OK Sailors. We all know if you desire wind in your sails, the time to go sailing is in the fall months. It looks like Rufus has ordered just that. His long-range look at the weather patterns for the end of October and the beginning of November foretells breeze days in our future. It's time to secure the boat in the slip for a few rocky days. Check your reefing rigging if you plan to venture out.
One of my favorite weather areas of exploration is the ENSO currents. They give us insight into the summer Atlantic hurricane possibilities and foretell the winter weather possibilities for the PacificNW. This past year, the ENSO currents have been a bit unsettled. First, there was a strong movement from El Niño to La Niña conditions. This caused the NHC to forecast a frightening season. Then, the ENSO currents moderated. The results are that it is going in the books as a neutral year. That is an indicator our winter weather will be a series of confusing events. Buckle up. It may get bumpy.
Monday October 28
Plenty of rain, wind, and yes, sun breaks ahead as the 10th month of the year ends and the 11th begins. Refresh your Mug and get back here.
Showers today, decreasing by Tue, with a few turning into thunderstorms given the cold air aloft. Mountain snow. The next storm front is modeled for Wed. This one will be start out rather mild when the warm front pushes onshore; turning quite wet and blustery as the cold front moves past..
A secondary Low is now modeled to form right afterward, setting up a damp HALLOWEEN. —> Note: there are indications that this smaller, tightly-packed Low will move onshore around the central OR coast later on Thu, with a rather powerful WIND FIELD along the south coast of OR, maybe a bit inland, too. Trick or Treaters in OR are more likely to deal with showers than those in the Puget Sound area. (We may have jinxed Halloween in our last forecast - saying it was going to be dry. Oops.)
It looks fairly dry Fri the 8th before a weak system moves in sometime Saturday, for additional rain/showers. Earlier solutions held this system off until Sunday, but we suggest one prepares for wet conditions Sat.
Next week trends dry early, with some rain over Vancouver Island and the far NW WA area on ELECTION DAY. Dry Wed Nov 6, but then BE READY. What we will term as the first major fall storm pattern of the season is charting to arrive Thu Nov 7. Heavy rain, WINDY Thursday through Saturday the 9th. Localized flooding issues probable, esp given plugged storm drains. A short break in the powerful storm(s) will happen Sunday Nov 10, as the rain field shifts into California. More rain on tap for Mon Nov 11. Sip.
Here’s when we may get our first notable region-wide WIND STORM of the fall. Models are not conclusive this far out, but have indicated a large, deep Low pressure center developing in eastern Pacific, moving onshore along the southern BC coast. The wind field from this storm could impact the PNW, along with additional heavy rainfall. Please tuck this into your ‘what if’ pocket - lots can change by then. Just know that strong fall storms are on tap to develop over the Gulf of Alaska, some possibly moving close enough to the PNW to get our attention. Yep, it’s that time of year.
“Drive-up banks were established so that automobiles could see their real owners occasionally."
-Rufus