It is all about timing

The way I figure it, meteorologists watch two big weather conditions this time of year; the masses of cold air and the masses of wet air. When the 2 hit, it often times generates white stuff falling from the heavens and with it panic and school closures in the Portland/Vancouver area. Most of the time that white flaky freefall doesn't happen. Typically, the wet brings with it warm air and so this area gets the characteristic 40 degree and rainy winters.

This week has been a different story. The cold dry air dipped down from the north significantly, giving Vancouver highs in the low 20's and lows down into low teens with clear skies.

Then Wednesday the wet air rolled in from the south and west bringing bringing with it some not warm enough temperatures to break the freezing temperatures. resulting in, you got it, snow! Actually, Portland got more than SW Washington because of the way the wet air moved in, but even a minuscule amount of snow and freezing temperatures triggers the Southerner in me. I stock up and bury myself in for the duration. To my Alaskan raised husband, it is just another day, so driving to work was not even a question for him. Me on the other hand, I decided not to go anywhere if I had to drive. However, I still had Christmas shopping to do... But ah ha! We live very close to the bus line. I bundled up and caught a bus to the mall. I got all my shopping done and Russ even picked me up! What a guy! Thursday was looking more promising, the temperatures had risen above the freezing mark. I hopped in my truck Thursday morning and got half way to work to find out there are lots of micro climates with all sorts of variable weather! I hit snow and lots of it. I turned the truck around and puttered home with white knuckles. I did stop by the store to pick up some baking and Christmas wrapping essentials. When Russ got home, he very kindly took me out to see Warren, who is happy as can be standing out in the snow watching the flakes fall.

It is now Friday morning and we again woke up to snow and border line freezing temperatures. There is about an inch on the ground now. Schools have been closed for 3 days making an extra long holiday break for the students. The cold air isn't letting up over the northwest and there is a huge mass of wet air predicted to move in from the coast by Saturday bringing even heavier snow. Russ put snow tires on his truck, he'll pick up more milk and bread on the way home and I'm hunkern down at the house with the doggies for the "Arctic Blast!"