Cooler Temperatures to Infiltrate West Coast in Coming Days

Posted: October 23, 2023 11:03 am

It has been an unseasonably warm week for much of the western U.S. However, that trend is coming to an end as a strong cold front is forecast to drop across the region. Here is what you need to know about the dramatic change to the weather pattern.

Drastic Change in the Weather in Store for West Coast

Not only will the mercury cool significantly with the arrival of the cold front but some areas may even record some early-season snow. Temperatures will fall as much as 25 degrees over the period of just one week as the front makes its move. The moisture associated with the front will also trigger the chance of rain and snow.

Those in the Southwest will see the heat begin to ease on Saturday. Numerous daily high records were set this past week as the air temperatures sizzled. For instance, Phoenix reached 105 degrees on Monday, good enough for a new daily high record for this date in history. This reading was also distinguished for the latest date in the year to see this level.

Triple digit readings are making it hard to get in the spirit of baseball playoffs as the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Philadelphia Phillies. Officials said that they will likely close the roof at Chase Field on Saturday because of the heat.

When to Anticipate the Cooler Temperatures

The cooldown will first hit the Pacific Northwest before it makes its way to the south and into the interior West. The temperatures have already begun to fall in coastal Washington as the high pressure that had been anchored over the Northwest began to lose its strength. By Saturday, this cooldown will sweep down through Oregon and into Northern California.

Seattle saw a new record high of 71 degrees on Wednesday, however, the temperatures hovered in the low 60s by Friday. This is within the normal range for the end of October for the Emerald City. Likewise, San Francisco will see the temperatures fall from the upper 80s on Wednesday and Thursday into the 60s by the weekend.

While it will take longer to reach the Southwest, the cool air is on the way for this corner of the region. Las Vegas is forecast to remain in the 90s through Saturday with the mercury dropping into the 80s on Sunday before bottoming out in the 70s to start the new work week. The normal temperatures for the third weekend in October for Sin City trend at about 80 degrees.

It will be downright chilly in San Diego by the middle of next week with temperatures expected to top out in the mid 60s. This will be the coolest that it has been in this Southern California city since the middle of June. In fact, widespread readings of about 5 to 10 degrees below normal will be the story for much of central and southern portions of the Golden State.

Snow for the Higher Elevations

The cold air and moisture associated with this front will be enough to create the risk of snow for the higher elevations. The flakes are expected to begin to fly some time on Sunday and continue through the early part of next week. The northern Rockies will see the bulk of the snow, however, Montana’s High Plains and the foothills in the western Dakotas may also get in on some of this snow action. For example, Yellowstone National Park may see a mix of snow and rain on Monday, depending on the elevation.

The Oregon Cascades will also see a good chance of snow on Sunday. Freezing levels will drop to below 8,000 feet across the Sierra Nevada by Monday, translating to the chance of moisture in the form of snow. You can expect accumulations to plateau at about 3 inches throughout the higher terrains of California.

More snow could be on the horizon for the northern Rockies throughout the week. While no particular bout of snow will be heavy in nature, these short shots of moisture can add up to meaningful accumulations over time.

Additional waves of snow in the northern Rockies throughout next week could bring additional accumulations to the higher elevations. Another snow event is a possibility on Wednesday or Thursday in communities such as Billings or Helena, Montana. It is still too early to tell where the snow will fall or how much will accumulate. Stay tuned to the forecast as meteorologists learn more about this developing situation.

Regardless of how much snow falls in Montana next week, it will be a big change for a state that has seen widespread readings in the 70s over the last several days.

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