Cold storm system barrels toward O.C.

Unusually cold temperatures and possible heavy rain could hit Orange County late Friday and Saturday as a powerful system of low-pressure air works its way down the coast.  

The flow of moist air from the ocean could bring light rain or drizzle Friday, and highs Friday should be 55 to 60 under mostly cloudy skies.

The rain continues Saturday morning and possibly throughout the day as the storm moves south.

We could see scattered thunderstorms Saturday, along with gusty winds to 30 mph, as daytime highs drop into the 47 to 52 range.

Be glad you are not here in NW PA. :-)

This Low Will Spread Northeast Across The Area Overnight. This Precipitation May Start As A Mixture Of Snow Sleet And Freezing Rain. This Mixture Will Quickly Become All Snow. The Snow Will Increase In Intensity Toward Daybreak With Heavy Snow Then Expected Through Midday Friday. Snowfall Rates Will Exceed An Inch Per Hour For Several Hours And Could Approach Two Inches Per Hour At Times. The Snow Is Expected To Diminish From West To East On Friday Afternoon. Snowfall Amounts By Friday Afternoon Of 6 To 10 Inches Will Be Possible. A Few Locations May See Amounts Approaching A Foot. Winds Will Also Increase By Friday Morning To At Least 15 To 25 Mph With Gusts To 35 Mph. This Will Cause Blowing And Drifting Of The Snowfall.

Clearing skies and a cold air mass over the State is giving us record cold this morning  Sea-Tac Airport has dropped to 21° this morning breaking the old record of 22° set in 1962. Gusty winds in Whatcom and San Juan Counties is giving wind chills in the single digits in some areas, but winds will be decreasing this morning.

 

The dominant weather feature Friday will be high pressure to the north and east. That will result in mostly sunny skies and dry, but cold weather. Highs from Everett north will be in the mid 20's to near 30 (never getting above freezing). South of Everett, highs should reach the low to mid 30's. Winds will slowly ease during the day.

As we head into Saturday the high pressure will move out allowing another but warmer storm system to move out of the Gulf of Alaska during the day on Saturday. If the clouds from this storm arrive after daybreak, lows will be back in the teens and low 20s again.

So Laura, is Ron wearing his chaps?????