Tag Archives: weather

Breaking News, Weather

Winter Storm Watches are posted in Puget Sound with snow arriving on Thursday

A series of three storm systems are bringing snow to the Seattle area from Thursday to Monday. The storm systems will be passing to the south of Seattle, bringing the heaviest snow to Tacoma and through southwest Washington, and further south to Portland, Oregon. The Seattle area could see 4 to 8 inches of snow from Thursday to Saturday, Tacoma 8 to 12 inches, and Portland, Oregon, 14 to 18 inches.

The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Storm Watch for Pierce County and points south, with the potential for up to 8 inches of snow in the Tacoma area on Thursday and into Friday morning. Lesser amounts will fall in Seattle and Bellevue. Temperature models have moderated from earlier this week. The urban core of the Puget Sound lowlands will still experience a hard freeze starting Wednesday night.

Closer to our local area, Wednesday will be mostly cloudy for the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area, with a high temperature of 39 to 42 degrees. Wednesday night will have cloudy skies, and temperatures will drop to 23 to 26.

Thursday will see snow moving into the area from the south. Models indicate snow will arrive in the Seattle area from 11 AM to 1 PM and increase to a peak during the evening commute. Light snow will continue into Friday morning, with this event bringing 2 to 4 inches to our region. Areas south of Kirkland and Shoreline will get more snow, increasing significantly south of Federal Way. The high will only get to 33, so this will be a snow event for everyone.

Thursday night temperatures will drop back into the mid-20s, and Friday will struggle to get above 30 degrees with some sunbreaks. The next round of snow is the strongest of the three systems. It will arrive between midnight and 2 AM on Saturday with 2 to 4 inches of snow in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area tapering off in the early afternoon. Like all three systems, the further south you go, the more snow in the models, with Vancouver and Portland seeing 8 to 12 inches from this system.

A third system will arrive on Sunday night. This one is too far out to forecast with accuracy, but models indicate this will pass closer to the Seattle area. Temperatures are on the edge of supporting snow, so it is possible for a wintery mix before a transition to rain on Monday morning.

Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville residents should plan for 4 to 8 inches of snow between Thursday and Saturday, with very little melting between each day. Sunday’s models are indicating a more significant event with 3 to 5 inches possible. For now, you should stay tuned.

If your weekend travel plans including heading south on I-5 or crossing the mountain passes, particularly Snoqualmie, you should have a winter survival kit in your vehicle. That includes tire chains as required and crossing the pass with a full gas tank (or battery charge). Travel south of Olympia could be very challenging on Friday.

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

Colder weather is here, but snow is unlikely

Enjoy the rest of Saturday if you can because colder and wetter weather is coming, but not cold enough. After some areas experienced their first hard freeze of the winter season last night, Puget Sound is enjoying a perfectly sunny day today. All of that will come to an end tonight.

On Saturday night rain showers will move in turning into a light steady rain overnight. Sunday is wet, with small break midday for a few hours when another round of moisture moves through on Sunday night.

Sunday night into Monday morning moisture will linger and temperatures will drop to near freezing. Some wet snowflakes are possible in the morning, particularly on our highest area hills in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area such as Finn, North Rose, Houghton Highlands, or out toward Duvall and the eastern edges of wine country. Anything that falls will likely not stick to the roads and will only be dusting.

The chance of snow for Wednesday we’ve been watching has disappeared, and Wednesday is looking like a dry day with some possible sunbreaks. There is nothing in the forecast model for the next ten days to indicate any chance of significant lowland snow, but late next week is looking wet and cold, with lows in the mid-30s and a lot of rain.

Local, Weather

Cooler weather is coming, but snow is unlikely

January in Seattle has started historically wet and over 9 degrees above average, but both trends are coming to an end. After 7.45 inches of rain fell and highs reaching up to 57 degrees in the first two weeks, the region settled into a partly to mostly cloudy pattern over the past weekend. Some AI-based weather apps are indicating snow for the end of the week, but it is unlikely.

Monday and Tuesday will be seasonable and partly cloudy, with temperatures in the high 40s during the day and mid-30s at night. The entire week is looking dry for January, with Thursday the most likely day for rain showers. Long-range models indicate a cooling trend at the end of the week, but still seasonable.

Although it is too far out to be accurate, weather models indicate temperatures will drop into the low and mid-40s over the coming weekend, and we’ll get some moisture. Daytime temperatures won’t support snowfall and there isn’t a lot of moisture or energy coming into the region. We’ll keep an eye on the forecast, but we wouldn’t worry about finding a snow shovel for now.

Weather

Miserable weekend ahead with three storms passing through Puget Sound

[KIRKLAND] (Malcontent News) – An atmospheric river of energy flowing across the Pacific and will point a firehose at the Puget Sound lowland this weekend. A cold front will bring a burst of rain on Friday night, but that’s only a preview for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. A Flood Watch is in effect for King County, with 3 to 5 inches of rain predicted for the Cascades.

