What a head-shaking situation we are in as I write this column Wednesday. Snow is falling everywhere around the county, from 4 to 8 inches in our foothills to a couple inches in Battle Ground and higher-elevation areas around Camas.
Here in downtown Vancouver, it was snowing as of noon but sticking mostly on grassy areas and remaining off the roadways. However, east winds had already arrived, and temperatures were dropping quickly. They were below freezing by late afternoon.
Forecast models Wednesday indicated 1 to 6 inches or more — quite a spread, and not much help for the weather forecasters. I can only imagine how things turned out and what you are looking at outside today.
The good news is that skies should clear today. We’ll see sunshine through Friday, but overnight lows will be in the teens to the low 20s, depending on the east winds. Regardless, it will be cold, with today’s wind chills keeping things feeling well below freezing.
A cold air mass remains with us into next week, and we may see more light snow or a mix as moisture approaches Saturday night and Sunday. Snow levels will remain above the valley floors, but not by much.
Then, early next week, another cold trough of low pressure will drop down from the Gulf of Alaska, and we’ll flirt with the white stuff again. Winter lingers while spring beckons.
I have always said that when we get snow here in the lowlands, it can arrive with little notice. Many times, we wait for the snowflakes to materialize and begin to fall and accumulate. Other times, we have cold air entrenched, and it is a slam dunk a couple days out. I can recall so many “surprise” snowfalls.
Meanwhile, I sit here at my desk, shaking my snow globe and watching the tiny flakes fall upon the little village and people. I raise my head, look out the window and watch the real flakes in the air, wondering if the snow will accumulate like it does inside the glass globe.
Be well, everyone, and keep warm.
