Tag Archives: local weather

Local, Weather

Cool weather will persist into the first week of April

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[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) By local standards, this past winter wasn’t a hardship, especially for a La Nina year. The forecast models point to a sunny and dry week ahead, but nighttime temperatures will hover at or below freezing during the start of the week. The long-range forecast shows a cooling trend into next week and a wetter pattern.

A common question the gardening community asks us is when will the last frost be. Statistically speaking, we are past the point of having a hard frost (below 27 degrees), and the average date for the last possible frost in the Kirkland area is April 4. Historically speaking, Kirkland has had measurable snow as late as April 11, so temperatures below freezing are still possible deep into April. 

Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday will see lows from 30 to 33 through the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville region. Sunday night will be after a rainy day, so it’s unlikely there will be frost. Monday and Tuesday night look like solid possibilities, so gardeners should plan their planting accordingly. The long-range forecast shows lows in the high 30s through the first week of April.

Our prediction for the last possible day for frost in our region is April 11. If you’re getting tired of the cool weather, don’t despair. By the end of the week, daytime highs will be approaching 60 degrees. 

Weather

Springing ahead, literally and metaphorically

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) Winter will finally lose its grip over the Puget Sound lowlands with a warming trend and Daylight Savings Time ahead. Thursday through Saturday will see a run of sunshine, and 60 degrees over most of the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area by the weekend. Also, Daylight Savings Time starts on March 14 at 2:00 AM, when we turn our clocks forward.

Thursday will see highs in the mid-50s with abundant sunshine. Due to a lack of cloud cover, lows will drop to between 31 and 35 Thursday night.

Friday will see even warmer temperatures, with hot spots like Totem Lake and downtown Bellevue ticking 60 degrees. Overnight temperatures will drop to 32 to 36 degrees.

Saturday will see almost all areas break 60, with temperatures from 58 to 63 degrees. Clouds will start to roll in by sunset. The cloud cover will act like a blanket, keeping temperatures between 39 and 42, with rain developing.

Sunday is looking like a rainy day, however, high temperatures will be 56 to 59 degrees. If you’re picking a day for outdoor activity, Saturday is the winner.

On Saturday night we’ll turn the clocks ahead an hour, providing daylight hours past 7 PM. Looking at the long-range forecast, it appears we’ll be able to enjoy that extra daylight starting on Monday with no rain indicated until deep into next week.

Local, Weather

First hard freeze of the winter is coming, but no snow

Fans of lowland snow and windstorms haven’t had much to rejoice about this winter, and it doesn’t look like that streak is going to change. A change in the weather is coming, including the coldest air of this winter, but the arctic blast will also bring sunshine and clear nights.

Friday afternoon will bring a mixed bag to the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area with sun, clouds, and a few raindrops. Temperatures will get into the low 50s, which is warm for this time of year and won’t drop below 40 tonight.

Saturday and Sunday are almost twins with typical February weather. Temperatures will reach into the 40s on both days. It will be cloudy with a chance of rain showers each day, but not a washout. Sunday night will drop to 32-36 degrees, making it possible for some wet snowflakes on Super Bowl Sunday. There is nothing in the forecast model to indicate a repeat of 2019, which brought a surprise snowstorm to the region.

All of next week is looking sunny for now, but forecasts more than five days out aren’t much better than throwing darts. Tuesday night could see temperatures as low as 20 degrees, and Wednesday may not get much above freezing. If the model holds, next week will deliver the first hard freeze of the season for the area.

Weather

Boring, normal, average weather ahead for start to February

If you’re a fan of lowland snow or big waves on Alki driven by winter windstorms, this has been a disappointing winter season. The boring and very average weather pattern will continue for the start of February.

The week will start off quite wet, with rain arriving Sunday afternoon and continuing through Monday. Over the next 24 hours, 1 to 1.5 inches of rain will fall in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area, and Monday looks to get breezy as well, with a weak front pulling through the area Monday night.

The rest of the week is shaping up to be wet, with Wednesday the driest day. Temperatures in the model look to cool down over the weekend, but it will once again be dry. Most of the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area hasn’t experienced a hard frost this year and only a short-lived snow event. Bulbs and fruit trees are confused by the tepid conditions with many reporting early buds and shoots. Despite earlier models indicating the region would be colder than normal for the start of February, things appear to be average to slightly below average.

The mountains and passes will continue to get plenty of snow, so skiers can rejoice.

Local, Weather

Coming storm to bring less wind and rain, but a lot of mountain snow

French Toast Emergency for minor wind event – we give this system 3 squirts of syrups out of 10.

Puget Sound is set for a windy and wet end to the week but won’t experience a devastating windstorm. The one-two punch coming to Puget Sound is on the right track and carrying plenty of moisture but won’t reach the intensity models predicted earlier in the week.