For the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area, heavier rains will arrive between 2 PM and 4 PM tomorrow and continue into the evening. For the lowlands, you can expect half-an-inch of rain. South winds will increase through the day, reaching their peak between 10 PM and midnight. The National Weather Service has not issued a Wind Advisory, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see one issued for Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Sunday is more of a showery day with calmer winds, but over the 24 hours, another 3/10 to half-inch of rain will fall. Monday is looking like another washout with steady rain for most of the day, turning into showers in the early evening. Another half-inch of rain could fall, and it will also be windy.

Tomorrow would be a good day to check any local storm drains to make sure they are clear of leaves or debris. On Saturday night, it is possible for spotty power outages, especially in the usual trouble spots such as Finn Hill in Kirkland. 

Local, Weather

One more day of sun before it becomes very December

The first week of December in Seattle has been one of the driest and warmest in history. Saturday will provide one more day of sunshine before a major shift in our weather pattern to wet, cool, and breezy happens.

November and December haven’t just been warm; so far, Seatac Airport has only been below freezing once, on November 29 for a couple of hours when the temperature dripped to 31 degrees. The forecast calls for temperatures to dip to 29 degrees tonight on the eastside, but still not cold enough or long enough for a hard freeze for the Puget Sound lowlands’ urban areas.

Saturday will bring partly cloudy skies with a high of 46 to the eastside. Closer to home in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area, temperatures will range from 44 on the highest hills to 48 closest to the water, Totem Lake, and downtown Bellevue.

Sunday will be cool and wet, with a high of 44 and persistent rain through the day. The forecast models indicate rain, and a lot of it, as far out as we can see. Monday appears to be the best day next week, but it will still be cool with rain showers.

The first week of December was one of the warmest and driest in Seattle history. During the first seven days, Seattle hit a new record of 60 degrees on December 2 and got to 58 degrees on December 5. It rained on three of the seven days, but rainfall totaled just 6/100 of an inch. In December of 2011, Seattle went rainless during the first 7 days of the month.

Local, Terra Firma, Weather

La Niña off to a slow start in Seattle

La Niña, or the little girl, is a meteorological phenomenon where the Pacific Ocean off South America is colder than average. In a La Niña year, the jet stream, a river of fast-moving air that carries storms across the planet, passes over the Puget Sound area. Seattleites equate La Niña to endless dark rainy days, ice scrapers for the windshield, and snow swirling in the mountains passes. So far, in 2020, that hasn’t been the case.

Puget Sound will enjoy an unusual extended dry spell through the rest of the week. Thursday will be cloudy, with lowland fog settling over the region, with a few spots possibly getting drizzle. Friday through Sunday is looking mild, by December standards, and dry with plenty of sunshine. High temperatures could get into the mid-50s, while evening lows won’t dip below freezing for Seattle-Bellevue. If you’ve pushed off hanging holiday lights, you have a perfect weekend coming.

November was the last month of meteorological fall and delivered below-average rainfall to the region, with 5.27 inches at Seatac Airport. The average high temperature was a balmy 51 degrees, and Seatac only dropped below freezing once, for a couple of hours on November 29.

If 2020 is the winter of our discontent, weatherwise, it is off to a great start. However, a look into our crystal ball indicates that Tuesday could be interesting for a wind storm event, but it is still too far out to provide a firm forecast.

Breaking News, Local

Wind storm moving into Puget Sound for Tuesday

Rain and wind are coming to Puget Sound as another wind storm event approaches the area. The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for Tuesday, from 8 AM to 5 PM. The official forecast predicts south winds, typically for a northern tracking storm, from 25 to 35 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH.

This particular system won’t be a significant rainmaker by November standards, with .25 to .30 inches of rain expected. Wind will arrive around 10 AM to noon on Tuesday, with the east side seeing the forecast model’s lower range.

Residents should prepare for power outages, especially in the areas commonly impacted, such as Finn Hill in Kirkland. Because most residents panic bought everything that wasn’t nailed down in the stores yesterday, everyone is already well-stocked with their French Toast supplies!

Terra Firma

Hurricane Iota targets Nicaragua

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season continues unabated as the historic 30th named storm, Iota, targets Nicaragua and Honduras, only two weeks after Eta slammed the same region. In the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Iota is 235 miles east-southeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios packing 105 MPH winds as a Category II storm. Forecasters expect Iota to pass over Isla de Providencia, Columbia overnight.

Forecast models predict that Iota will make landfall on Monday night in Nicaragua as a Category IV storm with 140 MPH winds. Hurricane Warnings extended from Isla de Providencia, most of the Caribbean coastline of Nicaragua and Honduras. Models indicate Iota will drift across Central America before dissipating over El Salvador by the middle of the week.

Many of the forecast models for 2020 have been conservative. When Eta struck Nicaragua, it was forecasted to arrive as a Category III storm. Instead, it roared ashore with 150 MPH winds as a strong Category IV storm. Two weeks ago, over 150 fatalities were reported from Mexico to Belize from flooding and mudslides. The Nicaraguan coastline residents are still waiting for aid from the Ortega-led government with their lives and homes shattered.

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season has been unprecedented, producing 30 named storms so far, with 12 systems making landfall on the United States. Iota is not expected to be a threat to the United States or be a rare “cross-over” storm that reforms with tropical characteristics when it reaches the Pacific.

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.