Weather Eye: Snow possible around county; how low will it go?

Today we see a repeat of Sunday’s weather system with snow falling down to lower elevations. This storm is colder so odds are better for the lowest levels. However, it is forecast to arrive late afternoon so it will be much warmer outside than during nighttime hours.

We do have a light snow cover in the Columbia Basin and temperatures Monday afternoon near freezing. I expect today’s system to draw some east winds that may help to cool the lower atmosphere.

The bulk of the storm will slide down the coast and swing into California. Sunday’s storm did just that and snow was reported falling on the Strip in Las Vegas and areas around Phoenix in the desert Southwest. Snow fell on the Malibu hills around Los Angeles.

And you say why can’t we get a dusting here on the bark dust or grass in downtown Vancouver? Seems odd at first glance. Locations to our west and northwest had snow on the ground Sunday. Low elevations on the east slopes of the coastal mountains had snow down to 200 to 500 feet. That is because the precipitation was falling heavier than here in Clark County. That brought the cold air down to the ground.

Our residents in the foothills at Fargher Lake, Amboy, Yacolt and the hills above Washougal all had about an inch of wet snow. We will see how today’s weather system behaves. Another marginal situation, but some models show measurable amounts down to 200 feet or so. That would include the Felida and Salmon Creek neighborhoods.

We had .38 of an inch of rain Sunday in Vancouver. If that would have been snow, 4 inches would have greeted everyone early Monday morning.

I’m still forecasting sticking snow at elevations above 1,000 feet. In the back of my mind, I do remember a situation similar to today’s pattern that had rain falling that turned to a surprise snow. Remember Dec. 29, 2009? Do you like surprises?

The rest of the week looks unsettled, with cool systems moving down from Alaska and snow levels rising Wednesday and Thursday. A cold storm arrives over the weekend and lowers the snow level. We will watch that closely.