Still a Winter/Spring Mix in NW Corner
March 30, 9:00 AM
Well, after our soaker of a day yesterday (.97") only some has changed for today. So far there has been little rain today, but more could come most anytime. The sky surely looks that way - heavy, dark overcast. Showers are forecast and the breeze may rise later. Tomorrow is featuring a stronger system again to be rolling through, then that one will take awhile to clear out, followed by maybe the strongest one arriving next Monday, lingering into Tuesday, and then so on with following systems the rest of next week. Our high yesterday was only 48, which is the coolest in a little while. Currently it is 44.
However, the birds are chirping out in the trees and a pot of yellow daffodils on the deck does remind us that it is spring. It is good to have those reminders. Lest we forget and mark the date down as February on any checks we may write today.
March 27, 9:30 AM
Spring must be coming, but so far only short glimpses would prove it.
This morning is another heavy overcast, dark, and threatening-rain day. Rain is predicted (90% chance!)but likely it will be light. Then the rest of the week comes, and with it more rain, probably heavier in a couple of days, and actually as far as the forecast goes out, rain is in the picture each day. Continuing cool (50's for highs) and just damp and wet.
The past week has seen some see-saw in weather, from stormy windy days, to those short teases of the possibility of spring. Last Friday and Saturday saw the temperature hit and top 60 by a little bit, and especially on Friday, a lot more sunshine with that mild temp surprised and delighted everyone. You'd think it was summer or something.
The first day of spring, last week, was example of the stormy windy day. And, since it was my birthday, we celebrated by "storm-watching"! Mr. PSP, myself and two of our kids (college spring-breakers) took the day to chase the wind and waves by driving up to Whidbey Island and spending time on various west-side beaches, primarily in state parks. We had the places to ourselves, by no surprise. It turned into a wonderful day. Other than a heavy rain/snow mix band we ran through on the drive north, we had no further rain for the day, although at times it looked like some may move in. But we also had periods of sunshine and it just kept mixing all day. The one near constant was that it was windy, and especially so in the more exposed open areas of Puget Sound. Here are some photos from that trip:
Harlequin ducks riding the surf and waves
There are more photos in the series, for those who are interested!
March 27
Sunrise: 6:56 AM --- Sunset: 7:32 PM (PDT)
(gaining 3 minutes, 27 seconds tomorrow)
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Updated: 7:25 AM GMT on June 04, 2012
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Winter/Spring Mix in Pac NW
March 15, 10:30 PM
Crazy Mix of Weather
Today we have had hard rain, windy squalls, thunder, sunshine (briefly), and basically a lot of rain. Yesterday was quite similar, except a lot cooler. For most of yesterday we were riding in the mid to upper 30's and a lot of rain, with snow mixed in, and windy and just cold and raw. Today warmed up, so no snow, but a lot of rain with downpours at times, and the wind giving some crazy action to the rain. Today's high was 55 (big upturn from yesterday's 44), the high wind gust was 26 mph, and the rain today is up over .7", and still coming in bands, although they are slowing down from earlier today. Winter has arrived late this year!
March 13, 10 PM
Swirling Snow!
A real mixed bag of weather today! Including our weekly little bout of snow, both this morning and then an exciting snow squall that came through this afternoon - leaving only about a trace of snow. But, when it was falling, the wind was whipping it every direction, lashing the windows, and swirling into little mini-drifts on the deck.
It was breezy all day and cold, especially because of the wind. Our high was only 45, the low has been 33, the high wind was 25 mph, and we have .26" precip.
This evening we went to a high school band concert, and coming out afterward into the night air was bracing - for the middle of March. 34 degrees tonight, giving some promise of another round of snow perhaps tomorrow morning.
March 12, 6:45 AM
Storm!
A strong front is rolling through us this early morning. It is windy, hearing the easterly gusts gather steam off in the distance and then race through the trees and over the top of us. And, in just the last few minutes the rain has arrived with much more authority and it is beginning now to lash against the windows.
The snow level is a bit too high for us, so just rain this morning, but it is really turning into a stormy morning!
The quite deep low that I wrote earlier about, is passing by the offshore waters and the front associated with it has quite a lot of punch. The barometer is still falling and is pretty low already.
A very wintry storm today! Even though my kids did start quite a lot of seeds yesterday indoors - mostly peppers. It doesn't seem much like garden or pepper time right now.
March 6, 5:30 PM
Snow, Sunshine
What a two-sided day! Spring must surely be coming, when the weather does such sudden turns in just a few hours.
This morning we awoke (actually first spotted it in the wee hours of the morning) to find a light skiff of snow covering the ground! It was right about freezing and with off and on showers, we ended up with about a half inch of snow. Not much, but enough to make a very pretty scene. A few additional showers in the early daylight hours really made a pretty scene out the window. Looked as if it could be January 6.
Then, the afternoon came. All of the clouds cleared away, the snow was all gone, and bright sunshine was so delightful to bask in, even if still a bit chilly. Looked as if it could be April 6. The high ended up at 48, after a low of 32.
