The End of Cold

 I have very good news for the frozen residents of our region.   

The cold period over western Washington and Oregon is over...probably for the remainder of the winter.

No more lowland snow.  No more icy roads.  No more heavy jackets.

Objectively, we have suffered through the coldest mid-winter in years.

For the period from January 15 through February 13, this was the COLDEST mid-winter in 50 years (see proof below), with average daily temperature just above freezing.

No wonder my dog has not wanted to go outside.

But everything will now change.

Consider the surface temperature forecast for Seattle from NOAA/NWS for the next ten days (below).   NO MORE FREEZING TEMPERATURES.  No MORE HIGHS IN THE 30S.  At the end of the period, highs reach the MID-FIFTIES.

With the stronger sun, next weekend will feel like spring.

What about eastern Washington you ask?   At Pasco, in the Tri-Cities,  they will have to tolerate below-freezing nigttime temperatures for the next week  but by next weekend, highs will zoom into the mid-50ies.

The 8-14 day temperature outlook is for warmer than normal conditions over the West....will that feel good.

 And with the warmth will come moisture, with bountiful precipitation returning.  Here is the forecast total precipitation for the next ten days.  Heavy just where we need it...Olympics and the northern Cascades.  Massive snow as well.  

In short, a return to the warmer, wet conditions loved by true Northwesteners.