Computer models have reached an agreement that the storm will track north of Seattle and cross Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Had the storm intensity models delivered, we would be looking at a major event that would rival November 2006. Computer models now forecast barometric pressure in the 990s, which is a garden variety November storm. However, this system is bringing one surprise to the Cascades – snow.

On Thursday, the rain will start for the lowlands, and the temperature will struggle to get out of the mid-40s. For the Cascades, the snow level will be 2,500 to 3,000 feet. The forecast calls for 8 to 16 inches of snow at all the passes, and Winter Storm Warnings are already posted.

Friday is the main event. The storm system that will bring some wind to the region is stuck in the Pacific and still almost a thousand miles away, but will roar into the area late Friday afternoon. The circulation center will pass over southern British Columbia, which puts the Puget Sound lowlands on the “bad” side. Computer models put us right on the line for a Wind Advisory, but I’m not convinced. Wind gusts to 40 MPH are possible, and that’s enough to knock out power in the typical trouble spots such as Finn Hill in Kirkland.

Once again, the Cascades and mountain passes are looking at a major snow event. Snow levels to rise to 3,000 to 3,500 feet, with another foot or more of snow possible. The Winter Storm Warnings posted will almost certainly be extended (or replaced by a Winter Weather Advisory and then upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning)

The rest of the weekend looks unpleasant but typical for November. Saturday will bring showers, which will let up in the afternoon. Sunday and Monday are looking to be total washouts, and for now, the computer models are showing rain for the next ten days.

Local, Terra Firma, Weather

Significant weather event likely on Friday the 13th

The remnants of Tropical Storm Atsani is charging across the Pacific Ocean, on a collision course with the Pacific Northwest. Although Atsani lost all tropical characteristics days ago, the energy and moisture it collected are expected to arrive Friday in a two-day weather event.

The challenge in forecasting wind storms in western Washington is that the center of circulation’s location determines our region’s impact. If the storm passes to our north, close to the southern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, we get the brunt of a wind event. If the storm passes to our south, up the Columbia River basin, Oregon receives the brunt of the wind. An error in the forecasted path of just 50 miles is the difference between a significant wind event and what we like to call “a nothing burger.”

Typically the computer models aren’t in agreement on the “where,” which is the case with the Friday forecast. The GFS model, which hasn’t been the most accurate for our winter weather, forecasts a significant, possibly historic wind event, with the storm passing over Vancouver Island. The Euro model, which was stellar a few years ago but has lost some accuracy, predicts Oregon will receive the most impact.

It is too far out with landfall still 72 hours away to narrow down the track, but here is what we do know. Forecast models put central pressure at landfall between 973 and 983 millibars – that is significantly more intense than Tropical Storm Eta when it crossed the Florida Keys. Barometric pressure this low is typically associated with Category I and Category II hurricanes (our November wind storms have nothing related to the mechanics of a tropical system, even if they are often the remnants of tropical systems).

Wave height forecasts for Friday and Saturday are, in a word, alarming. Some computer models forecast heights of 45 feet off the Oregon coast, with some models predicting higher than 50 feet.

What should you know? For central Puget Sound, there is growing potential for a significant weather event on Friday and Saturday. More specifically to the eastside, the chances for power loss, tree, and property damage is increasing and require a close watch. Along the coast, damaging waves that will cause low area flooding, erosion, and large debris to wash ashore and shift are likely, with the where being the bigger question. The Cascades can expect wind and mountain snow, and a lot of it. The storm track will determine the snow level, but anyone planning to cross the passes this weekend should consider leaving a day early.

Opening the new SH-520 bridge to relieve wind and wave stress is no longer required, and the latest design also prevents waves from over-topping the railings. Also, with reduced traffic in general due to COVID-19, regional travel shouldn’t be too challenging during the evening commute.

The weather model we prefer? That model shows the storm passing to our north but at the lower end of the strength forecast. We will continue to update this growing situation.

Local, Weather

Sunny but cold weekend will give way to wet week

Puget Sound is head for a repeat of a couple of weeks ago after a soggy week that will give way to a more seasonable weekend.

Saturday: A perfect late fall day, partly sunny with a high of 44 – 48 in Kirkland-Woodinville-Bellevue depending on your location. Higher Hills like North Rose, and Finn Hill will be cooler while hot spots like downtown Bellevue and Totem Lake will reach the high 40s.

Saturday Night: Lows will dip to 32 to 35 under clear skies

Sunday: Bright sun with temperatures of 46 to 50 degrees but breezy, with a north wind up to 10 MPH

Sunday Night: Clear skies will give way by sunrise with lows 29 to 33

Monday: Clouding up with rain developing in the afternoon. Temperatures will be 45 to 47

Monday Night: Cold with periods of rain, temperature from 38 to 40 degrees and a south wind up to 10 MPH

The outlook for next week is pretty wet. The long-range forecast indicates significant rain is possible on Thursday and Friday, but too far to call accurately. Friday could include a windstorm event, but on a scale of 1 to 10, right now this is looking like a 2 or 3 – not a French Toast Emergency