Seattle’s ‘false spring’ finally giving up as rainy, cooler weather pattern returns

There was a familiar, yet startling growling/whirring sound out my window Friday morning and I had an instant panic attack.

It was one of my neighbor’s lawn mowers.

NUH UHH! NO, LAWN! NO WAY. YOU DO NOT GET TO GROW IN FEBRUARY. I still have emotional scars from having to start mowing my lawn in February during 2015’s winter that wasn’t. I still am supposed to get at least another 6 weeks of avoiding lawn care.

Alas, welcome to day 3 of False Spring…. is it No. 2? 3? 12? I’ve lost count. Friday marks the third consecutive day reaching at least 57 degrees in Seattle.  It’s getting to the point where it’s not so much a “false spring” than a spring takeover of winter. Seems winter left its West Coast defense down as it was distracted pummeling the East with endless Arctic blasts and now spring is like: “Don’t mind if I do…”*

(* I MIND!…)

But take heart, winter fans: Rain is close at hand, as is the end of “spring” (for now) and a return of winter (ish).

The big ridge of high pressure that brought this week’s warmth is heading off to the east and we have an initial storm system pushing our way for Saturday.

It’s a mild system to start — it’s kinda “atmospheric river-ish” in that has a little tropical moisture in there but not a super soaker. Mainly you’ll notice the higher snow levels and highs still in the 50s with some blustery winds by Saturday afternoon and evening. As far as the rain goes, it’ll begin on the coast Saturday morning and while the morning will begin dry in the Puget Sound area, the afternoon and evening looks pretty soggy.

Super Bowl Sunday looks relatively dry in the morning but some scattered showers will drift through during afternoon game time but not like many people will be outdoors anyway 😉

A few scattered showers linger Monday then we get a brief break in the rain Tuesday (and let’s hope there are many, many, many, many people outside then!) and Wednesday as rain ironically heads for California for a few days.

But the extended forecast shows some promise to get our February back as the pattern gets more active… and cooler.

The storm track will shift to weather systems coming more from the northwest, and that will mean lower snow levels. It still doesn’t look like THAT low of snow levels that we get to start thinking about building snowmen in Seattle, but at least we start getting some decent snowfall back in the mountains.

That pattern looks to hold into the end of February. So just maybe skiers and snowboarders could eke out a few smiles on the slopes…

…and my lawn will stop thinking about growing. (Don’t make me come out there with a calendar!)