Ready for spring? Head to the coast or the top of a mountain, says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass.
The reason: “The diabolical ridge is over us right now,” says Mass, who teaches atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington.
We’ve seen this ridge several times before this winter, says Mass, and the result is predictable: low cloudiness, cool temperatures, fog.
“And it just doesn’t change, while if you go just a few thousand feet up, it’s springtime,” he said.
“Go to the top of Tiger Mountain or one of its ridges,” said Mass, “and it’ll be in the 60s today.”
The same is true for the coast, he says.
“Go on the coast, and the temperatures will be in the mid-60s. Go on the Oregon coast, and [you’ll see] upper 60s, maybe even 70s down by Brookings," he said. “So if you want it, it’s there. You just have to go up or go to the coast.”
The ridge is going to be over us for a long time, but there’s going to be a weakening on Saturday and an “unimpressive” front will move through, says Mass.
There will be some cloudiness and just a few sprinkles on the coast Saturday, but clouds will likely melt off by Sunday and temperatures will climb into the 50s in the lowlands.
“Rest of the week, this ridge will reestablishes itself, so there is no hope of any significant rainfall, snowfall — you name it, for about at least a week,” Mass said.
