Weather Eye: First day of ‘spring’ comes in like lamb, but lion is likely on the way

“Spring has sprung; the grass has ris’, I wonder where the birdies is?” I just had to get my annual first crack at spring in, as I usually do it on March 1. The first day of March did behave like a lamb despite some dark clouds overhead. It was warm, 61 degrees or so — right in the ballpark.

The warmest highs for March 1 around the state I could find included Sequim with 63 degrees; Tacoma, 60 degrees; Wenatchee, 63 degrees; Walla Walla, 64 degrees; and how about Yakima with 68 degrees? We won’t see these again for a while anyway.

The second day of March was mild as well, into the 50s before the clouds thickened and rain moved inland off the coast. Today will be much cooler with a scattered shower here and there and snow levels back down below passes.

The coming week looks unsettled with some showers or rain and clearing periods, maybe some hail or a stray low level snowflake and cool high temperatures: Typical unpredictable March weather.

I do have to mention that the extended forecast models for the following week have a cold trough of low pressure off the coast and a northerly flow of air, so snow levels will be low — maybe really low. This is not arctic air by any means, and it may not develop quite that cold, but something to keep on the horizon. After all we are into March madness, are we not?

Rainfall totals are still coming in for February from your friends and neighbors around the area, and I will share those with you within the next week, so stay tuned. It is always interesting to see how much the amount varies around our little region of Washington.

Enjoy your week!

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