Seattle weather: Lowland snow in the realm of possibility for winter
Nov 10, 2016, 11:27 AM | Updated: 12:09 pm
We'll wait and see if this winter brings as much snow as that of the 2008 storm that shut down Seattle. (AP)
(AP)
The unseasonably warm Seattle weather you’ve been enjoying is expected to continue through the week. But it isn’t likely to last much longer as we head toward winter.
Check the latest weather forecasts
With La Nina in the mix, residents of Western Washington can expect colder and wetter days that could lead to lowland snow sometime this winter. La Nina is the cooling of the Pacific Ocean that affects weather patterns worldwide.
KING 5 reports lowland areas of western Washington could see snow stick during the second half of winter. According to Meteorologist Rich Marriott, this winter could be similar to the winter of 2008.
However, Jeff Michalski with the National Weather Service says people don’t need to panic yet.
“We can only really accurately predict the forecast within the next 10 days, so we can’t say with any confidence at this date there will be lowland snow,” he told KIRO Radio.
In 2008, Seattle received the most snow residents had seen in about a decade. The New York Times spoke with Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington, about the event.
Several of you commented about the nature of the snow last night,” Mass told the Times. “Most of you are used to the large, dendritic crystals that fall when temperatures are near freezing. Last night, you got to enjoy the type of snow they get in colder climates.
Over the course of about three weeks during the December 2008 storm, the Seattle area experienced below-freezing temps and continuous snowfall. It was during that storm that Mayor Greg Nickels received criticism for the lack of preparedness.
The Seattle Department of Transportation has since revised its response to winter weather.
Forecast models from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center show January, February, and March as colder than average over the winter. There is also an above-average chance western Washington will receive more precipitation than normal.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there’s a 55 percent chance La Nina will last through winter. Mike Halpert with NOAA said Thursday he expects La Nina conditions to be weak and short-lived.
If the unusually wet October was any giveaway, we can at least expect plenty of rain this winter.
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