Weather Eye: In the aftermath of the windstorm, a look ahead to our winter

I got an early start on my column in case we lost power in Saturday’s windstorm. Winds were expected to gust to maybe 50-60 mph. With the ground saturated and all the leaves on the trees, not good.

The annual winter-weather meeting was Saturday. KGW meteorologist Rod Hill of Vancouver predicts temperatures normal to above normal, and precipitation iffy. Could go either way, wetter or drier, but end up within 4 inches of average. Snow? Maybe a trace to 4 inches. One 8-inch snowfall is possible. He believes Mount Hood will have an average snow season with 500 inches of snowfall. For details go to: http://tinyurl.com/pu72r2t

Pete Parsons forecasts below-average temperatures and above-average precipitation. Look for an early start to lower-elevation snowpack sometime in November.

The National Weather Service predicts a dry, mild winter. Former Oregon State climatologist George Taylor follows with above-average temperatures, above-average precipitation and hardly any snow chances in the lowlands.

Kyle Dittmer, hydrologist and meteorologist, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, calls for slightly above-average temperatures and somewhat drier, getting wetter as winter progresses.

A weak or moderate El Niño will be a wild card. We tend to be drier than average and milder, with most storms going south of us, but we have had surprises with El Niño years.

So, forecasters present a mixed bag, and so did the woolly bear caterpillars this year. They also were split about 50-50. I say flip a coin.

Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at http://patricktimm.com

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