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-   -   The SNOW Thread 2008/2009 (https://www.revscene.net/forums/556818-snow-thread-2008-2009-a.html)

Soundy 03-09-2009 08:04 AM

^Wow, looks like Pt. Roberts/Tsawwassen/Ladner/White Rock is just getting dumped on!

K-Dub 03-09-2009 08:17 AM

Always interesting to see what Komo4 weather says since we're kind of close.

Quote:

Puget Sound Weather Outlook


Updated Monday 8:40 a.m.
Weather Headlines:
Here is the news in a nutshell:
  • Snow showers will fall through the day.
  • Winter Weather Advisory expanded to include Seattle/Tacoma/Bremerton/Everett metro areas and is in effect until 6 p.m.. Advisory now covers all of Western Washington except north coast.
  • Snow accumulations are expected to be around 1-2", but some spots, especially above 400 feet and east of Lake Washington, could receive closer to 3-4".
  • Enhanced area of snow showers expected in North Sound in mid-late morning, then moving south into Central Puget Sound around midday/early afternoon, then South Sound in afternoon/early evening.
  • Strong winds begin to blow out of Fraser River Valley through Tuesday, making for cold temperatures and bitterly cold wind chills.
  • Lows Monday night will likely near records -- into the upper teens and low 20s
  • Slow moderation toward the end of the week.
The Details:
An unseasonably strong arctic air mass is working its way into British Columbia, which will push out through the Fraser River Valley up near Bellingham during the day Monday and keep pouring out through Monday and Tuesday (think of it as an icy blow dryer.)
This arctic air will meet up with some moisture spinning around a weak area of low pressure that is dropping south along the coast, giving us a continuing chance of snow as the day progresses.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been expanded now to include just about all of Western Washington -- including the greater Seattle/Tacoma/Everett metro areas -- but excluding the north coast and western end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This advisory is in effect until 6 p.m.
Generally speaking the snow totals will range from 1-3", with the higher hills east of Lake Washington above 400 feet falling more into the 2-4" category. (Check your elevation at this link
However, snow totals will vary a bit across the region as this snow is more a showery hit-and-miss pattern, rather than a wall of widespread snow. Sort of like dumping a bunch of marbles on map, and wherever those marbles roll are where the snow falls.
The Meteorological Mumbo-Jumbo
As usual with snow in the Northwest, and especially in March, it's a complex situation.
The main event is a large, deep pool of arctic air that is working its way south into British Columbia.
http://bimedia.ftp.clickability.com/...ctic_temps.jpg
In addition, we have a weak area of low pressure moving down along just ahead of the boundary of this arctic air. That will add some moisture in to the mix.
Overall, this low will spread some showers around, and those are the random snow showers we've been seeing early Monday morning. Those can put down a trace to 2-3" as they pass. The immediate Seattle-Everett-northern Kitsap corridor was being shadowed a bit from the Olympic Mountains, but that protection will fade away as the day progresses, bringing this area into the snow as well.
But as the cold air starts pushing out of the Fraser River Valley near Bellingham, that will create some convergence between the cold north wind and the slightly milder west wind that's wrapping around the low now.
It's not quite a classic Puget Sound convergence zone, but it works in a similar way that where these two winds collide and can create lift.
In addition, this boundary of arctic air can enhance showers in its immediate area as well. Since this colder air is heavier than the relatively warmer air it's running in to, the cold air shoves itself underneath the warmer air, causing it to lift and then condense into clouds and snow.
So the trick to watch for today is when this arctic boundary begins to make its trek south from Bellingham down the I-5 corridor through the Puget Sound area and then into the south Sound. It is along this boundary where we will see frequent, enhanced snow showers (it doesn't look like it'll be a wall of snow, but just an area where snow chances will be higher.) To use my earlier analogy -- think of it as an area where more marbles will be dumped on the map.
For timing, it appears this zone will be in the far North Sound around late morning, then into the Central Puget Sound area in the midday to early afternoon hours, and then into the South Sound by late afternoon or early evening.
As we mentioned earlier, these showers could put down a dusting to 3" in the lower elevations near Puget Sound (i.e., greater Everett-Seattle-Tukwila area) and perhaps a little higher amounts to 3-4" in the eastern hills above 400 feet and as you get farther east away from the Olympics, and perhaps a little more as the boundary drifts south of Seattle toward Tacoma and Olympia and picks up a little moisture.
And just to make it even more interesting, it's possible some of these showers could have some thundersnow
See, told you it was complex :)
Aside from that, we have one other area to note: The eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca area is in the snow advisory because once that cold northeast wind starts pouring out of the Fraser Valley today, it'll run into the northeastern side of the Olympic Mountains, creating an area of enhanced snowfall right along US 101. Could see an inch or so along the water, but up to 3-4" as you get into the higher Olympic Mountain foothills south of Port Angeles, Sequim and Gardiner.
Meanwhile, skies will clear behind the front later this afternoon, and strong northerly winds will follow, dropping temperatures a bit. This could make for an tricky evening commute for any spots that got a decent amount of snow -- at least until the initial traffic melts off some of the snow. Monitor the radar and forecasts through the day Monday and we'll provide frequent updates.
Monday Night: Clear and Very Cold
We clear out Monday night, but that will allow temperatures to drop to near record low levels - into the upper teens around Bellingham and low-mid 20s elsewhere. Northeast winds will blow around 20-30 mph near Bellingham, and 15-25 mph elsewhere, adding wind chills to the equation.
Another Chilly Day Tuesday
Cold air remains entrenched Tuesday, but at least it'll be sunny. Highs will only reach the upper 30s, and then lows Tuesday night will again be in the 20-23 degree range, perhaps even colder in Bellingham.
Slow Moderation:

