January 6, 2017

MOUNTAIN WEATHER FORECAST

Time and Day: 0700 Friday

The Snapshot:  Continued dry but a bit warmer today.  An active weather pattern begins tomorrow night and lasts through the middle of next week.   

The Science:   High cirrus clouds will begin to move in later today in response to the developing change.   Warmer air aloft will override and trap the cold surface air in the eastern basin; this will force east flow to redevelop later today with an inverted temperature profile.  (warmer air above with cold air mixing at the surface)

The low-pressure system strengthening off the NW coast is expected to spin several frontal bands into the PNW starting tomorrow night.  Snow with east flow holding freezing levels low will show up tomorrow afternoon.  Just a few inches of snow is likely tomorrow night into Sunday morning.  

The main event happens on Sunday with a strong warm front driving up from the SW.  This will bring heavy precipitation and rising freezing levels to the region.  Details of this event are still in question, but snow with a mixture of rain or freezing rain will be part of the conversation for Sunday. 
 
The Long Range:   Cooler with snow showers will be on the docket for the first half of next week.

Precipitation Ending at 4am:

Today 24hr water = 0  Snow = 0

Tomorrow’s 24hr water = .25 snow = 2-4

Trend and Timing:
Light snow begins late tomorrow afternoon.


24hr temperature ending at 4 am tomorrow: 
Low: 14    High: 22
Freezing level: +-2500’

Trend and Timing:   
East flow will hold surface temperature below freezing into early Sunday morning.

 
24hr Winds (mph) ending at 4 am tomorrow:
Base:  5-10 E
Ridge Top:  5-15 E

Trend and Timing:
Westerly winds this morning will shift easterly later today.  East flow will strengthen tomorrow and shift southerly on Sunday.




jM

No comments: