I have to tell you about this, although some of the forecasts are insanely extreme.
Over several forecast cycles, models have suggested that this weekend and next, record cold and snow will hit the region.
Yes, it snows in the lowlands.
Let’s start with the lauded Central Europe model. Totals for the next week (until Tuesday morning) are shown below. Dust covers the lowlands and is large (2-4 ft) in the mountains.
The US GFS pattern is similar to heavy mountain snow, but it also has a band 1/2 feet wide south of the Sound.
And the US GFS has even more snow in the lowlands through Thursday. Furthermore, the total through mid-November is absolutely insane, with almost 2 feet above Seattle. The American model has problems.
Snow accumulation for the coming week according to the UW model is also high in the mountains and there is some snow in the lowlands west of Washington. Everyone….we might be skiing on Thanksgiving.
 |
As shown in the snow climate chart below, getting any kind of lowland snow during the first two weeks of November is essentially unprecedented.
Anyway, thought you should know. I will keep an eye on these forecasts as there is a lot of uncertainty regarding such extended projections.
What you can count on is cooler-than-normal temperatures (including highs only up to the mid-40s) over the next few days in the lowlands and heavy mountain snow.
Source? A strong depression along the coast (see upper pressure –500 hPa – map for tomorrow morning), with blue and purple showing much lower than normal altitude (or pressure) high.
And we are confident that a atmospheric river will bring some moisture to the coast on Friday, leading to heavy rain and snow in the mountains (see total atmospheric water vapor forecast for Friday, below)
So don’t worry about wildfires, droughts, or lack of ice — we’re entering a period of wet and cold weather. The yin and yang of the weather is quite clear.
