Cold weather to arrive next week

By Rod Hill on 2014-02-01

Arctic air is set to begin arriving Monday, across the Rockies and upper Midwest.  Forecast models show the coldest air since early December spilling into western Washington and Oregon.  The Celsius temperature contour map above shows air temperatures at 5,000 feet next Tuesday.  If correct, the map indicates surface high temperatures in the 20s over the Columbia Basin and highs only in the single digits over parts of Montana. 

The predicted cold snap will likely not be as cold as Portland experienced last December 4th - 10th.  The seven day stretch produced a low temperature of 12 degrees at PDX and highs in the upper 20s.  Right now, next week is likely to see high temperatures reach 40 degrees with lows as cold as 20, depending on expected gusty east winds.

To date, our winter season has produced 36 mornings with low temperatures reaching freezing.  Average through the end of January is 29 days.  The likely cold start to February may be enough to hold the temperature average below normal for the month, but it is too early to tell.  So far, November's mean temperature was one degree below normal and December's mean temp was 4 degrees below normal, which ties for the 5th coldest at PDX. 

Seasonal outlooks through the month of April offer little clue as to what our weather will be.  It goes without saying that we need a wet February and spring.  The water year deficit, going back to October 1st is more then 10.00 inches or roughly two months behind schedule.