_____________________________________
Our minor lowland snow event is nearly over, with only some wet snow near sea level and modest snow above 500-700 ft. As noted in my previous blog, the problem was temperature: too warm at low levels. But plenty of snow in the mountains.
The only real snow during the next few hours will be around Port Angeles and the NE Olympics, where Fraser Valley flow will be forced to rise (see forecast for 3-h snow ending 4 AM).
But there is a lot of weather fun that will occur over the next few days over the Northwest, including:
- The coldest low temperatures over the western lowlands since last January (down to the mid-20s!)
- Strong Fraser River outflow winds during the next day or so.
- Strong easterly winds along the eastern slopes of the Cascades
- Strong easterly winds in the Columbia Gorge
- Lowland snow on Thursday
- Strong winds along the NW WA coast on Thursday.
More in future blogs.
At this point, I'll believe Thursday on Thursday...
ReplyDeleteSly post...! :)
ReplyDeleteSo we were supposed to get 2"-4" in the convergence last night. I'm disappointed. It was cold enough- 29 degrees this AM- but the moisture supply failed.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the only way we get snow to last is when the snow falls as cold snap moves in and meets the moisture. When the moisture pushes out the cold air, the snow only lasts a few hours before the rain...
The latest NWS discussion hints that next week could also be interesting. Looks like we will have an actual winter season this year!
ReplyDeleteNext week looks like it's going to be on the chilly side too. Any chances for snow next week?
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even seen the NWS discussion; it does look interesting. And the 6-10 day outlook looks pretty interesting:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/index.php
Unusual snowstorm in Eastern Washington last night.A slow moving low dumped 2-8 inches of snow in the middle of the normally arid Columbia Basin, while virtually no snow fell in the Spokane area!
ReplyDeleteWe got at least 2 inches here in Port Angeles. Quite a bit for us, no disappointment here!
ReplyDeleteI echo John K's request for information about the Fraser River flow and how it impacts us. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, it would be nice to have an easier way to prove I am not a robot. I had to click through 11 screens (I counted) to be verified. To just enter a few letters or numbers would be so much nicer.
Seems like we've got a whole bunch of snow lovers who would love some positive news about potential snowfall in western Washington. We're hanging on your every word.
ReplyDeleteJohn K, much like the Columbia River Valley the Fraser River Valley is a gap in the mountains that allows cold air to seep or stream out of the interior where the pressure is higher and the air is colder. Thus the outflow winds often keeps areas near the ends of the valleys cooler and leads to snow and freezing rain events when other areas are already seeing rain. If there is enough cold air and pressure these winds can extend much further, well into Washington.
ReplyDeleteJohn K., I was wondering the same thing so did a google search and came up with this older blog post: http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2009/01/fraser-gap-wind.html
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to hear more about this in the next couple of days.
Those easterly Columbia River Gorge winds are harsh. I used to have to spend quite a bit of time east of Portland, just outside the Gorge. Even outside the mouth of the Gorge, they were quite piercing, and sometimes they can persist for weeks.
ReplyDeleteI'll take my current locale with ample but mild convergence zone rain over those winds any day.
Fortunately, you didn't usually have to get far off the river to find shelter from them given the hilly terrain around Portland.
Cliff, thanks for letting us know when you'll be updating. I love your blog and tell everyone about it.
ReplyDeleteRead his book :)
ReplyDeleteCliff's Blog from January 23, 2009 explains the Fraser in bare terms.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dr. Mass,
ReplyDeleteMy question evolves around professional intuition and trusting the models. In an episode of Doogie Howser he was challenged to go beyond the models and trust his instinct. Being a dedicated professional in the realm of pnw meteorology, how much leeway do you feel you have to use professional judgement as opposed to just reciting and reading model ensembles?