Here is plot from NOAA showing the the snow depth last year (left) and this year (right) for today (Nov 17). A LOT more snow this year than last.
The Northwest Avalanche Center did an analysis two days ago (see below) and the numbers are impressive, with Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics enjoying 500% of normal snow depth for the date. Mount Baker 209% of normal and Mission Ridge at 325% of normal. And we have had more snow since then.
So a very good start to the snow year in the Northwest mountains.
But snow lovers have a problem....some warm and wet weather is coming, with freezing levels rising well above the Cascade passes.
Here is the forecast for temperatures above Sea-Tac Airport. The y axis is height and the x axis is time (increasing to the left in UTC/GMT). The solid blue line is the freezing level (0C level), winds are indicated by the barbs, and relatively humidity with color shading (green is moist).
The freezing level is below 5000 ft overnight tonight and moist showery conditions are in place (more snow). Tomorrow will be dry (no shading). But then there is trouble...a strong current of moist air comes in later on Sunday...an atmospheric river...with the freezing level zooming up to around 7500 ft. Rain on our precious snow. Then the atmosphere cools a bit on Monday and then a VERY warm air mass comes in on Tuesday, with the freezing level reaching about 10,000 ft. Not good.
The forecast total atmospheric moisture values in vertical columns (see below) shows impressive values of moisture streaming into the Northwest at 10 AM Tuesday--a substantial and warm atmospheric river.
And the 72h total precipitation ending 4 AM Wednesday is enough to send erstwhile Californian's back to the Golden State, with over 5 inches of warm rain over the higher terrain of Washington, Oregon, and California.
With lots of rain and melting snowpack, flooding will be a concern by mid-week, with rivers such as the Snoqualmie and Skagit being forecast to reach flood stage (see below). So be prepared if you live or work near these rivers.
Thanksgiving week is traditionally the wettest and stormiest of the year..and it doesn't look like it will disappoint in 2017.
Any concerns for windy conditions with all this rain? I remember years ago when it was somewhat of a Thanksgiving tradition for the power to go out just before or on Thanksgiving day and we had to get creative about cooking the turkey.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the mountains block all thee wind storms so your better off going to the coast.
ReplyDeleteHow long will this warm weather last? Hopefully it will be shortlived.
ReplyDeleteSkiers, all may not be lost. The glass may be half full. Some years ago I was riding the chair lift at Mt Hood the day after an epic December rain which followed an epic early season snowfall. The guy next to me said I think the rain is good for the snow. The benefit to me was not obvious so I asked for the rationale. "It settled it down", he said. Now thats a skier comment you will only hear in the pacific NW.
ReplyDeleteActually, at this time of year, wet snow or rain on top of early season snow is a good thing. It helps up the water content in the snow pack and makes a better base for the early season. Unconsolidated powder in the early season means your rock skis are going to get a work out!
ReplyDeleteStevens is closing Tues-Thurs due to the rain, hoping to save snow for the weekend. With up to 3 inches of rain forecast in a 24 hour period, we're not talking about the kind of rain that just settles the snow pack. Let's hope it doesn't turn out to be that bad.
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