Weather Eye: Snow heading for Puget Sound area unlikely to fall here

A winter storm watch was issued late Wednesday by the National Weather Service for the Puget Sound region northward for tonight and Friday morning. This meant that conditions were favorable for about 2-5 inches of snow from an incoming weather system. It would change back to all rain by noon Friday.

The odds were slim here locally for accumulating snow, but still briefly possible, mainly Clark County northward. Colder air left from the weak weather system that brought a few showers late Wednesday was responsible for leaving behind a cool pool of air overhead.

This certainly isn’t a good snow situation by any means. And, it seems like when Seattle gets snow we don’t. Remember almost two weeks ago Friday? Most areas had some snow with Salmon Creek receiving 2 inches. Seattle was clear and sunny. So there it goes.

Speaking of snow, the Cascades are deprived with the lowest snowpack for this time of the year in more than 20 years. And it won’t get better in the foreseeable future. Not good. But of course it only takes a couple weeks of good storms to change that around. We wait and see what the new year will bring. Maybe start praying for snow? I have seen several business signs around town that read, “Got Snow?” “Think Snow” and “Pray for Snow”

But for that to happen we need a major weather pattern shift as high pressure remains locked over or just to our west, blocking and diverting storms up into Alaska and then down through Canada into the Midwest.

Did you see the full moon the other night? No worry, most of us here in the lowlands were socked in with fog. The calendar tells me that the first day of winter begins Saturday. Oh, if you do a solstice dance, be outside at 9:11 in the morning.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac refers to the winter solstice like this: “Winter inspires both joy and woe. Some people can’t wait for the cooler weather, snow, skiing, ice skating, curling up by a fire and the holiday spirit. Other people dislike the frigid temperatures, blizzards and wild weather.” So take your pick. I’ll settle in by the fire with the holiday spirit.

Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at http://patricktimm.com.