Weather Eye: Another cold snap blows in to prepare December’s welcome

After several days of record highs and maximum low temperatures, winter is back with us a few days early of its December reign. A sharp cold front moved through Friday afternoon, with a burst of heavy rain and a 10-degree temperature drop.

Snow levels, which were at the mountain peaks, dropped below the passes late Friday and added several inches of fresh snow. (Most all the snow that fell last weekend had been washed and melted away, even at Timberline and Meadows.)

Saturday’s forecast had snow showers in it, but any sticking snow was supposed to remain above 500 feet — did you get any? Following the cold front was a modified arctic air mass, with brisk east winds forecast for today.

This cold snap will be brief; clouds and rain with highs in the 40s are on tap for the upcoming week. Of course, with the cold air, any moisture Monday could become sleet or freezing rain, especially near the Gorge, so check the latest forecasts tonight before bed.

Monday is the first day of December and the first day of the meteorological winter. Good timing isn’t it with the current cold weather outside?

I wrote a bit of prose two Sundays ago in which Winter arrived a bit early and Autumn asked for a few more days. Autumn sure gave us a beautiful warm weather good-bye.

After a threat of freezing precipitation Monday and then liquid precipitation Tuesday, the rest of the week could dry out and next weekend may be fair and dry. The main storm track may stay to our south.

Bundle up, keep warm and welcome to winter this week!