Friday Weather Update

Update: Hmmm, the NWS just copied the TeagueCast at 1:06 pm:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/warnings.php?wfo=pqr&pil=XXXWSWPQR&zone=orz006&productType=Winter%20Storm%20Watch


All systems go and based on this morning's computer models I suspect that the National Weather Service will soon be issuing all kinds of watches and warnings for this Sunday as the arctic air mass dropping down looks like it will be picking up some moisture. My best guess is 2-6" of snow for The Couve on south down the valley. I know that's a wide range but there will be some localized "bullseyes" that score, and some areas south of The Couve will be able to tap into the moisture a bit longer. However, areas further north will be the first to see the snow as the low pressure will draw cold air through the Gorge into the metro area beginning early Sunday. We could still see some flakes in the air Saturday before the real cold arrives.

With any snowpack going in to next week I think lows might even approach single digits on Tuesday night. Late Wednesday into Thursday is of particular interest as models show a fairly moist and cold system dropping down. With the cold air already in place then, the liquid to snow ratios would be very high (maximized) and we don't normally have that type of scenario west of the Cascades. I will hold off on any predictions on the amount until things get a bit closer, but as a heads up next Thursday could be very snowy.

For good measure the mid-week low will probably be followed by a new batch of very cold air as frigid arctic air gets pressed and trapped into Canada because of high lattitude blocking.