Now as I type, the late afternoon fading sunlight is glowing off the freshly powdered Cascades in the east, and they are beautiful right now. Fresh snow all the way down the mountain sides gleaming in the clean air.
It will be cold tonight with all of this clearing - forecast down into the 20's. More sunshine and warmer tomorrow, with Thursday promising to likely spread a good case of spring fever around town. Only to return to rain by Friday and the weekend. I have a strong feeling that this morning's snow may be the last of the season, but that is far from certain.
Here is a photo I took this morning while the snow was falling and it seems to aptly demonstrate the "Winter/Spring Mix in Pac NW".
March 5, 8:30 AM
A wintery stormy morning here currently. A strong cold front has reached us and kind of a crazy weather day could be ahead.
As late as yesterday afternoon, the NWS was calling for a reasonable chance of a rather widespread few inches of snow by today. Unusual, but not unheard of in early March. As I commented last night, I remember 9 inches here in the first week of March quite a few years ago. Then last evening the forcast took a big turn. Gone was the widespread snow by this morning and onward and suddenly we were left with a "chance" of snow late today in localized pockets, with no accumulation. Just rain instead for nearly everyone. Now this morning the idea of snow is back again, but probably a more middle ground between those two previous ideas. Later this afternoon some convergence zone activity may spin up some snow showers in larger, but still more localized areas (we could possibly be in one of the favored areas) with the chance for an inch or two of snow. Thunderstorms are also possible.
But, as a "for-sure" right now, it is raining and gusty. Gusts over 20 mph and steady rain under a very dark and gloomy sky. It is 43, but colder air should filter in behind the rain.
Just minutes ago I dropped my high school senior daughter off to begin a four day trip as a camp counselor for an elementary school outdoor education program this week. Not a great "camp" week ahead (they will stay in lodges, but most of the daytime is scheduled to be outside) and today looks to be fairly miserable for them all. Cold nights and mornings ahead for the next day or two, however possibly the end of the trip may improve considerably for weather. Could see "spring" a little bit by the end of the week. Surely a great mix this week between winter and spring.
March 1, 10:40 AM
Spring begins this month! But the weather doesn't always follow the calendar. Certainly not around here. But, I do think Spring is trying to gain a little bit of footing. It is just slipping a lot on the mossy rocks.
Another round of rain/snow mix this morning and cool - mid 30's all morning. I do believe the snow is finished for this time around. Nothing is falling as I write and the overcast is starting to develop some brighter spots, indicating some clearing; trying to clear anyway. However, in spite of this, a transition is subtly and quietly underway. As I have written before, bulbs are showing up and just yesterday I noticed that the first daffodils I have seen are blooming right next door! At the same time snow was making some effort to fall and stick, although none has stuck since this past Saturday morning.
Well, since the middle of the last paragraph, the sun has actually come out! Sun is glistening off the jewel-like raindrops clinging to all the bare branches outside. I think it will be hard to keep the sun long - a pretty all-emcompassing overcast will be tough to eliminate. But, trying counts for something, on the first day of March. Overall it looks like it will be another rather raw day, cool, some breeze, and damp. A recipe to feel cold when outside very long.
A trip to a local park yesterday morning, in spite of the weather, gave some photo results that I will post a few of - this time around featuring the few birds that we saw. The park was very quiet, and it is a big one. My son and I saw two other people total in our hour or so there. The animals (primarily marsh birds and some small wetlands mammals that are around) seemed to have stayed in their homes yesterday morning as well as the people. A few ducks were aimlessly moving around, and then a few Red-Winged Blackbirds were still singing from the tops of the dormant marsh grasses. It was a cold, breezy at times, and wet (rain/snow mix) morning. The only hints of spring at the park were some small shoots of new growth starting on some bushes, but not readily apparent to the hurried eye.
Red-Winged Blackbirds in marshes beside Lake Washington on Feb. 29. "Singing in the Rain."
And, another robin perching. They have left our yard but we saw a nice flock of them looking for worms at the park.
February in Review
Average High: 51
Average Low: 37
Highest Temperature: 63 (2/6)
Coldest Temperature: 25 (2/27)
Coldest High Temperature: 43 (2/18, 2/29)
Highest Wind Gust: 30 mph (2/22)
Wettest Day: Feb. 25 (.76" rain plus a little snow melt)
Number of Days with Measurable Precipitation: 19
Number of Days 60+ degrees: 6 (in 2011 we did not even reach 60 at all until March 23!)
Total Snow: 1 inch, plus flurries multiple days
Total Precipitation for February: 4.01" (compared to 3.52" February 2011)
Note: February was a month distinctly in two halves. The first half was much milder than the second half, which seems a bit unexpected, since the first half is closer to "winter".
For example, the average high temperature for the first 15 days of the month was 54 degrees. The average high temperature for the second 14 days of the month was 47. Quite a difference. Additionally, the first 15 days of the month only produced one-quarter the total rainfall for the month.
March 1
Sunrise: 6:48 AM --- Sunset: 5:54 PM (PST)
(we will gain 3 min, 26 seconds tomorrow)
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Updated: 5:35 AM GMT on March 16, 2012
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