Cold, Wet, and Snowy Period Ahead

 Get your umbrella handy, find those wool mittens, and look for your skis.....an extended period of cool, wet weather is ahead.

Let's start with the predicted precipitation (below).   The western U.S. is going to be very wet.

The predicted totals through next Tuesday afternoon are impressive, particularly over California.  But Washington and Oregon get their share.

The accumulated totals one week later are even more impressive, with the Northwest getting substantial amounts.

Temperatures will be colder than normal over the next ten days...from BC to southern California (blue and green colors indicate below normal temperatures)

Cold and wet means snow...and lots of it...for the entire West Coast.  Here are the totals through February 25th.  Let's say that skiers will have big smiles on their faces.  So will those concerned about snowpack.

What is producing this wet/cold/snowy bounty?

Answer:  a total reversal of the upper-level pattern, with troughing (low pressure) along the West Coast.

Sunday morning?   A strong, immense low off California.

Tuesday morning? An even stronger low off southern Oregon.

You will not believe what I will show you next.  Sunday evening on 22 February, a crazy strong low is STILL THERE.

The National Weather Service 8-14 day outlooks predict cold, wet conditions along the West Coast (see below).

Expect several feet of fresh snow in the Cascades and a radical improvement in the snowpack, with the reservoirs remaining in excellent shape.

What will the media, such as the Seattle Times Climate Lab, have to say about this reversal of the meteorological situation?  

I asked Grok to give me its best estimate of a future Seattle Times headline based on the current forecast. This is what it came up with:

Announcement

I will hold a special online Zoom session at 10 AM on Saturday for Patreon supporters.  Will answer questions and talk more about the snow situation.