hey weather saavy folks: the next few weeks?

From what I remember, most of our high pressure systems last year were not inversions like this... the temperatures were relatively cold, and meanwhile, the jet stream was bringing big snow to the California. But they're getting sun just as much as we are right now.<br><br>Am I remembering correctly?<br><br>

As I remember it we started off much like we did a few weeks ago, although not nearly as cold, and then the jet stream went just north of us, strong from the deep SW, and hammered us with those P******** E******es, then when that pattern broke up the jet stream was pointed way south, keeping us in the cold and dry. We're on the warm side of the firehose right now, and it isn't like it was last year, so I'm counting my blessings. Looks like the next couple systems go warm to cold, which should be good for snow stability on top of the crust.

Yeah, I remember that too. Big dumps in California because the jet stream was way south compared to normal years. It seemed like every weekend brougt new record snowfall amounts. I just talked to my friend in Long Beach, and he flew over Bear Mtn this past weekend and said the mountain was bare. Many other resorts in California are closed as well. It also seems that last year we had a relatively good November snow season before the clear spells in December and January.

The dryness here and wetness in CA last year was due to split flow, with one branch of the jet north of us and one south.  In that case there was a low sitting off the coast of CA or OR and just pulling moisture off the ocean and into the Sierras (too bad cyclones don't rotate clockwise). That pattern set up this November and dried us out, but gave 8-12 inches to the sierras.(I think the technical name is a rex block).  Right now, though, it seems that there is just a very high amplitude ridge sitting just off the coast, leading to the warm temps up high and easterly flow and fog in the passes.  Thankfully it is breaking up.  Can't help but get nervous now when a big ridge sets in.

This pattern is more like what we would get in February instead of November. From what I read it sounds like its going to break up this weekend so hopefully we'll be back in our normal pattern again soon.

The weather for the oregon cascades looks promising for the nex few days:<br><br>.THURSDAY NIGHT...RAIN LIKELY. SNOW LEVEL 8000 FEET LOWERING TO<br>7000 FEET AFTER MIDNIGHT. PASS WINDS SOUTHEAST 5 TO 15 MPH.<br>.FRIDAY...SHOWERS LIKELY NORTH...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF<br>SHOWERS SOUTH. SNOW LEVEL LOWERING TO 3500 FEET.<br>.FRIDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. SNOW LEVEL<br>4000 FEET.<br>.SATURDAY...PARTLY SUNNY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE MORNING.<br>SNOW LEVEL 4000 FEET.<br>.SATURDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. FREE AIR FREEZING LEVEL 7000 FEET.<br>.SUNDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. SNOW LEVEL 7000 FEET.<br>.SUNDAY NIGHT...SHOWERS LIKELY. BREEZY. SNOW LEVEL 5500 FEET.<br>.MONDAY...SHOWERS LIKELY. SNOW LEVEL 4500 FEET.<br>.MONDAY NIGHT...SHOWERS LIKELY. SNOW LEVEL 4500 FEET.<br>.TUESDAY...SHOWERS LIKELY. SNOW LEVEL 4000 FEET.<br>