With Wednesday morning’s low of 21 degrees, which was the coldest so far this winter in Vancouver, we have logged 11 straight days of overnight lows in the 20s. That is unusual as we usually have more clouds around and rain, of course, to eliminate events like that. And I must add no arctic air mass hanging over us. The 17-day dry streak is also most unusual for January.
The cold overnight temperatures come to an end tonight as a large low-pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska increases the clouds and Friday appears to be wet. And the weekend appears so as well. I expect we could receive at least 1 inch of rain or more with a good shot of snow in the mountains.
OK, what about snow here in the lowlands? I see most of the Portland television stations have issued an alert day of some sort for Monday and Tuesday.
Forecast models have indicated snow will fall to low elevations and when snowflakes fly through the air at city levels, well, folks get excited. For sure our outlying areas in the county will most likely get a brief snow cover with elevations 800 feet and higher in the favored locations.
This is not an overall general snowstorm but rather cold showers that can produce all snow at times, mainly overnight and early morning hours. I will say as of midday Wednesday looking at the latest forecast charts, I am not that confident we get much if any snow at sea-level locations. Now that can quickly change as we all know. Forecasting sticking snow for three or four days out is risky at best. My advice, stay tuned to the daily updates on your favorite media sources. It could get interesting.
A cold low-pressure system will drop down the B.C. coast and merge with a cool weather system to our west. It all depends how far the circulation goes out over the warmer ocean waters before returning over us. If it is close to the coastline, then an increased opportunity for sea-level snow. If it circulates farther west before returning inland, then cold rain, low snow levels and perhaps a wintry mix.
My advice is to keep updated on the ever-changing forecast, eliminate running errands early next week and get any items at the grocery store before then. And if we are lucky enough to have some snow falling outside next week, you can sit back, relax and watch it through the windowpane.
