Sunny And Nice, Then Clouds And Ice?
Friday, January 25, 2008
NOWCAST - Mostly sunny skies today with increasing high clouds late. East winds continue with highs between 40-45 degrees and cooler near the gorge. The weekend will prove to be a mixed bag. See below.
OUTCAST - AS you can see with the satellite photo taken around 10 am today we have a rather complex weather situation. With cold and dry air over us and a low spinning to the south and a low dropping down the BC coast, everyone will want a piece of the action. Unfortunately, just one will rule. And that will be the low from the north. Good news, bad news. Good news is it will have very cold air aloft with low freezing levels, bad news is it cuts off the east winds and brings in air off the ocean with its circulation. Still, as colder air filters in BEHIND the front, showers will bring snow down to the valley floor at times but this will be an on again off again situation. Some areas get more snow, some get none. So, it now appears this won't be a general widespread snow event with inches and inches on the ground unless you live in the higher elevations, say 1,000 feet or so where you could pile up 8-10 inches or so in the next three days.This new low from the north will also drop southward toward California (heavy snows/rains/flooding there) and if it were to stay a tad further west we would have better chance of snow and a light drift of offshore winds. Only a possibility. Kind of like is the train going to stay on the track or derail? By early next week after this passes, we remain cool but not cold so returning to more seasonable temperatures and snow in the mountains. This is based on no further penetration of arctic air from Canada which one model holds it at the border with below zero temperatures so it will be close. But, as always stay tuned. Bottom line: I think everyone will see some snow at times. We could get a brief snow/sleet event early Saturday if that moisture shield from down south makes it up here in time, but then back to a cold rain, then snow/rain mix, then mostly snow showers Sunday and early Monday. It will be close and I wouldn't rule out anything at this point. We will get what we will get. This is a good time for YOU to look at things and make your own forecast. Might as well throw it in with the rest of us! Something could develop further that we can't see at this time. So, a definite, maybe! (Thanks Pete). Have a great weekend!
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 10:10 AM,