The winds will slowly subside out of the Fraser, allowing us a slow warm up. Wednesday will be dry but still chilly, with highs in the low 40s and lows in the 28-30 range. We warm back up for Thursday and the end of the week, getting closer to 50.
However, really long range forecasts drop us back into the 40s the following week.
Scott Sistek
KOMONews.Com Meteorologist
http://www.komonews.com/weather/

Thundersnow!! I wish I could witness that.

Soundy 03-09-2009 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Dub (Post 6319871)
Thundersnow!! I wish I could witness that.

I have... we used to get it all the time, when I was growing up in the BC Interior.

hk20000 03-09-2009 08:52 AM

Just to poke fun at these idiots.

Trinity 03-09-2009 08:57 AM

Snowpocalypse.

michimaro 03-09-2009 09:12 AM

omg why more snow...its march already?!

roastpuff 03-09-2009 09:14 AM

Getting to UBC was a nightmare. Drivers slipping and sliding all the way along 41st... ended up taking side streets all the way to Dunbar before hitting Marine Drive.

InvisibleSoul 03-09-2009 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hk20000 (Post 6319921)

No reason to poke fun of that guy... he just wants to put his lip on, not remove his snow tires. Even if he put his lip on already, it's not like there's enough snow to damage it... which is what I said in that thread from the get go.

Hheidi 03-09-2009 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roastpuff (Post 6319945)
Getting to UBC was a nightmare. Drivers slipping and sliding all the way along 41st... ended up taking side streets all the way to Dunbar before hitting Marine Drive.

haha i saw 2 buses fail on the road and a massive lineup for the 41st in kerrisdale...sigh* driving wasnt any better :bluemad:

saiko 03-09-2009 11:18 AM

^ So that's what the damn traffic back up was!

hotjoint 03-09-2009 11:27 AM

sunny in surrey right now :) watch in 30 mins it'll start snowing again

BabyblooLexus 03-09-2009 12:48 PM

SNOW? REALLY? last time i checked its March.

hk20000 03-09-2009 12:50 PM

Last time I checked you live in a basement. I keed I keed.

!Yaminashi 03-09-2009 12:54 PM

Snow has melted in coquitlam <3

Peturbo 03-09-2009 02:26 PM

It was like an ice rink out there this morning on East broadway. (7:30am-8am)
There was black ice everywhere. But now, its all gone!

q0192837465 03-09-2009 02:37 PM

I got snowed it, fack

Girl 03-09-2009 03:03 PM

I got to drive behind a Lambo the whole bloody way to Vancouver today. Now why would anyone take it out when it's snowing?

http://twitpic.com/img/1yoe4-6139e27...a.49b5a0cc.jpg

"Oh look Honey, it's snowing! Let's take the Lambo out shall we?"

icemiko 03-09-2009 03:20 PM

took me 2hrs to go to work when it usually takes 30min

roastpuff 03-09-2009 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Girl (Post 6320468)
I got to drive behind a Lambo the whole bloody way to Vancouver today. Now why would anyone take it out when it's snowing?

http://twitpic.com/img/1yoe4-6139e27...a.49b5a0cc.jpg

"Oh look Honey, it's snowing! Let's take the Lambo out shall we?"

Maybe it's his only AWD vehicle and he was worried about traction? :haha:

Gachinto 03-09-2009 07:25 PM

We had snow in May some years ago in Coquitlam...

Ch28 03-09-2009 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemiko (Post 6320496)
took me 2hrs to go to work when it usually takes 30min

My 7 minute drive down Boundary Road ended up taking me 1 hour and 10 minutes.

pure.life 03-09-2009 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ch28 (Post 6320985)
My 7 minute drive down Boundary Road ended up taking me 1 hour and 10 minutes.

now why didn't you walk or take transit?

Harvey Specter 03-09-2009 09:17 PM

Granville area and Downtown are all clear, not even one inch of snow on the ground. My area is pretty much clear as well (thankfully), just snow on the grass and roofs.

jing 03-09-2009 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Girl (Post 6320468)
I got to drive behind a Lambo the whole bloody way to Vancouver today. Now why would anyone take it out when it's snowing?

http://twitpic.com/img/1yoe4-6139e27...a.49b5a0cc.jpg

"Oh look Honey, it's snowing! Let's take the Lambo out shall we?"

Because they can.

danned 03-09-2009 10:21 PM

what's wrong wtih weather?

cold places is extremely cold
warm places is cold
...........that's sick


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