I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving. The weather cooperated, with much-above-average high temperatures for Thanksgiving Day.
A weak weather system moved through Friday, though it was much more robust than forecast, with four-tenths of an inch of rain here in Vancouver.
Our rainfall so far this month is still below average, but another storm today keeps moisture chances going through the last day of November. This time, the storm drops down the Canadian Coast and carves out a large trough of low pressure off our coastline, pulling cold continental air from Canada that will lower snow levels as we progress through the week.
Heavy mountain snows today and Monday and then again Wednesday through Friday will surely open the ski resorts by next weekend. As the cold air settles in, our snow levels here in the county will lower as well. The foothills will begin to get the white stuff later Monday and then off and on all week.
Here in the lowlands, you have seen those persistent snowflakes on your smartphone weather apps. You and I know it is always difficult to be precise in predicting snowfall here at city levels this far out. Right now, as I peruse the forecast models Saturday afternoon, I believe we will see snow in the air and in some locations, maybe a brief dusting at some point.
I don’t see a big, area-wide snowstorm late in the week, but it all depends on whether enough cold air arrives with approaching moisture. Some forecast models hint at that late in the week or during the weekend. My advice is to keep abreast of the daily forecasts and prepare in advance.
Meanwhile, that 56-degree high temperature on Thanksgiving will be a distant memory this week as our highs will lower into the 40s and maybe upper 30s late in the week. Lows will migrate to freezing and below as the week progresses and skies occasionally clear overnight.
November will depart us in a winterlike manner, setting the stage for December’s arrival on Thursday.
Keep warm, and we’ll talk about snow on Tuesday.
