Snow in Mountains, Wind, and Ample Precipitation: A La Nina-Like Pattern This Week

For those worried about the Cascade snowpack, salvation is at hand:  the atmospheric circulation is taking a turn towards more of a La Nina pattern, with cooler/wetter/windier conditions prevailing this week.

The upper level flow pattern for Wed and Thursday at 1 PM is predicted to include an offshore ridge and northweserly flow over the NW, with some disturbances moving SE in the cool flow.  Much more La Nina-like than we have seen in a while.

As a result the models are forecasting a major snowfall over the Cascades, BC, and NE Washington as illustrated by the 72 hr snow total ending 4 PM Thursday. We are talking about 1-3 feet above 3500 ft.

And we could get blustery on Thursday as la ow center moves into southern BC during the afternoon, with large pressure gradient established over WA (see below).    Haven't seen  too many of such vigorous systems this winter.

Precipitation? Substantial...but not enough for real flooding.  The 72 hr total ending 4 PM Thursday, show 2-5 inches over the mountains and about 1.5 inches over Seattle.

from Cliff Mass Weather and Climate Blog http://ift.tt/2AHExCe