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.
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In short, a return to the warmer, wet conditions loved by true Northwesteners.
“Happy days are here again” 🎶
ReplyDeleteGlory be!
ReplyDeleteMy skin and sinuses are all very grateful for the upcoming change! Thank you for bearing tidings of great joy!
ReplyDeleteNorth of Ellensburg 10 miles there are 5 inches of old snow (sagged and frozen) with another inch coming, apparently. The "mountains" just to the north generate cold air that seeps into the valley. Still, by next Friday we might get above 40°F - - just enough to soften and melt some of the snow.
ReplyDelete50 degrees will feel like a heat wave. Um, I mean a Heat Dome.
ReplyDeleteNo need to “suffer” through the cold if you wear appropriate clothing and adjust your mindset. Cold can be invigorating.
ReplyDeleteYour opinion - I trust. Most of the official agencies - I do not (for good cause). I've long-since had enough of this bitterly cold winter. All this is very good news. The woodshed became so woefully empty I hit "reload" from what's been seasoning for next winter. Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteWhat station did you use to produce the table? Using xmACIS, I find that the average temperature at KSEA from 1/15 - 2/13/25 was 35.6F which is the 5th coldest such period in the POR and the coldest since 1969 - not bad, but not exactly historic. It is impressive, though, that the first half of this February was similarly cold to the first half of February 2019. This February will, however, end up substantially warmer than February 2019 though it will likely be in the top 5 to 10 coldest Februaries on record for many Western Washington locations.
ReplyDeleteWeather? - It’s all good, Dawg!
ReplyDeleteThe atmospheric river looks impressive next weekend per IVT. How concerned should we be with prolonged rainfall for 36 hours on the mountain snowpack? If the European Ensembles verify, looks like the lowlands would be looking at 6" of rainfall through March 3.
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