Barrage of storms could cease in Northwest just before Christmas
By
Ryan Adamson, AccuWeather meteorologist
Updated Dec 18, 2020 8:23 PM EDT
Several disturbances have brought rain and snow to the Pacific Northwest over the past week, which followed a very dry start to December. Forecasters say that a drier pattern may evolve by Christmas, but it is not a certainty. Two to three more storms are expected to impact the region before then.
The latest in a series of systems arrived in the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday and spread inland through Thursday. As is typical in the Northwest this time of year, rain, mountain snow and breezy conditions affected the region. More than a foot of snow has fallen on Stampede Pass, Washington, from 2 p.m. PDT Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday, and snow continued to fall during the midday hours on Thursday. Stampede Pass is just under 4,000 in elevation in the Cascades.
Both Seattle and Portland have recorded at least a trace of rain on all but one day since Dec. 5.
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By the time the storm reached the Southwest, precipitation was lighter and much more spotty. The last part of the storm will bring snow to portions of Utah, Wyoming and Colorado into Friday evening. Denver may pick up slippery coating to an inch or two of snow.
The next system will affect Washington and northwestern Oregon into Saturday. However, with a dome of high pressure beginning to build in the West, rain and snow will move eastward into Idaho and then fall apart. California, Nevada and points south and east are generally forecast to stay dry into Saturday, due to a storm track that continues farther to the north.
Yet another storm is expected to end the weekend. It appears this system may have more moisture and is expected to drench western Washington and western Oregon. Heavy snow will be possible in the Washington Cascades and possibly the Oregon Cascades.
"Rain and mountain snow will be plentiful across Oregon and Washington, and snowpack will continue to grow in the mountains of Idaho and western Montana. Where precipitation is needed in Northern California, most of the storms will track to their north," noted AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike Doll.
One final disturbance in the storm train is expected on Monday.
"After Monday, the pattern will become less stormy, at least for two to perhaps three days," said Doll.
Exactly how long the dry weather lasts is a bit of a question mark at this point. The computer models that meteorologists use to assist them in making forecasts have some different depictions. Some of the computer information suggests precipitation will arrive once again in western Washington and far northwestern Oregon late in the day on Christmas. Meanwhile, other information depicts a strong storm with heavy precipitation moving in on Christmas morning and impacting Washington, Oregon and Northern California.
Meteorologists will continue to monitor the pattern and make forecast adjustments as necessary as the Christmas holiday approaches.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Winter Weather
Barrage of storms could cease in Northwest just before Christmas
By Ryan Adamson, AccuWeather meteorologist
Updated Dec 18, 2020 8:23 PM EDT
Several disturbances have brought rain and snow to the Pacific Northwest over the past week, which followed a very dry start to December. Forecasters say that a drier pattern may evolve by Christmas, but it is not a certainty. Two to three more storms are expected to impact the region before then.
The latest in a series of systems arrived in the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday and spread inland through Thursday. As is typical in the Northwest this time of year, rain, mountain snow and breezy conditions affected the region. More than a foot of snow has fallen on Stampede Pass, Washington, from 2 p.m. PDT Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday, and snow continued to fall during the midday hours on Thursday. Stampede Pass is just under 4,000 in elevation in the Cascades.
Both Seattle and Portland have recorded at least a trace of rain on all but one day since Dec. 5.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
By the time the storm reached the Southwest, precipitation was lighter and much more spotty. The last part of the storm will bring snow to portions of Utah, Wyoming and Colorado into Friday evening. Denver may pick up slippery coating to an inch or two of snow.
The next system will affect Washington and northwestern Oregon into Saturday. However, with a dome of high pressure beginning to build in the West, rain and snow will move eastward into Idaho and then fall apart. California, Nevada and points south and east are generally forecast to stay dry into Saturday, due to a storm track that continues farther to the north.
Yet another storm is expected to end the weekend. It appears this system may have more moisture and is expected to drench western Washington and western Oregon. Heavy snow will be possible in the Washington Cascades and possibly the Oregon Cascades.
"Rain and mountain snow will be plentiful across Oregon and Washington, and snowpack will continue to grow in the mountains of Idaho and western Montana. Where precipitation is needed in Northern California, most of the storms will track to their north," noted AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike Doll.
One final disturbance in the storm train is expected on Monday.
"After Monday, the pattern will become less stormy, at least for two to perhaps three days," said Doll.
Exactly how long the dry weather lasts is a bit of a question mark at this point. The computer models that meteorologists use to assist them in making forecasts have some different depictions. Some of the computer information suggests precipitation will arrive once again in western Washington and far northwestern Oregon late in the day on Christmas. Meanwhile, other information depicts a strong storm with heavy precipitation moving in on Christmas morning and impacting Washington, Oregon and Northern California.
Meteorologists will continue to monitor the pattern and make forecast adjustments as necessary as the Christmas holiday approaches.
Related:
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo