Pacific Northwest Weather

[snow_wizzard]

Well...Gloomy and 46 degrees...I knew the NWS forecast was too warm! The mountains are indeed getting snow. Blewett Pass is the most remarkable. I looked a few hours ago and there was only a dusting. Now it looks like a winter wonderland! Always remember that warm fronts are cold, until they actually finish moving through. I expect there will be about a 12 hour window where most of the passes will get rain tonight and early tomrrow, and then the cold front slams us!

I agree with the NWS...the pressure gradients are never really favorable for a big wind event.

[snow_wizzard]

Wow! You can tell it is really snowing at Snoqualmie Pass. Nice big flakes (and a lot of them) showing up on the camera. All of the passes look pretty snowy now. Hopefully the cold front will add another foot tomorrow night. I continue to predcit that it will warm up this evening. The temperatures have now begun rising in Portland.

In Covington the temp is now down to 44 with moderate rain and an east wind gusting to 15. You have got to love that evaporative cooling! It seems like somebody was talking about the east wind keeping things cool today....

This could very easily be December, judging by the way it looks and feels out there today. This area would not be seeing the east wind and wet bulb cooling, if it were a spring like rain. We are back on track folks!

[AnthonyC]

Looking at the latest pass cams, Stevens has already turned to rain...and Snoqualmie is in the process. Snow_Wizzard...I think you are forgetting that it's the middle of March...wet bulbing is not that common in the middle of March.

Scratch the high wind event for tonight. Looking at latest satellite pics, the surface low is very weak and the upper level wind pattern is not favorable...it's already shearing the system apart. This winter keeps the disappointments coming.

Moderate rain right now which is good. Temperature is a mild 51F. Nothing out of the ordinary for the middle of March.

Anthony

[snow_wizzard]

Anthony...You are awfully negative about all of this. This is a decent cold wet day. Also, the barometer sits at 29.23...I hardly call that a weak and splitting system. I don't know how you are at 51. Everywhere else is in the 40s. It is colder here and snowier in the mountains than you thought it would be.

I think the wetness on the camera at Stevens is nothing but some snow melting off the camera. A situation where what little solar radiation that is getting through is being absorbed by the dark metal housing of the camera. The roads have been getting progressively snowier up there. I seem to remember that many people on here were saying it would be raining on the passes today. It has snowed quite a bit. Also...this is wet bulb effect cooling in Covington. We have dropped 6 degrees since the rain really set in. Areas not exposed to outflow winds have slowly been getting warmer. That is very typical in the foothills...it is warmer than everywhere when there is an east wind and no rain falling, and then colder than everywhere when the rain or snow gets going. The cooling is from wet bulb effect.

I don't know how you can say this is just like the rest of the winter. It is safe to say, most people would not agree with that statement.

[R-Dub]

WOW suprised you are so warm down your way Anthony! We started out at 51 degrees before the rain started, now its down to 44 degrees with moderate rain, and the wind has started to pick up a bit. Quite gloomy!! Looks like I might have to re winterize the jetski as I don't think it will be getting much use for a while
We do need the rain though.
Funny though, I had so much energy when it was bright sunny and warm. Now that its dark, wet, and gloomy I just have NO energy!

At least the Huskies kicked some tail!!
Sucks that the Zags lost though

[snow_wizzard]

Most of the passes now have traction tires advised. It has been amazing to watch how fast the roads have been gone from bare and wet, to almost solid white! The road at Steven's really looks bad now. I do not believe the reoprt that says snow/rain at that pass. The temp is 30 and Snoqualmie which is further south and at 33 degrees has snow.

Once again. I did say the precip would be snow for much of the day and would eventually turn to rain later this evening. I just want to make sure that someone, who shall remain nameless, does not try to take credit for being right about today.

You can go back and look. My two main predictions were the temperatures in the lowlands would be in the 40s for much, if not all of the day, and the mountains would get significant snowfall. I hate to have to point out my own success, but Anthony's post tried to downplay everything.

[TT-SEA]

It is looking VERY wet and very cool though.

