Western U.S. Weather Blog
Kick Back and Relax Week
Mar 15, 2010; 11:46 AM ET
I do not know whether March will go out like a lamb or lion, but I can tell you the middle of the month will be a pussycat, purring nicely. There certainly will be no big storms and even small storms will be rather short-lived. So I think it's time to kick back and relax a little. It's been a busy winter, for some more than others, and it's never bad to relax when one can.
There will be a cold front move through the Pacific Northwest coast Tuesday bringing a period of rain from western Washington to the northernmost California coast. Much of this rain will be light, especially from Oregon on south. For Northwest standards, this will be weaker than most storms in March.
Come Thursday and Friday, energy coming south out of western Canada will dive south through the central Great Basin. This energy will be working on an air mass that won't have much in the way of moisture, but there are likely to be rain and snow in showers in the northern Great Basin Thursday moving to Utah and Colorado for Friday for rain and snow showers. There may also be a rain or snow shower in northern Arizona but mostly in Arizona this will mainly bring cooling.
That is about it for the week. My fellow blogger Jesse Ferrell had a posting showing the lack of major precipitation in much of the country this week. Taking a cue from him I thought I would show something similar zeroing in on the West.
Two maps for you, the first for the Southwest and the second for the Northwest. Both maps shows TOTAL precipitation from 12Z Monday through 12Z Saturday. As you can see, amounts, where they do occur, will be light.
SOUTHWEST:

NORTHWEST:

You have my permission to sit back and relax now. For those in the Southwest who want more rain and snow to help fill the reservoirs, take some time off from worrying. It won't change the weather, and this year has been kind to that area already. Personally, I am putting on my iPod some Jimmy Buffett and dreaming of a tropical breeze with a tropical drink to go with it. Until tomorrow then, Cheers and type at you then, mon. Or maybe Wednesday. Depends on which way the Bahama Breezes blow.
More Ken Clark
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Current Western Snow Depth
Feb 8, 2012; 1:15 PM ET
The greatest departures below normal remain in California to Utah and parts of Colorado.
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A Short Period of Wet Weather For California
Feb 6, 2012; 1:19 PM ET
A storm in the Eastern Pacific puts an end to another extended rain free period in California.
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So Very, Very Cold In Alaska For January with Impressive Records
Feb 1, 2012; 1:33 PM ET
The month of January has gone down as one of the coldest on record for portions of Alaska.
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Another Long Period of Little to No Precipitation
Jan 30, 2012; 12:33 PM ET
the screaming message is the same from Washington State to California and Arizona. Below to much below normal precipitation for at least the next 10-days.
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Reversal of Fortunes for Lake Mead
Jan 27, 2012; 1:21 PM ET
Due to the lack of snow and rain this Winter over the watershed, projections now are for a 13-foot drop in the lake level in the next year
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Moderately Strong Santa Ana Wind Coming
Jan 26, 2012; 2:06 PM ET
The strongest winds will wait until Friday night and Saturday morning.
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Hope You Enjoyed the Rain and Snow; Changes Coming
Jan 23, 2012; 1:33 PM ET
Once this storm moves through the storm track drastically moves north tomorrow through the rest of the work week
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Details on California Rain Storm(s)
Jan 19, 2012; 1:31 PM ET
The next storm will be a stronger storm with much more upper-level support farther south.
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Heavy Snowstorm East of Cascades as Well
Jan 17, 2012; 1:30 PM ET
This is setting up a classic heavy snow scenario on the east slopes of the Cascades
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Northwest Lowland Snowstorm Could Be Huge
Jan 16, 2012; 1:37 PM ET
Its going to be a rough week trying to go through the Cascade passes this week but it could be quite hazardous in the lowlands of western Washington and northwest Oregon as well.
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Big Snow for the Coastal Northwest?
Jan 14, 2012; 2:08 PM ET
But eyes turn toward a potentially big snow threat for somewhere in western Washington Tuesday night and Wednesday.
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Colder Northwest Weekend with Low-Elevation Snow
Jan 13, 2012; 1:07 PM ET
Once the front is through colder air moves in and causes snow levels to drop to very low levels in western Washington and Oregon
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The Good News, The Bad News
Jan 12, 2012; 2:14 PM ET
I hate to beat a dead horse, so to speak, but the snow less, rain less weather pattern looks like it continues into much of next week for the Southwest.
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Latest Sierra Snow Analysis is Ugly/Pattern Change?
Jan 10, 2012; 1:28 PM ET
Average snow pack is down to 14 percent of normal, from 19 percent last week.
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Another Week of Bad Rain and Snow News
Jan 9, 2012; 1:15 PM ET
Does this new week bring any hope? Absolutely not.
About This Blog
Ken ClarkKen Clark's Western U.S. weather blog tackles daily weather events with commentary from one of the most experienced and trusted Western U.S. weather experts.
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