Rhymes with Go

Best chance for widespread snowfall around the PNW is about to arrive.  ☕️ Ready, set, snow. 

Following one of the driest Januarys on record, precipitation has finally returned to the great PNW.  Rain today, turning more showery later on Sat and colder, too.  Coldest air of the weekend moves in behind the current front by Sunday, so expect a snow/rain shower mix at the surface Saturday night into Sunday.  As many forecasters have stated, the heavier the showers, the greater the chance for snow accumulation at your location.  Foothills, Cascades and coast range could all get inches of snow by Monday.  But wait, there’s more - - -

Next week will present the coldest air mass of the season around the region, with the classic ‘outflow’ from Fraser Gap starting things off first, with strong cold winds driving cold air into the Puget Sound region; outflow from the Columbia Gorge will likely be delayed until Wednesday.  “Go for Snow” requires moisture, which in our case in early February, looks possible from southern OR into BC.  Not a lot of moisture, but enough, on & off, Mon through most of next week, to present SNOW just about everywhere.  Some model runs indicate 2-3” of snow on valley floors (with potential for more above 500 ft) — that stated, overnight showers are most likely to accumulate, making for slow commutes in the mornings.  School delays or outright cancellations are probable.  Road surfaces should be thawed during daylight hours, hopefully.

There should be a break in the threat for snow late Wed through early Thu, then, as a system moves moisture into the PNW from the SW, moderate snowfall is probable on Fri Feb 7, esp for the Willamette basin - southern district first, then moving north.   Stay tuned, as we see the chance per latest model runs, for over 3” should the Low center remain south of Eugene.  The air mass will be cold enough to hold most of the surface snow around for a few days, but NOT Arctic cold.  We do see a chance for freezing rain - for a short-spell - for Lane county south overnight Thu into Fri.  Mostly snow or snow/rain mix elsewhere.  Portland area north to BC may MISS OUT on the late-week event.

The weekend of Feb 8,9.  Should start out dry, turning damp late weekend, with a near repeat of the Thu-Fri storm noted above.  Warmer air mass by that time, so limited areas of snow or freezing rain.  Still, we see the chance for snow or snow/rain mix, or freezing rain for Salem north.  This system is likely to completely miss all of WA and BC.  The air mass over the PNW will remain rather cold, therefore roads will continue to be at risk for icy conditions, at times, during overnight hours.  The outflow of cold air from the Gaps should ease;  foggy bottoms possible.  

Monday - Fri, Feb 10-14.  Winter is not over.  Cold air mass will continue to linger about the PNW, so any threat for moisture could bring back the risk for frozen precip, at all elevations.  Such may be the case by late Thu through early Sat, Feb 13-15.  Snow or freezing rain possible!!  This is a long way out, so stay tuned.

For a few weeks now, the long-range models have suggested a cold, snowy type pattern for the PNW in Feburary.  We are seeing the chance for this to verify.  Plan ahead for any travel by road over the next couple of weeks.  Rhymes aside, all the “Go Snow” talk could just be that, talk and no action.  Still, our premise here is that preparation ahead of time is far less inconvenient than getting caught by surprise.  Go Snow.