Powder Alert – Weather Update
Dec 15
This fall has been tough for Cascade skiers, boarders and snow lovers.Basically, it’s been too warm and wet and then when it’s finally cold enough, it’s dry. The week ahead has some hope, but the weekend is a mixed bag.
A new weather system is mainly going into California, then it will brush Washington with a few showers Tuesday and Wednesday. Snow level is 3000ft, finally low enough for snow, but don’t expect much. Maybe an inch or two of Cascade snow. The main storm track is diffuse over Washington, while more consolidated into California, as we get some leftover precipitation moving north. High pressure will nudge back into the region on Wednesday and Thursday producing mainly dry weather.
By Friday, a modest weather system will take a more direct path into Washington and the snow level remains near 3000ft. I am more optimistic about snow from that system. However, do not expect epic dumping amounts – still a respectable 4-10″ is possible.
There will be more weather action over the weekend. Later on Saturday into Sunday, computer models show a stream of subtropical moisture with a warm front heading toward western Washington. Right now, the confidence is low regarding the details of this system, since it is 5-6 days out. A period of sustained moderate rainfall, with snow on the medium and upper slopes is likely. Sadly, the snow level will rise a tad to 5000 ft, but with more westerly flow this is not a really high snow level and is lower than we saw last week.
The configuration of our storms this fall has been conducive to a mild pattern. The warmth is being caused by an abundance of southwesterly atmospheric circulation, bringing moderate temperatures and moisture from the subtropics. It’s not unusual to get some of this pattern in the fall, but it’s typically interwoven with alternating cold spells, bringing snow levels down with modest dumpage after each storm, giving us a least some Cascade snow with most storms.
No major storms are showing up yet on the extended computer forecasts, but this weekend’s weather has some upside potential.
Go Seahawks.
The Grand Poobah
