Meteorological spring begins on March 1st, and you can feel it in the air. After 1.25” of rain on 2/27 and an incredible 2.97” on 2/28, the weather since Tuesday 3/1 has been tranquil, with partly cloudy skies interspersed with brilliant bursts of springtime sunshine. I was walking around the International District yesterday, and when the sun peaked out from behind the clouds, I could feel the warmth on my skin in a way I hadn’t since last autumn. We are are now less than three weeks away from the spring equinox, and solar angles today (3/4) were as high as they were on 10/8/2021. Some of the plum trees across Seattle are beginning to flower, and in a few weeks, the cherry blossoms in the UW quad will be in full bloom. Alas, spring training is canceled this year due to an MLB lockout, but it hopefully won’t be long before baseball returns as well.
The weather forecast is pretty noneventful through at least next weekend, so this blog isn’t exactly the most riveting one I’ve ever written (though I’ve made an earnest effort!). Here are four highlights from the post to help you plan your week:
- The weekend will be nice with decreasing clouds, with Sunday being the nicest day. Though highs will only reach the low/mid 50s in the Seattle area, the high sun angles will make it feel much warmer in the sunshine.
- A chilly front arrives Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, bringing light rain to the lowlands and moderate snow to the mountains.
- Wednesday through Friday will be dry but chilly as cold Canadian air moves south into the Pacific NW. Temperatures will be much colder over the Northern Rockies and Plains, which will see the full brunt of this late-season arctic outbreak.
- Models hint at more lowland rain/mountain snow for next weekend and the following week, but there’s still quite a bit of time for this to change.
Saturday – Monday look mild and dry as a large ridge of high pressure strengthens offshore and blocks any systems from reaching our area. Expect morning clouds giving way to afternoon sunshine on Saturday, and Sunday will be the nicest day with mostly sunny skies all day long. Expect increasing clouds on Monday ahead of a weak system on Tuesday that should bring a brief shot of lowland rain and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest. High temperatures Saturday-Monday will only be in the low 50s and lows should dip into the upper 30s (and even the mid 30s in outlying areas), but the high sun angles and light winds will make it feel considerably warmer during the early afternoon for those basking in the sunshine, particularly on Sunday.
Sunday will be a wonderful day for a walk in our wonderful city parks – Foster Island is a favorite of mine in Seattle, and I adore Forest Park in Portland as well. Just remember to bring some sturdy hiking boots if you are walking on a dirt path, as the recent atmospheric river has left many trails quite muddy!
A weak, chilly front arrives Tuesday night, bringing light precipitation to the lowlands and several inches of snow to the mountains. Skiers and snowboarders looking to get some fantastic March turns in should call in sick Tuesday night and hit the slopes early Wednesday morning. If your boss is suspicious of your absence, just get back later Wednesday morning and begin your workday then… the high March sun angles will quickly turn the light morning powder into a heavy, thigh-busting mess by mid-morning.
Credit: University of Washington
Credit: University of Washington
Wednesday through Friday should be dry but quite chilly with continued northwesterly flow in the wake of this front, with highs in the mid-upper 40s and lows potentially reaching freezing. Meanwhile, a much deeper trough will move over the Rockies and Plains, giving a March arctic blast with widespread single digit lows over the Northern Plains.
Credit: WeatherTogether Models
Credit: WeatherTogether Models
Early indications are that next weekend may see a shift to a slightly wetter and cooler-than-average pattern that may persist through the following week, but anything after 7 days is always speculative, so this isn’t a slam dunk by any means.
Although warm, sunny, Pacific Northwest springs are simply paradise, most of the Western US is still in a severe drought, with Central Oregon in particularly poor condition. Our snowpack is also now below-average; not exactly the outcome you’d hope for during a La Nina year. With our increasingly hot and dry summers, it’s a good bargain to sacrifice some beautiful springtime days for improved drought conditions, higher springtime snowpack, and lower fire danger this summer. Let’s hope the extended wet/cool forecast comes to fruition!
All that said, make the most of the wonderful weather Sunday and take in all that early spring has to offer!
Charlie
