Snow for Sunday night before Gulf of Alaska low impacts our weather beginning Wednesday
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Wow - I had another bad forecast for this morning, as even my reduced 3-6” was far too optimistic. We received no snow in 24 hours. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Abasin and Loveland both picked up 5”, with 4” at Copper, and most resorts received something. It did appear on satellite that the moisture plume was south of us, but the models insisted we would see at least light accumulations.
I’m having a tough time forecasting these warm events. Last week, the models over-forecasted for our area, though we still received over 2 feet of snow. With significant precipitation falling from the previous storm, I was ready to believe part of the model forecast, but this time was a bust. My inclination is to be heavily biased against these warm events in a stabilizing atmosphere because we generally don’t do well from them. Evidently, today and yesterday were more the rule, and last week was more the exception, with the cold air trapped in the valleys possibly being a key player in producing snow.
With that being said, the next compact storm will bring light snow into the area by Sunday afternoon. This wave moves quickly over our area Sunday evening, likely bringing a burst of snowfall with falling temperatures. I’d like to think we’ll receive 3-6” from this as we do get some cool air and upward motion with the wave as it passes through.
Dry air quickly invades the area Monday behind the departing storm for around 24 hours as temperatures quickly warm. The storm currently in the Gulf of Alaska is forecast to move over the area in at least two pieces, with the first bringing high clouds into the area later on Tuesday and Wednesday. There is a surface cold front associated with this lead wave which should pass through the area Wednesday evening bringing a period of moderate to heavy snowfall.
Snows should decrease Thursday morning before another 24 hour break before the main part of the very cold Gulf of Alaska storm brings another front into the area on Friday. Snowfall in seasonally cold weather will likely continue through part of the weekend.
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