Big Idea
- It will become windy and gradually cooler each day this week
- High temperatures will drop from the upper 60’s to lower 40’s
- It will also be windy this week
- Could receive up to 6” of total accumulation by early Saturday morning
- Read more...
Get your winter weather clothing out!
Forecast Summary:
Becoming windy and gradually cooler each day this week, with increasing clouds. High temperatures will drop from the upper 60s today down into the lower 40s Thursday and Friday as a cold low pressure system slowly shifts across the state. Morning lows will also drop from the lower 40s today to the upper 20s by Thursday and Friday, though daytime temperatures will become a bit warmer Saturday to Sunday. Windy today and tomorrow, with southwest winds generally 15 – 25 mph, and maximum gusts up to about 40 mph. There will be a chance of light rain or snow showers on Wednesday, changing to all snow on Thursday and Friday. Watch the weather forecasts for Thursday and Friday as the snow amounts are currently uncertain. However, I would estimate between 2” and 6” of total snow accumulation by early Saturday morning.
Another storm could affect us next Monday – Tuesday, with continued cold weather, breezy to windy conditions, and possibly some additional light rain or snow accumulation.
Forecast Table:
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/wxtables/
Navigate on the map to your location and click for a detailed local forecast.
Discussion:
It looks like we will have more winter weather this next week and a half. It is actually quite common around here to have rain and snow during the first half of March (which tends to be the time that our schools have spring break).
It will be windy today and tomorrow, with SW winds from 15-25 mph, gusting to near 40 mph, and increasing clouds.
The deteriorating weather conditions correspond to an approaching upper-level trough and cold airmass, digging southward along the West Coast. The low will cut off from the jet stream by Thursday, becoming centered over the Southwest and gradual rotating to the east of us by Saturday. There is some uncertainty in the forecast models as to the positioning of the low and the amount of precipitation that can be expected. I would estimate anywhere from 0.3” – 1.0” of liquid water equivalent between Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning. Snow accumulation is even harder to nail down this week, but we may see anywhere from 1” – 6” of total snow accumulation by Saturday morning. Stay tuned to NWS updates for more details on rain and snow amounts. Also keep in mind that snow amounts are strongly dependent upon one’s elevation and position relative to the local terrain. Locations on the south and west side of Prescott tend to be higher elevation (colder) and closer to the mountains, where they receive more spillover of rain and snow as south or southwesterly wind rises and forms over the terrain immediately upwind.
Another trough could affect us next Monday or Tuesday, for more windy and unsettled weather and possibly some additional light rain or snow accumulation. More details next Monday.
C. James
