Periods of rain and mountain snow over the weekend
The dry pattern is coming to a close as a rainy pattern is just getting underway. We are in-between a dry vs. wet scenario as the high that was over the western portion of the country is now migrating east. The warmer weather will be replaced by cooler air from the west and the rain will be off and starting late Friday and into the middle of next week.
The forecasting issues we have are the type of precipitation. All temperature profiles suggest rain at lower elevations and snow above 3500 or 4000 feet. This will result in mountain snow and high desert rain. But the overnight temperatures suggest that we may see some snow for a brief period if the precipitation falls in the early morning or pre-dawn time frame. The trouble is going to be the morning commute weather. We need to be diligent each night to let everyone know what the precip type is for the morning commute so you can stay safe and informed.
The wintry mix precipitation will be short lived along highway 97, so it will be more of a nuisance than a major issue. Unfortunately, any icy or slick road is dangerous now matter how brief, so be mindful of the wet and slick roads as we move through next week.
On the positive side, the Cascades are expected to get snow every day starting late Friday through at least early next week. Not a lot, but still new. Mountain passes will need to be navigated carefully as they will be icy and snowy.
Stay Safe
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