And the front moves back north.
Its raining again here in North Bend.
Snow-Wizzard... whats going on with the snow levels?? I thought they would be much higher now and then falling. Are they going to rise through the day tomorrow??
I heard that Mt. Baker got 18 inches and Snoqualmie Pass had 14 inches today.
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The posts in this forum are NOT official forecast and should not be used as such. They are just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. They are NOT endorsed by any professional institution or STORM2K.
The posts in this forum are NOT official forecast and should not be used as such. They are just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. They are NOT endorsed by any professional institution or STORM2K.
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snow_wizzard
- Category 4
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:15 am
- Location: Covington, WA
Covington checked in with a healthy 1.57 inches of rain today. That is more rain than the previous 6 weeks combined! 
As for the snow in the mountains...I think everybody got caught with their pants down on this one! It is very rare for the precip, even at Snoqualmie, to remain snow through an entire (or at least most of a) pineapple express event. The fact that it's spring makes it even more of a "miracle". There were a few factors that made it stay snow for a much longer period than expected. One was the fact that such dry air was in place over central, and eastern WA. That in combination with a persistent offshore pressure gradient made for some decent wet bulb effect cooling. Usually, with a pineapple express the offshore pressure gradient gets cut off, and the winds go to S or SW. That just did not happen this time. In fact we still have a very light east wind in Covington with 44 degrees. That tells me the precip will remain snow in the mountains through most of, if not all of, the night!
It also appears that some cool air on the NW side of the baroclinic band was able to keep the 850mb temperatures decently low in a situation where they should have shot up. In short EVERY little detail worked out perfectly for this major snow dump in the mountains. Quite a change from a winter where every little detail went wrong!
Now...with the cold westerly flow set to plow in here by tomorrow night, the mountains will continue to pile up snow at an amazing rate for this time of year. I would now guess that Steven's Pass could have 60 inches on the ground by the end of the week. Can you believe that?
As for the snow in the mountains...I think everybody got caught with their pants down on this one! It is very rare for the precip, even at Snoqualmie, to remain snow through an entire (or at least most of a) pineapple express event. The fact that it's spring makes it even more of a "miracle". There were a few factors that made it stay snow for a much longer period than expected. One was the fact that such dry air was in place over central, and eastern WA. That in combination with a persistent offshore pressure gradient made for some decent wet bulb effect cooling. Usually, with a pineapple express the offshore pressure gradient gets cut off, and the winds go to S or SW. That just did not happen this time. In fact we still have a very light east wind in Covington with 44 degrees. That tells me the precip will remain snow in the mountains through most of, if not all of, the night!
It also appears that some cool air on the NW side of the baroclinic band was able to keep the 850mb temperatures decently low in a situation where they should have shot up. In short EVERY little detail worked out perfectly for this major snow dump in the mountains. Quite a change from a winter where every little detail went wrong!
Now...with the cold westerly flow set to plow in here by tomorrow night, the mountains will continue to pile up snow at an amazing rate for this time of year. I would now guess that Steven's Pass could have 60 inches on the ground by the end of the week. Can you believe that?
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snow_wizzard
- Category 4
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:15 am
- Location: Covington, WA
Awsome! Steven's Pass has dropped back below freezing! It is now 31 after a high of 32. They now have 41 inches of snow on the ground with 15 inches of new. I actually emailed them two weeks ago and said they should consider keeping all of their options open, because they were going to see some wicked snowfall very soon. At the time, they said they were holding on to the thinnest hope that they could have a surprise opening if it all panned out like their meterologist, and I were saying. They will certainly have to consider it now!
As for the coming week...There is a strong surface low that will track favorably for a chance of some 40+ winds by Tuesday or so. There will also be unseasonably cold air masses entering the state on Monday, Tuesday night, and Thursday night. The cold unstable air could produce thundershowers and hail. The lower foothills could also see some snowflakes at times during the week. It also goes without saying that there will be a lot of rain. The drought is over!
As for the coming week...There is a strong surface low that will track favorably for a chance of some 40+ winds by Tuesday or so. There will also be unseasonably cold air masses entering the state on Monday, Tuesday night, and Thursday night. The cold unstable air could produce thundershowers and hail. The lower foothills could also see some snowflakes at times during the week. It also goes without saying that there will be a lot of rain. The drought is over!
