Weather Eye: Chilly week ahead more dry than wet; snow possible

I hate to sound like a broken record, but the upcoming week appears to be more dry than wet. That doesn’t forebode well for our rainfall tally this month which is already 1 inch below average. A cold front drops in tonight and Monday for some cold rain, but amounts will still be meager compared to a dicey weather system we usually get in February.

This low will, as we have discussed, drag some cold air from Alaska and lower snow levels to our foothills. Mixed rain and snow showers are possible Tuesday and perhaps a brief snow shower here in the lowlands.

I’m not expecting widespread snow falling at the lowest city elevations, but reserve that to 500 to 1,000 feet and higher. Listen to the latest forecasts Monday evening for the last-minute details.

As far as sea level snowfall, the coastline may have a better chance than we do here in the valley. Robust showers associated with the coldest air aloft will pass over the beaches and could quickly lower snow levels to the beach sands. Thunderstorms are also possible with the cold, unstable air aloft.

After the low passes, we tend to dry out Wednesday and Thursday with partial clearing.

Overnight lows with some clearing and a cool air mass will allow frosty conditions on some mornings. With highs remaining in the 40s and lows in the 30s or below, it will be a chilly week. A change from those above average highs in the 50s last week.

Last year February was sure full of surprises. A three-day warm spell midmonth led to a record 68 degrees on Feb. 11, 2022. The month was also quite dry, as this year, and would have ended up unseasonably dry. However, on the last day of the month we had a heavy rainstorm that dumped 1.79 inches on the Feb. 28. That brought us close to normal but was still shy of the monthly average. Will we get a cloudburst like that before the month ends? Maybe, but the outlook is for drier than average, so maybe not.

Take care and maybe we will see some snowflakes on Tuesday.

Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. ptimmwriter@gmail.com