Weather Eye: County likely to be in deep freeze until next week

Our cold snap is well underway and today the snow falls as weather models delayed the initial band of moisture from Friday to Saturday. The east winds are howling out of the Gorge, and we are locked in a deep freeze until next week.

The National Weather Service has a winter storm warning for Clark County, which is a rare occurrence for us. This includes not only snow and maybe sleet, but strong winds causing poor visibility when the snow is falling. Wind chills are forecast to drop to below zero today, yes below zero degrees. It has been quite a while since I have seen that.

Today will be a good day to stay inside and keep warm and watch the weather through the window panes. It will not be a day to be outside. I always enjoy snow events watching the flakes drift downward toward the ground. You go outside and it is so quiet, especially early in the morning when no one is outside. The most peaceful sound ever.

This go-around, however, will be different. For one, the snowflakes will not be big and fluffy and fall like goose feathers. They will be quite dry and for most areas the snow may be falling horizontally. It will be drifting off rooftops and wandering along roadways accumulating against the curbing. Think Canada or Montana snowfall.

After the moisture field passes by early Sunday, we slowly clear out and remain cold and dry. Snow amounts as I write this column were in the 2- to 4-inch range but a slight northward path of the storm could produce 6 or 8 inches. It will be a wait-and-see event as it unfolds. Remember, those east winds tend to dry the atmosphere out a bit, at least until it gets completely saturated.

This snow event will be a little different from the ones we receive from cold east winds. Usually, the temperature remains in the upper 20s while today the thermometer could hover below 20 degrees as the white stuff blankets the county. One noteworthy item: The arctic air arrived here Friday from the north before the easterly winds could transport it to us.

As we transition to warmer weather later next week, we’ll probably face a round of snow, sleet or freezing rain. I’d keep that on your radar. Stay safe.