Friday, March 5, 2010
11:16 P.M.
The expression above is one in Japanese that expresses surprisement or amazement. It’s basically the translation of “wow!” Why do I say “wow?” Well, take a look at one of the forecasted storms for later next week, shown at the top. That frame shows the estimated three hour precipitation rates ending at 1o:oo P.M. Wednesday. As you can see, there is a broad swath of moderate to heavy rain, and the storm will actually still be intensifying at that time. It will also have a steep pressure gradient and even though it looks to head off into the Queen Charlottes or northern Vancouver Island it could go further south. Those hoping for a storm like the one forecasted should not get their hopes up, though, as most forecasts with storms like that haven’t come true so far this season for some reason for another, probably because the El Nino conditions have some effect on the models. In any event, I’m excited to see what happens.
As this satellite image shows, we are under a ridge of high pressure with a front dropping down from the Gulf of Alaska. This front will come through Sunday, and bring rain with it. Another front will come Tuesday, and in between these fronts rain showers will be seen in the lowlands with orographic snow showers in the mountains. Highs will range from near 60 tomorrow to the lower 50s Sunday to perhaps the lower 40s Monday! Then, they will gradually rise up to the lower 50s/ upper 40s.
I am going to the annual 2010 Pacific Northwest Weather Workshop tomorrow! I’ll let you know how it goes.
Charlie
