11:20 P.M.
10:30 pm PST Sun 16 Dec 2012 - West Coast 4km NWS water vapor satellite
Hello all, this is Charlie Phillips posting on behalf of Josh Gardner. I'm not from Rip City, but I am from Jet City, and the weather we are experiencing up here is similar to what you guys are getting down there.
However, there is one significant difference. Portland will be significantly windier than Seattle for the rest of tonight into Monday morning. Although it's a little hard to tell on the satellite picture, the center of the low pressure system is actually further south than even the models predicted. It's expected to roar ashore around Destruction Island on the Washington Coast and then head over Seattle as it makes its way eastward. Since the pressure gradients at the center of the storm are relatively light, Seattle will see light winds at first, and then stronger winds as the low passes through and Seattle feels the wrath of the bent-back occlusion of the cyclone, or, as some like to call it, the "poisonous tail." Portland will be under the influence of a larger pressure gradient and will see higher winds. This won't be anything like the Hanukkah Eve Storm of 2006 even for Portland, but it will be the windiest storm to strike the Willamette Valley so far this autumn/winter. The coast will get pummeled with 25 foot waves and sustained storm force winds of 40-50 knots, with occasional gusts to 60 knots. I would not be surprised if a few of the isolated headlands, such as Cape Blanco, Mt. Hebo, or Naselle Ridge, see a triple-digit gust from this storm.
This storm is also bringing gobs of snow to the Cascades. In fact, a blizzard warning is in effect for the central Washington Cascades down all the way to southern Oregon. The snowiest locations, like Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, and Mt. Hood, could receive up to three feet of snow from this storm. There will also be very strong winds on the ridges, which should come as no surprise. The Northwest Avalanche Control Center is actually forecasting 70-90 mph winds at 9,000 feet in the southern Washington Cascades. I can't think of any reason you would like to be up there, unless you REALLY like flying kites.
But you shouldn't just stay out of the highest mountains in the Cascades; you should stay out of the passes too.
It's hard to see in this picture, but Snoqualmie Pass has compact snow and ice on the ground with blizzard conditions outside. Great for skiers... I'm definitely looking forward to going up this week... but not so great for travelers. The pass is closed in several places due to collisions, so it might be better to wait a day to travel over the pass.
I love having these "triple threat" (rain, wind, snow) storms come through the area. It's just what I needed, and it couldn't have come at a better time. It's definitely an early Christmas present for us weather geeks!
Stay safe, warm, and happy. :)
Charlie Phillips
charliesweatherforecasts.blogspot.com
weatheron.net
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