It wasn’t a white Christmas for most of us, but many saw snowflakes falling from the sky. Our friends in the foothills had a little on the ground at times, but with the showery nature, it was hit and miss.
However, after dark Saturday, the temperatures were slowly dropping and bands of precipitation were reaching the coast, with snow falling along the ocean beaches.
Snow was forecast to fall locally overnight into today, so we may enjoy a “white day after Christmas,” at least. The really cold air arrives tonight and Monday, with skies clearing later Monday.
We still have a chance of snow showers beyond Monday, as moisture may continue to slide down the coastline. Right now, we look dry, but stay tuned to local forecasts, as things could change quickly with this cold air mass.
East winds will arrive, cooling the wind chill, and with any snow cover and clear skies overnight, the wind-sheltered areas could drop into the teens, especially in our outlying areas. If we see local temperatures around 15 degrees, that would be 100 degrees’ difference between the 115-degree high we had this summer. Imagine: a 100-degree temperature change within the same year.
I cannot give you a detailed forecast because of the forecast models’ disagreements. Some show another round of snow showers Tuesday and then more snow changing to rain Thursday and Friday. Anytime we get the modified arctic air in here, forecast models always want to warm us up too quickly.
Regardless, I think we’ll keep a cooler-than-normal weather pattern, with more chances of lowland snow in the next week to 10 days. As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the arctic air was entrenched in Northern Washington, with Bellingham at 21 degrees with gusty northeast winds. That has spilled out to the coast and was moving south toward us with the bands of showers over the ocean.
That cold air swinging out over the warmer (50-degree) ocean water picks up moisture and develops clouds that are convective in nature. Hence the showery type of precipitation — not a general widespread snowstorm in this case. However, if a heavy shower is overhead in your neighborhood, a quick snow cover can happen.
Snow amounts will vary around the county today, with several inches likely.
Vancouver reached only 39 degrees Saturday, which will be our warmest high over the next few days. Bundle up!