Just what we need.

The lowlands could see 1-2 inches of rain and the mountains could have 2 or 3 feet of snow next weekend!!

One week from right now looks VERY nasty. No lowland snow... but very windy and rainy.

This is what I wrote one week ago this evening. You gotta admit that I got this pattern change dead on. Now the winds are coming later tonight and more heavy rain and snow tomorrow as well. Definitely not the sunny, warm weather of last weekend!!

Also... the models continue to show a VERY wet pattern after a nice break this week to let the current rain soak in. This is what we need... just perfect. I feel much better and will be able to enjoy the sun again when it returns.

[snow_wizzard]

TT...I give you a lot of credit for your predictions over the past few weeks. Well done!

As for the break coming up next week...I think we will all be happy with that. There should be a nice chill in the air at night, and seasonable days. I really feel we are back on track!

[R-Dub]

Temp continuing to drop, now down to 43.1 degrees

[AnthonyC]

I have to say dude, it's raining pretty good. We've probably had about a half an inch. The wind is slowly picking up too. The temperature has also dropped...now down to 45F. You're correct Snow_Wizzard, both Snoqualmie and Stevens pass have snow falling. They are also under a snow advisory which is awesome news!!

I pray we get some sort of wind event tonight. What are your thoughts on this TT-SEA?

Anthony

[TT-SEA]

R-Dub... not for long!! It will warm up and get windy tonight.

[andycottle]

Hi Guys!! A very RAINY day indeed! Quite wet actually. Rain started about late this morning and has continued since then. My current baro is 28.94 and steady. {EDIT}...just droped another 4mb.

Latest loop this afternoon of the MM5 surface 1000mb map from UW, shows currently a 981MB low about 200, 300miles off the North Oregon coast...and is forecasted to track across the most northern tip of the Washington coast by 8pm, and then across Southern Vancover Is. by 1am. So as low gets closer to the WA coast, winds should start to pick up. In fact, looking at the surface wind field...winds start to pick up out of the west at 35kts along immeadit WA coast line by late this evening, winds peaking at 40+ kts just shortly after mid-night, and then subsiding...or dieing down...by around 3a.m.

For here in the Seattle area....our winds should peak between 10pm and 11pm....when we should see winds of about 25kts from the south. Winds should die down as the night progresses.

-- Andy

PS: What you all think of this forecast. Pretty good? Let me know!:)

[andycottle]

[cloud9]

ATTENTION: Please go to http://www.kathleenkeating.com and listen to Scott stevens, click on special show and listen to what he's saying about whats going on with our weather. He is a pro-met

[andycottle]

Here`s the link that shows about where the current local is og that 981MB low. -- Andy
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/mm5rt/d ... 5.0000.gif

[R-Dub]

Really coming down now!!

3/19/05 LK Goodwin WA
7:18:26 PM CURRENT
Moderate/Heavy Rain
Temperature (ºF) 43.3
Humidity (%) 97.8
Wind (mph) ENE 4.2
Daily Rain (") 0.15
Pressure ("Hg) 29.21
Dew Point: 42.7 ºF

[andycottle]

Just a few showers here. Current baro 28.91 and steady with a temp of 47. From looking at surface map with fronts/obs...at the HPC site...a stationary front looks to be on the move and should be here at 00z tomorrow. -- Andy

[andycottle]

Current temp now up to 50 degrees with DP of 43 and cloudy skies here at 8:54pm. -- Andy

[andycottle]

Gusty winds here this morning! At just a little after 4:30a.m...I would say winds are easily gusting 35mph and probably a bit higher at times. Current temp is 54 with and baro at 29.00 and steady. -- Andy

[R-Dub]

A WILD early morning!!! Our power just came back on. Biggest windstorm here in my area since the Oct. 2003 Storm.
We lost 3 trees at work this morning, No power or phones there still.
I think we hit gusts of about 50MPH

I knew something was going to happen last night when I saw my barometer was so low.
Will post pics in a few

Currently Light rain, breezy and a temp of 43.9 degrees.