Snow and Cold Returns to the Northwest and California

The atmospheric flow pattern is changing in a big way, developing a deep trough over the eastern Pacific, and driving much colder air south...and I mean south. The Cascades will get its first real snowfall starting this weekend and then the white stuff will push southward towards the Sierras. The snow level will drop sufficiently that even our lower passes could get covered with a few inches of the white stuff. Get your snowball arm warmed up, grease that sled for the kids....the first taste of winter will soon hit the higher elevations.

By Saturday, deepening upper level troughing will develop over the Gulf of Alaska. This trough is associated with cold air, and the tight packing of the height lines suggest strong jet stream winds.

During the next few days (Tuesday AM), the trough plummets southwards, bring much colder air over the NW (see graphic below)

The Climate Prediction Center's 6-10 day forecast shows the result of this pattern: a high probability of below normal temperatures (dark blue colors) over the NW and California. This air will be cool and unstable, and the result will be snow in the mountains. How much? Lets check the model forecast!

First, for the 24-h ending 5 PM on Saturday. Up to 8 inches in the north Cascades and mountains of southern British Columbia, with lighter amount spreading down into norther Oregon.

The next 24 hrs (ending Sunday at 5 PM), the same thing.

One more day later, snow starts spreading into southern Oregon, and lightens up in Washington.

Then early next week the snow picks up again in the Cascades and extends over the Sierras.

The snow level by the end of the weekend will drop to around 3000 ft, so even Snoqualmie should see some white stuff. Stevens is a sure thing. This is good news for the Ski folks...they are going to get a good start to a base on their higher runs. El Nino has weakened and in any case the first part of the autumn is not influenced by it much anyway.

This is all great impetus for us to get our application Seattle SNOWWATCH ready for this winter, with new capabilities that I will describe in a later blog.