WeatherWatcher: Snow remains in the forecast

Snow at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, Feb 9, 2014
Photo by Carl Dinse

Friday morning most saw the big heavy snowflakes that came down and produced a dusting of accumulation on grassy areas. Models suggested about 1-4" of snow would fall (not accumulate) Friday morning and it was pretty close. We received 0.46 inches of measured rainfall Friday, most of which was the melt off from the wet snow flakes that came down in the morning. Every inch of rain equates to around 10-12 inches of snow. Had all of it stuck we could have easily seen 4-6 inches Friday morning.

That onshore flow that kept us just a little too warm Friday morning for snow accumulation is decreasing over the weekend. This means that morning snow showers this weekend could accumulate. Saturday morning and again Sunday morning we are expecting to see rain and snow mixed, or snow showers.

The National Weather Service forecast for Saturday morning has up to 1 inch of snow possible anywhere above 300 feet in elevation. Most of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park are above that level in elevation and could see some snow on the ground, especially on hill tops. Temperatures are marginally warm still, so it is not likely to stick around long or stick to roadways much. We return to normal rain showers both afternoons this weekend.

For the Monday through Friday forecast, we basically have a chance of rain all week. High temperatures are expected to be in the 50's, low temperatures in the 40's. There is expected to be breezy or windy conditions on Wednesday, but it doesn't appear to be anything significant at this time.

Longer range: I'm expecting near normal conditions for the remainder of March. Also expecting near or slightly colder than normal conditions for the month of April with some colder than normal systems moving through. We likely will see several more systems with unstable cool air masses that bring thundershowers or wet snow or rain/mixed showers on some mornings.

I can't rule out that a convergence zone system could develop with a blanket of short lived snow between now and the end of April. A moderate La Niña is producing its late season effects and will likely give us a cool spring and cool early summer.

For current weather conditions visit www.shorelineweather.com