Drenching End before a Freeze

There are lots of gatherings, parties, shopping, and general ‘moving about’ the next several days, and it’s well known that weather can impact plans  —>> Lots of ACTIVE weather coming, so be aware and be prepared!!  December 2024 will close out with a "slam, bam, thank you m’am” before we probably enter the ‘freezer’ in January 2025.  Let’s take a peek.  Mug time.

Rain returns as astronomical winter begins tomorrow, Dec 21, and a fairly weak front moves on by.  The next system arrives promptly on Sunday, with plenty of rain.  Wetter still will be a strong storm pushing into the PNW late Mon Dec 23.  Patrons traveling the region may catch a break in the rain during the main portion of the day Monday.

Christmas Eve: the strong storm noted above will be departing, so we catch another break before a drenching storm arrives during Christmas Day.  Models indicate a second Low will rapidly develop overnight Dec 25 into Thu Dec 26 with the potential for POWERFUL WINDS, depending on the track and depth.  Update here Monday.

Friday Dec 27 will be wet.  A system is modeled for landfall along the central OR coast before sunrise Saturday Dec 28.  WIND may be an issue south of Salem.  Again, stay tuned.

The last weekend of 2024 is trending showery with temperatures dropping.  Rain/snow mix possible in the Puget Sound overnight Sunday into Mon Dec 30, as cold air begins to infiltrate from the NW.  A Yukon Dome over 1040 mb is modeled to develop and begin shifting south as the year ends.  This may have IMPACT on the entire west coast in early January.

Conditions currently look rather calm & chilly for New Year’s Eve.  

Some model runs move Arctic Air into the PNW before Jan 2, others delay until Jan 3 or 4, with cold rain Thu morning Jan 2, turning SNOWY to end the week, Fri Jan 3.  Either way, expect WINTER to arrive with a blast of modified Arctic Event to start the New Year.  VERY COLD pattern, with powerful winds out of the Gaps - Fraser & Columbia.  Subfreezing temps.  Prepare during your time off to protect business and home plumbing.  

Getting out of these Arctic Events always causes issues with snow & freezing rain.  Let’s see if this develops, as charted the past couple of days.

Good news is that daylight will slowly last longer starting Sunday!  Winter Solstice 2024 is tomorrow, Saturday Dec 21.