The Week Ahead - Much Wetter, Winds of Some Kind May Return

Waking from another sleep disrupted gap wind event Saturday night. zzz :( 

We typically get 6-10 of these Cascadia (gap) wind events that produce significant winds (tallied if peak gusts on Snoqualmie Ridge reach at least 40 mph) per fall/winter season.  

We're already at four!  

2020-21

Here's how the last couple windstorm seasons compared...

2019-20

2018-19

Further back, an 80 mph gap wind event in December 2003 was the closest we got this millennium to the monster gap windstorm of the last century

The week ahead --

Otherwise, rain has spread into the Puget Sound area Sunday. What precipitation wasn't getting eaten by these dry east winds was mixing briefly with snow down to around 500-1,000 feet early Sunday morning, but further threat should be short-lived as winds shifting more southerly this afternoon will bring warmer air aloft.  Light rain otherwise into Sunday night.  With the snow level still around 2,000 feet, a few inches of snow can be expected at Snoqualmie Pass through tonight.

An active weather pattern is expected through much of this next week.

Models are mixed whether we get much if any dry out Monday before another front will move in Tuesday for rain, breezy winds, and mountain snow. Snow levels with the Tuesday system around 2500-3500 feet for additional snow for the Passes. A brief break possible on Wednesday, though some precipitation still may be around as the trough slides east. The active pattern is expected to continue late week and into the weekend.  Southerly winds could be quite strong for parts of next weekend as a significant Low looks to set up shop in British Columbia.

Have a great week!