. Came south for the high school state swim champs this weekend and lo & behold, it finally snows up north in Lynden(north Whatcom County). What's wrong with this picture? ;-)
ReplyDeleteSnowing off and on in Kenmore/Bothell area. None of it is sticking since the temperature is still too warm. If it's not snowing, it's raining!
ReplyDeleteTook a hike up to around 2100 feet outside of Bellingham today. Around five inches of snow up there, and it was still coming down.
ReplyDeleteUp here in Blaine-Birch Bay, we woke up with some snow and it melted. Then, about 2, it started snowing again but not sticking. It started sticking about 4:30. We have 1.25" or so already. I'm glad the Fraser isn't drying us out this time! It's our turn, darn it!
ReplyDeleteYesterday's forecast is working out fairly well: light snow is falling over ... iwintertires.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete