Everything is in place for a full blown arctic air outbreak. Very cold and mostly dry continental cold air will spill from the eastside of the Cascades westward later today and tonight. Again moisture is very limited, so maybe a flurry, that's it! Sorry snow lovers. Temperatures tonight will drop like a rock. 10's and 20's in Western Oregon, single digits or colder east of the Cascades. Howling winds coming out of the Columbia River Gorge at 40-45mph will push windchill temperatures into the -15 to 20 degree range.

I don't see any kind of a recover until Sunday, the wind will begin to let up but temperatures will gradually begin to warm. It might be late next week before the thermometer reaches 50. That's the normal high temperature this time of year.

In TV speak " The Bottom line" damn it's going to get cold around here!

Dave

dsalesky@kgw.com

Posted by at 7:37 AM | Permalink

Sometimes even a blind squirrel can get a forecast right. As predicted cold air with limited moisture has moved in across the region producing mainly rain with some snow at higher locations. The showers will continue today, tapering off tonight. The Coast Range, Cascade foothills & locations generally between 500ft - 1000ft will see some sticking snow. Total accumulations will be limited to no more than an 1" to 2" tops. Downtown & most other areas will see rain, under a heavier shower a rain snow mix may occur. Accumulation is not likely. High temperatures are going to be in the 40's not great for sticking snow. ( read sarcasam).

Tonight it's going to start getting cold! I mean really cold, lows will be in the 20's in Metro Portland, colder in the outlying areas. At night we'll flirt with record lows through the weekend. So I know your next question, will it snow? The more I look at the new model runs the more I lean away from the chance. I might still change my mind but for right now it looks cold and dry. If a low does form over Pacific it will form to far west and south to produce snow on the valley floor. Remember like all good weather geeks I reserve my right to waffle.

That's it for now. I will continue to post here regularly!
Dave
dsalesky@kgw.com

Posted by at 9:10 AM | Permalink

Well here we go again! Mid February and ol' man winter wants to play one more game of "will it or won't it" snow in Portland! I'm chewing up finger nails and listening to my stomach turn over.

OK here's the set-up. No doubt about it.. we're going to get cold! High's by the end of the week in the 30's, lows in the 20's. That's part one. Part two is the moisture. If we get an area of low pressure forming off the B.C. coast, moisture from the low could come down as snow. On the valley floor... well that's the tricky part. If the low forms too far off shore the airmass modifies and snow will fall only in the Coast Range and Cascades. If the low forms close to the coast and stays just to our north then we could get walloped.

It's not a done deal. At least not yet. I know other Meteorologists are already calling for snow. Not me. Not yet. I want to see the low form and see where it tracks. I'm writing this on Monday and the snow to the Valley floor scenario doesn't arrive until Thursday.

As we like to say... Stay tuned for details.

Dave

Posted by at 12:59 PM | Permalink

Something we've already known here in the Pacific Northwest this winter, is now recognized by the Federal Government. It's a La'Nina winter. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Association NOAA, at it's winter meeting says we're having a La'Nina episode. I guess a little late is better than never! (read editorial comment)

The counter of El'Nino, during La' Nina colder than normal water is found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Cold air from the Bering Sea meets warm tropical waters near Hawaii. Strong storms develop and slam the West Coast. The areas most affected British Columbia, Washington & Oregon. A La'Nina year produces our heaviest rain years and deepest snow packs.
So even though we've known this more months here in the Northwest, The Federal Government now makes it Official.

I'm getting some great pictures from viewers of our La'Nina year. Larry Hinton, sent a great shot of Snoqualmie Falls.

Dave
dsalesky@kgw.com

Posted by at 9:15 AM | Permalink