Pacific Northwest Weather

[andrewr]

I can't believe how hard it is for us to receive rain. Then with another huge ridge expected over us in the medium-long range, it makes it that much more unbelievable. It's a very odd (and sad) winter when the far southern parts of Texas get more snow than we do. But I guess that means we can now look forward to the other side of the coin.

[andycottle]

Looking at the longer range GFS...5th - 14th, looks like were still on track for very strong ridge of high pressure to build over us during this time. 850MB temps are in the +9 to +12C range, and 500MB vorticity heights of 576DM. We also have a good off shore flow with light southerly surface winds. So am still going with my current thinking of mid-upper 70`s during this time...especaily for the 8th, 9th, and 10th...as that could be our warmest days. But in general, this is looking like a pretty mild pattern and something that you would see during mid-late spring time.

-- Andy

[AnthonyC]

Although run-to-run consistency has been fairly good for the extended, I still don't buy this huge ridge starting March 5. You just don't see 500 mb heights approaching 580 in the beginning of March, let alone June. And 850 mb heights never exceed +8C until May. But you never know...I won't exclude anything from this crazy winter. But to think of having temperatures in the 70s in the beginning of March is crazy! Though I definitely wouldn't mind. As for the short, medium term...Saturday looks very similar to what we experienced Thursday...plenty of sunshine with temperatures in the low, mid 60s. Sunday is still forecasted to be the big transition day to a slightly...though it wouldn't take much at this point...wetter pattern. All of next week has a broadbrush chance of rain...still nothing significant, esp. for the mountains. Actually, some bad news up there...snow levels remain relatively high...4,500 ft. Stevens Pass might see some accumulation, but I think Snoqualmie is done for the season. I'm tired tonight, so goodnite to all!

Anthony

Currently 41F with clear skies...though patches of fog are starting to develop.

[snow_wizzard]

Andy...the predicted pressure gradient is way too weak for anything near the temps you are talking about...

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/cwwd/models/00z ... p_264m.htm

If the ridge is right on top of us, that is no good for the really warm temps. If the ridge is a little further west and we can get a stronger offshore flow, it could get very warm.

Andrew...true this winter has been very disappointing, but the groundwork is being laid for us to get some real weather in here later this year and beyond. This is eerily similar to many periods in the past where we have gotten clobbered afterwards!

[andrewr]

Well we can all take comfort in the fact that this pattern certainly can't last forever. In the meantime though, I've been thinking that Juneau would be an awesome place to live for weather events. They always seem to have strong storms with high winds and are always on the fringe of a ton of snow or a cold rain. Actually their weather sounds a lot like ours is suppose to be, only more wild. Oh well, just have to wait our turn I guess.

EDIT: Currently 33 degrees. As long as the low clouds hold off until after midnight, then it should be another morning of freezing temperatures.

EDIT 2: Now at freezing.

[andycottle]

36 degrees here with clear skies and humidity 100% as of 11:04pm. -- Andy

[snow_wizzard]

You are right about Juneau. That place really gets some weather. I have thought that coastal BC would be perfect...They still get the perfect summers that we get, but the cold and snow are much more consistent. Juneau can have horribly depressing summers.

Our turn is going to come. The past is full of winters with lots of snow and Arctic air. As I have said...there are so many positive signs stacking up this month, I can hardly keep track of them. Nothing like the bitter disappointment of last winter, where there was no "silver lining".

Until our weather comes, I simply ignore what's going on in the rest of the country. I only see it as numbers and nothing else. There are two schools of thought I have. Either the weather is going to turn on us in March, and we are going to have a nasty spring, or it's going to turn in the very late spring or early summer. I think most people would prefer choice number 1.

On the bright side. It looks like yet another freeze tonight! That would be the 18th low of 32 or below for this month. The highest number for any month since Feb 1993. High numbers of lows of 32 or below are almost always a sign we have entered a cold climate period. That is regardless of the cause of those cold lows. Our cold phases also have a lot of "fake" cold like we have seen this month.

