Whew…what a week! Let’s recap: a trace of snow, a distant rumble of thunder, a wind storm, a snow storm…but no partridges in pear trees. After a brief break to catch our breath, the main weather story here in the PNW becomes rain…lots and lots of rain. But first - with all that melting snow today, there’s lots of extra runoff in the streets…temps are supposed to drop below freezing tonight into tomorrow (Sunday) morning, so slick spots and black ice are a very real potential, along with some patchy freezing fog. Be extra cautious if you’re out walking or driving! Temps will quickly warm into the low-40s by the afternoon, prompting more melting - and I don’t see freezing temps in the forecast for at least the next week! The weather is downright nuts across the country this weekend and early next week…happy to point you towards other reputable resources if you’re interested in learning more. While we’re not looking at blizzard warnings, severe weather outbreaks, or triple-digit heat, the Pacific Northwest is going to be dealing with a lot of rain. The plume of moisture aimed in our direction is actually connected all the way back to the system currently dumping torrential rain on the Hawaiian islands - that’s part of the reason this setup is sometimes called a “Pineapple Express.” But while it won’t pack that big of a punch as it gets here, it will bring some warmer temps along with it. The brunt of the moisture takes aim at Vancouver Island and British Columbia, but could easily shift south a few hundred miles and focus on western Washington instead. If it stays to our north, we’ll get 2-3 inches of rain throughout the week…if it shifts south, higher amounts are possible. Regardless, pretty safe to plan for frequent showers Sunday afternoon on. What might be more noticeable are the mild (dare I say, “spring-like”) temps - mid- to upper-50s by mid-week, maybe even a 60° day or two, and overnight lows only in the mid-40s to around 50°. The air will definitely feel heavy, if not slightly muggy at times, as there will be a lot of moisture in the air even if it’s not raining. Alright, that’s probably more than enough for now…back tomorrow with another look at things!
Forecast Updates
Saturday 8:30am update: The Great Melt-Off has begun!! But there's one more convergence zone sinking south and east, having just dropped some snow over Whidbey Island and Everett. It won't last... view more →
Friday 6:30pm update: The edge of the precip is beginning to sag south! It'll continue snowing for a few hours, tapering off into the overnight hours...but a convergence zone is forecast to set up... view more →
Friday 3pm update: The National Weather Service extended the Winter Weather Advisory until 11am tomorrow morning, mainly to highlight the hazardous driving conditions. Looking at area traffic cams,... view more →
Friday 1pm update: The snow is still falling, though temps are inching up - 34º in my back yard. We'll continue inching into the mid- to upper-30s over the next few hours, meaning a changeover to a... view more →
⚠️❄️ A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 3pm ❄️⚠️ The National Weather Service just issued a Winter Weather Advisory, calling for an additional 1-2 inches of wet snow, and highlighting... view more →
Our wild ride of a week continues. I wouldn't blame you if you thought I was repeating myself from earlier this week...but there's a chance of snow in the forecast tonight (Thursday night) into... view more →
Wednesday 9:45pm update: we're still in the thick of it! The system is taking a little longer than expected to move through the area, which keeps the window for peak gusts open til around midnight... view more →
Wednesday 4pm update: the Wind Advisory is now in effect until 6am tomorrow. I was running a few errands across the Highlands and the Plateau, and it's getting pretty stormy out there - especially... view more →
⚠️ A Wind Advisory is in effect from 3pm this afternoon thru 6am Thursday ⚠️ We're still on track for a pretty impactful wind event this afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service is... view more →