Cold Mornings Through Saturday, Rainy Pattern Next Week

 FastCast—Friday, Apr. 15 to Monday, Apr. 18:

After freezing temperatures, some lowland snow, and spotty showers on Thursday, a drier day is expected on Friday. Some scattered showers are possible, with rain/snow mix possible in the morning. More showers are possible on Saturday, again with rain/snow mix possible in the morning. Highs on Friday and Saturday will be in the upper 40s to low 50s, with lows in the low to mid 30s. Sunday (Easter) will be much warmer, with highs in the upper 50s, and lows in the low to mid 40s. Partly sunny conditions are expected on Easter, with increasing afternoon/evening clouds. On Monday, a much wetter pattern will begin. Expect 0.4 to 0.8 inches of rain on Monday, with cooler weather as well (highs in the upper 40s to low 50s). Expect this rainy pattern to continue through at least Wednesday of next week. Stay tuned!

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After a day that began with freezing temperatures and lowland snow, a drier day is ahead on Friday. Some showers follow on Saturday, but less total rain than this week. See the NAM forecast below through 5 AM Sunday.

0.1 to 0.2 inches can be expected area-wide, with much more (up to 1” total) possible in heavier showers. Mountain snow (3-8”) is possible at the passes over the weekend as well.

Expect a few more cold April mornings from Friday to Sunday, with lows in the low to mid 30s. Some frost is possible.

A much rainier pattern begins next week. Below is the European model forecast for rain through Thursday morning.

It looks like 1.5 to 2 inches of rain will fall in the lowlands next week. More is expected on the coast (2.5-5 inches). Significant rain will also fall in Eastern Washington (0.3 to 0.75”), making a small dent in drought conditions.

As this much colder than average pattern continues, substantial mountain snow will also continue. The European model forecast for snow through Thursday is below.

Expect significant mountain snow, with 12-18 inches at Snoqualmie Pass, and 18-30 inches at Stevens and White Passes. After the snowpack started dipping below normal in February and March, this April cold pattern is bringing the snowpack back toward normal levels.

Looking ahead, below normal temperatures are expected to continue for April 22 to 28. The NWS Climate Prediction Center graphic is below.

Much of the West will experience below average temperatures for the rest of April. This is a characteristic of the La Niña conditions that will continue this spring.