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Storm expected to bring 2-4 inches of snow Wednesday night

Weather expected to remain cold well into the weekend

By John Branton, Bob Albrecht
Published: February 23, 2011, 12:00am

This time it’s s’now joke, experts say.

Up to 2, 3 and maybe 4 inches tops of frigid powder could accumulate on the county’s floor tonight, says the National Weather Service, as a result of a storm that may start with mixed snow and rain today.

The weather is expected to morph into cold, sunny days this weekend.

NWS forecasters say a cold air mass coming down the coastline from Canada will drive temperatures to near record lows and could dump oft-predicted but recently unseen levels of snow in what may be one of this winter’s final stands.

The current projection, as of Tuesday night, called for a good burst of between 2 and 4 inches of snow on the floor in Clark County tonight, said forecaster Clinton Rockey. Up in the foothills, such as around Washougal and Hockinson, 5 or more inches are expected to fall.

Even higher, in the Cascade passes, a foot of snow fell Tuesday, with more expected in the next couple of days.

“This is the best chance for an area-wide valley snow event since the white Christmas of 2008,” Columbian weather blogger Steve Pierce wrote Tuesday.

On Thursday, wandering snow showers will mean some areas will be hit with a half-inch to 2 inches and other areas will be missed, Rockey said. That’s because the air will be cold but there won’t be a lot of moisture in it.

Rockey said he expects only a small chance of snow flurries Friday. He predicts a mixture of sun and clouds, with temperatures in the mid-20s Friday morning and rising to only about 34 degrees in the afternoon. That should mean whatever snow is on the ground likely won’t melt quickly.

Friday night, Rockey said, should be cold and clear, with a low of 17 degrees. Saturday and Sunday should be cold, sunny and clear.

Later Sunday may bring increasing clouds, with temperatures warming to a high of 42 degrees.

The snowfall is likely to muck up commutes this evening through Friday.

“It’s going to be interesting,” said Liana Ramirez, a meteorologist with the weather service in Portland. “We need to be aware of it.”

In higher elevations, including the Cascades, Ramirez predicted two to three feet of snow. “If anyone’s looking at traveling through the passes, they better be prepared,” she said.

The arctic air system is expected today to slide down the coastline from Canada and bring a cold front the likes of which hasn’t hit the metro area this late in the season in 16 years. More than six inches of snow fell at Portland International Airport in 1993 between Feb. 18 to Feb. 21. A year later, two inches dropped on Feb. 24. In 1995, three to five inches of snow fell in many locations.

“It’s not abnormal to have these kind of systems come through in late February, but it is rare,” Ramirez said.

Pierce wrote in a post on Tuesday that this system shares many similarities with the 1995 storm. It differs from some of the false alarm storms that come in from the Columbia River Gorge and meet warm air that turns the threat of snow into just rain by the time it hits Vancouver and Portland. Other storms veer too far out over the Pacific Ocean for snow to materialize inland. This storm, though, will only briefly slide over the ocean and all indicators point to conditions setting up just right for snow.

“What makes this set up more conducive for valley snow is the fact that we will see the cold air arrive at the same time as the moisture gets here,” Pierce said. “Many times we get the moisture and not enough cold air. Other times we see plenty of cold air and not enough moisture. This time they will meet at the same time. That is the key to getting snow on the valley floor.”

Here is a bulletin from Loretta Callahan, spokeswoman for Vancouver Public Works:

“The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch in effect for Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon, with snow highly likely for the Vancouver-Portland Metro area. The current forecast calls for total accumulations of 2-5 inches of snow at the valley floor, which would apply to Vancouver. In addition, frigid temperatures in the teens are expected to occur overnight Thursday through Sunday, with the potential for brisk east winds Thursday evening through Friday evening. That means possible icy road conditions complicating early morning commuter traffic.

“Vancouver Public Works is ready to implement 24-hour shifts, rallying crews from a variety of city areas, so that de-icers and snowplows are able to work throughout the city to keep main arterials and other high priority streets passable. The city’s liquid and granular de-icer supplies are fully stocked. In a snow or ice event, please remember that maintaining the streets that provide a critical network for police, fire and medical services is our highest priority. If you see de-icers out on the street, please keep a safe distance and allow them ample room to work.”

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