Active Weather Expected To Continue Through The End Of The Week
The Pacific Northwest saw some active weather to wrap up 2021, and that pattern has continued through the start the New Year. Marilyn Lohmann, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said before Christmas the PNW was under a westerly flow, keeping temperatures moderate and precipitation primarily rain showers. However, during the holidays, she notes the pattern shifted to a northerly flow, lowering temperatures, meaning systems dropped snow and ice on the region. And she noted this active, wintery pattern will continue until this weekend.
“We could see a lot of snow with the system Wednesday night into Thursday at this time. And also, unfortunately, it brings a risk of a lot of freezing rain with it too, especially from The Dalles north up along that east slope of the Cascades, with just that warmer air aloft. So, a very complicated weather pattern we’re in right now with those shifts from warm to cold.”
Lohmann said the region could see high pressure develop over the weekend, which means the active pattern would come to an end.
“Unfortunately, if we do see that high pressure develop with all of this moisture left around in the air and in the ground, that does tent to lead our area to see fog and that shuts down our warming and our temperatures. So, it’s kind of a double-edged sword. I do think people would like to see a few dry days coming up, but then we do run that risk of getting in to more of a fog situation.”
Lohmann noted some models are showing the possibility of warmer temperatures and less than normal precipitation not only this weekend, but through the middle part of January.
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