April 7th, Snow in the Passes - Again

A warm front is passing to our north but, still close enough to give us these clouds and patchy light drizzle this morning, otherwise it should be mild and dry for most of the day. The system dropped further south than I had hoped so we may not get that sun I had hoped for. As has been the case for a while now, this is short lived as a strong cold front that will bring in more clouds and rain tonight into tomorrow when it finally pushed through, dropping the temperatures by 10 degrees or more after it passes through. This will be another breezy system as well with westerly winds 15-20 gusting to 35, slightly higher along the coast. After the front pushed through early Thursday we then have the post frontal showers and falling snow levels that will cause more snow in the passes, falling as low as 1000’ at times, especially at night, into Friday morning, expect some patchy ice up there during the early morning hours as well. Here is where forecasting is such an exact science. A low pressure system develops off the coast but is absent of steering so it and its associated weather drifts. Current thinking is it will drift south into California. This would give us better weather for the weekend. After that - the long range shows more cool and unsettled weather for next week...again!

There is the “official” forecast. Now for the wild card. This next front is presently developing rapidly and the models don’t handle that development real well. There are some features about this system that would suggest another low pressure area could develop on the front as it approaches the coast which could change things a little. First, it would give us stronger winds over a longer period, because it would also slow the front down. Right now the front is forecasted to make it through in the morning but if this low develops, the front and the associated cold air would be delayed until the afternoon. Either way the passes could be problematic for some, the difference is, for how long!

Have I confused you sufficiently, if not, I wasn’t doing my job well enough!