[snow_wizzard]

By the way...I see tonight as being more of a cold fog situation instead of low clouds. Tomorrow could be a chilly day if we can get some thick fog. If it stays clear, we should see some really thick frost with the much damper air.

[andycottle]

With skies being so clear tonight, and the moon brightend the sky some what...I thought I would try and a take a couple pics of the stars in the night sky. Long behold, my pics came out alright. Well...to make my pics stand out a little more, I use my adobe photo shop program for better enhancement.

So here`s the two pics I took of constellation scorpio earlier this evening.

Pic#1
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ajc192004 ... pg&.src=ph

Pic#2
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ajc192004 ... pg&.src=ph

-- Andy

[andrewr]

Anyone see this photo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WestCoast ... sage/13973? Besides the fact it is an awesome picture, the resolution is amazing.

EDIT: Now down to 30.5 as of 12:05. That makes it another morning of below freezing temps.

[R-Dub]

AHHHHHHHH!!! Another frosty morning, normaly I wouldn't mind, but this means I am off to work so I can call a frost delay.

2/26/05 LK Goodwin WA
5:52:06 AM CURRENT
Clear
Temperature (ºF) 31.6
Humidity (%) 99.7
Wind (mph) E 0.9
Daily Rain (") 0.00
Pressure ("Hg) 30.02
Dew Point: 31.5 ºF

[W13]

Currently 34F and thick, dense fog as of 8:08 AM

[andycottle]

35 degrees here with very thick fog. -- Andy

[snow_wizzard]

Good morning all! Do you guys realize that we have had weather that could pass for every one of the four seasons this month?

Winter...Cold nights, and even a little bit of snow.

Spring...Warm sunny days.

Summer...Very dry with over 10 cosecutive rain free days...highs well into the 60s on a few days, followed by a marine push and low clouds.

Fall...Dense cold fog (this morning).

To say the least, this has been a BIZARRE month!

We managed to get down to 31 this morning, before the fog set in. The 13th low of 32 or below in a row, and the 18th for this month. It is now only 34 with dense fog.

[snow_wizzard]

R-Dub...Don't despair! Tomorrow will likely be the last frost for a while. We have sure had a run of cold mornings, though!

I would expect we will see more frost later on when that monster ridge builds in. I will be very interested to see how the details on that bad boy play out.

[AnthonyC]

Some dense fog this morning and cold temperatures. But very little frost on the ground...more dew than anything.

I haven't looked at the extended forecast, but I assume everything is still on track for a moderately wet week next week. Hopefully this helps the snowpack in the mountains. Like I said last night, Stevens Pass will benefit alot more than Snoqualmie Pass. I think Snoqualmie Pass is done for the season.

I hope we have another nice day today...something similar to Thursday. Tomorrow looks like the transition day.

Anthony

Currently 34F with fog.

[R-Dub]

Well we got down to 29.4 degrees this morning under clear skies.

Currently we are at 35.1 degrees, clear here at my house, but at the course which is only a mile from puget sound the fog set in about an hr ago which aided in the frost melt luckily so I was able to get the golfers out on the course, and get me home

15 out of the last 17 days have been at or below freezing for lows!! Amazing stuff!!!

I think I could drive my truck across the large frozen ponds at work at this point they are so thick with ice!!

[R-Dub]

Currently 39.4 degrees and warming fast, time to do a little fishing, and enjoy the sun, be back later

[snow_wizzard]

Wow. Almost noon and still socked in with fog and low clouds. Only 40 degrees in Covington right now.

[AnthonyC]

Beautiful day as of 1pm. Clear, blue skies with temperatures rapidly rising...almost 50F...compared to 36F at noon. Looks like another awesome day...too bad I have alot of homework to do because I would be up in the mountains either hiking or snow shoeing if I had the chance.

Anthony