We are entering our third taste of winter this season today as brisk west to northwest winds will usher in cold rain and snow showers later today with lowering snow levels. Didn’t we go through this recently? Yes, we did and most of us had no snow in our yards. As the really cold air arrives via east winds, how much moisture will be left? Another hit-and-miss situation with no widespread heavy snowfalls expected. Last time on Valentine’s Day, our north county residents received enough snow to whiten the ground. I think this go around a weak low will form off our coast after today’s cold front and slide south and areas southward may get the goods. I think everyone sees snow in the air like the last event but as I write this column Monday, it is still too early to accurately predict where enough snow will fly to turn things white.
The models show lower odds for us lowlanders than our foothill neighbors where 3 to 5 inches of snow could be measured. It will be chilly as some forecast models indicate this will be the coolest air mass so far this winter. East winds will arrive as moisture departs later Wednesday and those wind chills will be quite apparent. Bundle up!
Spring isn’t that far away for us weather and climate folks. Eight days from today will be the first day of the meteorological spring. Of course, astronomical spring is delayed about three weeks and is noted on the calendar.
As the cold air moderates this weekend, we could flirt with snowflakes in the air again for a brief spell before snow levels rise to a couple thousand feet or so. Regardless, the outlook for the remainder of February and into the first week of March calls for below-average temperatures. Prepare for the cold weather to linger for a while.