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snow_wizzard
- Category 4
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:15 am
- Location: Covington, WA
Very impressive! Sea - Tac had 1.51 inches of rain yesterday, which breaks the record of 0.96 from 1988. The very interesting thing about 1988 is that it also had a very dry Feb just like this year. Talk about an example of history repeating itself! I think you all know what happened in the winter of 88 - 89. Just something to think about.
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andycottle
- Category 5
- Posts: 1139
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:34 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Wa
So THIS is Winter!! I almost forgot...
Very strong frontal system for the end of March...although not unheard of. Like I said yesterday afternoon, another ripple formed on the baroclinic band and brought another round of heavy rain to almost all of Western Washington. We are officially over 2 inches here in Mukilteo, and we still have moderate rain coming down. Unbelievable stuff!! As for the mountain passes, Stevens Pass is doing awesome right now...looks like they've had 2 feet in the last 24 hours. Snoqualmie Pass isn't doing too bad either, but their elevation is a little too low...they may have a foot on the ground.
As for the extended, things stay very interesting ALL week long. I would pay particular attention to Monday night/Tuesday morning as a possible high wind event may occur. Right now a 987 mb surface low tracks into northern Vancouver Island, but with each model run that surface low is stronger and comes inland further south. Just something to watch. And this week will be UNSEASONABLY COLD!! High temperatures in the mid, upper 40s isn't out of the question. As each cold front passes through, snow levels could briefly lower to 1000 feet.
Isn't it Spring?! lol.
Anthony
Very strong frontal system for the end of March...although not unheard of. Like I said yesterday afternoon, another ripple formed on the baroclinic band and brought another round of heavy rain to almost all of Western Washington. We are officially over 2 inches here in Mukilteo, and we still have moderate rain coming down. Unbelievable stuff!! As for the mountain passes, Stevens Pass is doing awesome right now...looks like they've had 2 feet in the last 24 hours. Snoqualmie Pass isn't doing too bad either, but their elevation is a little too low...they may have a foot on the ground.
As for the extended, things stay very interesting ALL week long. I would pay particular attention to Monday night/Tuesday morning as a possible high wind event may occur. Right now a 987 mb surface low tracks into northern Vancouver Island, but with each model run that surface low is stronger and comes inland further south. Just something to watch. And this week will be UNSEASONABLY COLD!! High temperatures in the mid, upper 40s isn't out of the question. As each cold front passes through, snow levels could briefly lower to 1000 feet.
Isn't it Spring?! lol.
Anthony
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andycottle
- Category 5
- Posts: 1139
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:34 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Wa
Good morning all. A drizzly morning here with very thick fog. Over night last night and into wee hours of this morning I receieved .67" of rain. So if we get anymore heavy rains here today, bet I could easily go over the inch mark. My temp right now is 45, DP 45, humidity 100%, and baro at 29.26 and steady. -- Andy
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All eyes on the developing system for Monday night/Tuesday morning...could be a wind event if all things come together. Considering our track record for this Winter, I'm not gonna get my hopes up...but the possibility is there.
Looks like Stevens Pass might open next weekend if they can get 16 inches of new snow...this was stated yesterday morning. Since then, they've gotten nearly 24 inches...looks like the ski season isn't over YET!!
Anthony
Looks like Stevens Pass might open next weekend if they can get 16 inches of new snow...this was stated yesterday morning. Since then, they've gotten nearly 24 inches...looks like the ski season isn't over YET!!
Anthony
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andycottle
- Category 5
- Posts: 1139
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:34 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Wa
Happy Easter all!
Looking at the latest GFS this morning, looks like our cool, very showery and unsetteled weather pattern will continue through this week. Each system that comes in will bring moderate rains and Breezy winds at times as we`ll be in a rather nice westward zonal flow. Now as Anthony mentioned...conditions could become very windy tuesday into wednesday time frame as a 986 to 989MB low slides across central Vancouver B.C. MM5 model however, has the low much further north and puts it at the far Northern tip of the island. At any rate, 850MB temps will be about -3C with heights of around 1320M and wind out of the West and SW of 30 to 40kts. 500MB vorticity heights not all that low and only around 528DM and Westward winds howling at 50kts with gusts 60 and 70kts. So we may indeed see a interesting weather day. And maybe evening some isolated thunder showers.
