MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

0600 Monday:

The Snapshot: Light snow today and tomorrow.  Dry on Wednesday and Thursday with a better chance of snow on Friday.   

The Science:  A weak system tracking up from the south-west today will mix with the cold air trapped in the eastern basin.  Some light snow may be squeezed out of this, but not much.  More snow, mainly east of the mountains, is expected tomorrow.  A weak high- pressure ridge will produce mostly dry and partly clear weather on Wednesday and Thursday.  

4-7day Long Range:  The pattern changes on Friday as the first of two storms arrives.  The first storm is expected to weaken as it approaches the coast, and, therefore, not expected to be a big producer.  Freezing levels will be around 4000’ with east flow, so it should be snow.   A high-pressure ridge builds behind the front late Friday night for a dry Saturday.  A stronger front arrives late Saturday night – at present; this is a warm front with a spike in freezing levels (5000’) with a fair amount of precipitation.  It is still pretty far out, so how much snow (and rain) is unknown at this point. But, if luck is with us, (east flow and cold air aloft) there is potential for some measurable snow.  Beyond that, is anyone’s guess?      

Precipitation ending at 4am: Today’s 24hr Water = .10  Snow = +-1 Tomorrow’s 24hr Water= <.25   Snow = 1.5 Trend and Timing: Snow flurries this morning and then again tomorrow.

24hr temperature ending at 4am tomorrow:  Low: 22   High: 28 Freezing level: +-3000’ Freezing Level Trends and Timing Temperatures will remain in the mid 20’s for the next few days.  Freezing levels will inch up to near 4000’ as the week progresses.

24hr Winds (mph) ending at 4am tomorrow: Base: 5-15 E Ridge Top: 10-20 E   Trend and Timing: Strong easterlies will continue for most of the day.  East flow will weaken but stay intact through most of the week.

JM