March 4, 2016

MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Time and Day: 0700 Friday

The Snapshot:  Mostly dry with patchy clouds today, rain with a few snow flakes mixed in late tonight and then again on Sunday.

The Science:  High pressure over the PNW interior has produced a beautiful morning for Stevens Pass.  High pressure to the southeast and low pressure out west will force a few things to happen; first, it will confine the moisture to the coastal region, and second it will allow warm air to invade from the south.  Thus, expect the next 12hrs to be mostly dry with rising freezing levels.  A weak cold front will push in late tonight lowering freezing levels to +-5000’ with mixed rain and snow on the upper ridge and mostly rain in the base area.   

The Long Range:  Intermittent snow showers and clear periods along with cooler temperatures will start out the new week.  The snow vs. rain game will be played again Tuesday and Wednesday.   

Precipitation Ending at 4am:

Today 24hr water = .25 Snow = 0-2

Tomorrow’s 24hr water = .5+ snow = 1-3

Trend and Timing:
Light rain begins after midnight tonight and will diminish to light showers by daybreak.   Another wave of moisture enters tomorrow night with another round of mixed rain and snow.


24hr temperature ending at 4 am tomorrow: 
                                     
Low: 32    High: 40
Freezing level: 4000’ – 7000.'

Trend and Timing:   
Temperatures will quickly climb into the 40’s today.  Early morning low temperatures will struggle to drop below freezing.  

 
24hr Winds (mph) ending at 4 am tomorrow:
Base: 0-5 ESE
Ridge Top: 5-10 SSE – shifting SW

Trend and Timing:
East flow at the surface with ridge top winds shifting southwesterly tonight.   




jM

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