Wet pattern takes hold of California and Pacific Northwest

In what was a legitimately wintry month for much of the Lower 48, the end of January is comparatively tranquil. Places that saw less in the way of weather over recent weeks are getting theirs as a series of storms targets the West Coast after slamming Hawaii.

Weather Watch

Hawaii storm. Power outages, downed trees, travel disruptions, flooding and severe thunderstorms hit Hawaii Thursday and continued early Friday. A ground stop was issued for airports in the state Thursday afternoon due to low visibility and rapidly changing conditions. Rainfall totals of 4 to 10 inches are common so far, especially on Maui and Oahu with some higher numbers in mountains. A cold front moving through Friday will end the storm risk.

Wet West Coast. The storm system near Hawaii will inject atmospheric rivers heading toward the West Coast with tons of moisture. About 3 to 6 inches of rain forecast in the San Francisco Bay Area is among the lower totals expected in northern parts of California through early next week. While some rain has fallen already, the brunt comes this weekend into early next week. Given its origins, the weekend blast is quite warm but additional rounds may bring snow to Seattle and Portland.

Groundhog Day all over again

Punxsutawney Phil makes his yearly appearance this Sunday in Pennsylvania to sleepily tell us if there’s more winter ahead.

Last year the little guy had a decent forecast, calling for an early end to winter after failing to see his shadow. Spring did indeed end up overtaking much of the Lower 48 thereafter.

Overall, Phil’s record is much less impressive. In the past decade his forecast has been “correct” just three times, according to Fox Weather.

During the leadup to this annual tradition, another seasonal forecasting mainstay — the Old Farmer’s Almanac — generally calls for a warm spring in the contiguous United States.

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Weekday morning newsletter by a journalist/forecaster that connects weather and climate change dots while occasionally stirring the pot.

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