7 to 10 Day Weather- NW

The map below is the 500 mb chart (for about 19,000 feet) average position on May 30. We continue to have the pattern of a trough of low pressure off the coast which continues the same pattern of below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for the period between May 25 to May 30 and probably longer. This will continue to leave able snowpack with many trails about 30 days or so behind normal of melting out.

Contest Guess how much snow at Mt. Rainier Paradise Ranger on June 19, 2011. Go to this web site to enter contest and and see rules
http://www.snohomish.org/index.php?page_id=597
The winner gets two of Craig Romano's new books on the North and Central Cascades.

7 to 10 Day Weather Forecast- NW

The map below is the 500 mb chart (for about 19,000 feet) for Wednesday May 25 and shows a trough of low pressure off the coast. Also notice another trough of low pressure to the north in the Gulf of Alaska. This pattern will tend to bring below average temperatures and normal to slightly above normal precipitation.

Contest Guess how much snow at Mt. Rainier Paradise Ranger on June 19, 2011. Go to this web site to enter contest and and see rules
http://www.snohomish.org/index.php?page_id=597
The winner gets two of Craig Romano's new books on the North and Central Cascades.

10 day forecast

This 10 day forecast is being issued on May 11, 2011 for the Washington Cascades and Olympics. The map below is the 500 mb chart (at about 18,000 feet) for the period May 16 to May 20. This map is becoming all too common which shows a trough of low pressure off the coast and this will continue the pattern of below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. The bottom line slow melt of our snowpack.

7 to 10 day forecast

The map below is the 500 mb chart (at about 18,000 foot level) for Friday May 13. This indicates the continued cool pattern for the Northwest and the forecast would indicate below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. Thus the current above average snowpack would continue for the Washington Cascades.