Big Weather Picture Oct 20-27

More Wet Snow Possible

The weather will remain rather wintry or late fall-like this week as another low pressure area passes to our southeast, bringing us a cold rain and some wet snow. If the precipitation is heavy enough, it may change to all snow with some accumulations. I have not had a chance to look at things in great detail since I'm out of the country.

After this system passes on Wednesday, the weather will remain on the cool side of normal. The cool pattern looks to persist for at least the next week.

If this goes like a typical El Nino winter, we'll transition to a mild pattern sometime in late November. Quite likely, we'll be in the strongest El Nino since the '97-'98 winter, so the effects will probably be noticeable. Overall, I expect warm temperature and lighter than average snowfall during Dec-Jan-Feb. However, any El Nino winter can be punctuated by the occasional winter storm and a cold outbreak, making people forget the mild conditions. I'm hoping for a well-timed heavy snowfall in early December or late November to put down a good cross-country ski base for the rest of the season.

-Bob