-- Andy
Looking at the latest GFS this morning, looks like our cool, very showery and unsetteled weather pattern will continue through this week. Each system that comes in will bring moderate rains and Breezy winds at times as we`ll be in a rather nice westward zonal flow. Now as Anthony mentioned...conditions could become very windy tuesday into wednesday time frame as a 986 to 989MB low slides across central Vancouver B.C. MM5 model however, has the low much further north and puts it at the far Northern tip of the island. At any rate, 850MB temps will be about -3C with heights of around 1320M and wind out of the West and SW of 30 to 40kts. 500MB vorticity heights not all that low and only around 528DM and Westward winds howling at 50kts with gusts 60 and 70kts. So we may indeed see a interesting weather day. And maybe evening some isolated thunder showers.
-- Andy
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Now this is a sight we haven't seen for a while!! White slopes!!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/golfer96_ ... pg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/golfer96_ ... pg&.src=ph
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TT-SEA
Amazing.
Since the start of this event we are at 2.90 inches. We will EASILY climb past 3 inches in the next hour with the rain coming down as hard as it is now.
60% of the way to my predicted 5 inches for the week.
Another question... why are snow levels rising now? Shouldn't they be coming down today?
Since the start of this event we are at 2.90 inches. We will EASILY climb past 3 inches in the next hour with the rain coming down as hard as it is now.
60% of the way to my predicted 5 inches for the week.
Another question... why are snow levels rising now? Shouldn't they be coming down today?
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snow_wizzard
- Category 4
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:15 am
- Location: Covington, WA
TT...This will be a very brief rise in the snow level. The atmpshere is more mixed now, so the low level cold air in the passes has eroded a bit. Pretty soon the cold air will sweep in from the NW and the mountains will get round two of snow. I amazed they have so much up there already.
We have now had 2.5 inches of rain in Covington.
We have now had 2.5 inches of rain in Covington.
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TT-SEA
Wow, what a great weekend! Happy Easter to all! 
We went up to our cabin yesterday, which has recorded over 6.00" of rain since yesterday morning, and it is still raining VERY hard up there at the moment.
Here at our house, we have gotten 2.23" of rain since yesterday morning. That is more than we have had over the last several months (starting towards the end of January) in one day. Amazing!
All eyes are on the possible wind event for Tuesday. If it pans out, it would be awesome!
We went up to our cabin yesterday, which has recorded over 6.00" of rain since yesterday morning, and it is still raining VERY hard up there at the moment.
Here at our house, we have gotten 2.23" of rain since yesterday morning. That is more than we have had over the last several months (starting towards the end of January) in one day. Amazing!
All eyes are on the possible wind event for Tuesday. If it pans out, it would be awesome!
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What's up with the snow level?! Looking at the latest pass cams, it's raining at both Snoqualmie and Stevens pass. We need this baroclinic band to push through so colder air aloft can filter in. Right now, the band is becoming north/south oriented, meaning it's beginning to split...and thus stalling right over Western Washington and Western Oregon.
As for the extended, looking at the latest MM5 data doesn't convince me of a windstorm Monday night/Tuesday morning. The surface low makes landfall in extreme northern Vancouver Island which would make a marginal wind event for the coast and northern interior...but just breezy for the Puget Sound. Hopefully that changes in the coming model runs.
Anthony
As for the extended, looking at the latest MM5 data doesn't convince me of a windstorm Monday night/Tuesday morning. The surface low makes landfall in extreme northern Vancouver Island which would make a marginal wind event for the coast and northern interior...but just breezy for the Puget Sound. Hopefully that changes in the coming model runs.
Anthony
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TT-SEA
Good news... temperatures in the mountains are falling now.
Stevens Pass is at 32 degrees
Snoqualmie Pass is down to 36 degrees
Should be snow for the next few days now. NWS considering a Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday which would mean significant snow.
For the record we ended up with 3.25 inches for the storm and 5.75 inches in the last 10 days.
And its not raining now.
Stevens Pass is at 32 degrees
Snoqualmie Pass is down to 36 degrees
Should be snow for the next few days now. NWS considering a Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday which would mean significant snow.
For the record we ended up with 3.25 inches for the storm and 5.75 inches in the last 10 days.
And its not raining now.
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