Sledders walk uphill as the Space Needle is seen behind Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, in Seattle's Gasworks Park. A vicious storm struck the Pacific Northwest and other Western states at the start of the holiday travel season, dumping heavy snow on roads, knocking out power to tens of thousands of people and causing a cargo plane to overshoot its runway in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Following a fairly typical start to winter, people in Seattle and Portland may have to gear up for a frigid February.
The AccuWeather.com Long-Range Forecasting Team is predicting a major shift to cold weather for the northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest in February and lasting into March.
"The brunt of the winter season, especially when dealing with cold, will be over the north-central U.S.," stated Paul Pastelok, expert long-range meteorologist and leader of the AccuWeather.com Long-Range Forecasting Team.
However, in February, that core of cold weather is predicted to shift westward over the northern Rockies with colder-than-normal conditions extending all the way to the Washington and Oregon coasts.
Not too far away, Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, are predicted to have one of their top three coldest winters in the past 20 years, according to AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist and Canadian Blogger Brett Anderson.
Though February is expected to be a drier month for Seattle and Portland, chances for any snow events would be highest during this month with the colder air in place.
In contrast, the earlier part of the season is forecast to feature more moderate temperatures that average near normal.
December is likely to be a wetter month for both cities with above-average precipitation. Near-normal precipitation is predicted for January.
As for the Cascades, the Long-Range Forecasting Team anticipates near- to slightly above-normal snowfall this season. The heaviest mountain snow in the West is likely to be focused a bit farther south and east from the northern and central Sierra of California into the northern Rockies and northern part of Utah's Wasatch Range.
AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist and Western Expert Ken Clark said this could be a "banner snow season" for some of these areas.
Full Winter Forecast for the West Coast
Full AccuWeather.com 2011-2012 Winter Forecast
The same system that spawned deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma will reach the Northeast on Thursday.
With one day remaining before Memorial Day weekend, the Sandy-battered Jersey coastline is hustling to finish last-minute preparations.
The Memorial Day weekend will begin cool, windy and rainy in New England and part of the mid-Atlantic.
Thunderstorms will slow cleanup efforts in Moore, Okla., into the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
Join us as we discuss the severe storm threat in the Northeast Thursday and the wet weather lingering into the Memorial Day weekend.
GOES-East failed again late Tuesday. It is one of the main satellites meteorologists use for the eastern part of the United States and the tropical Atlantic.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
Pennsylvania (1984)
Over $150,000 damage in Monroe and Pike
counties from a thunderstorm downburst
(originally thought to be tornadoes).
Fresno, CA (2001)
Six 100+ degree days this month. This broke
the old May record of five days set in May
1889.
Washington, DC (1925)
97 degrees.
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