Record Warmth a Possibility for the West Heading Into Weekend

Posted: April 27, 2023 3:23 pm

After being left out of the summer like weather that enveloped the East Coast over the last few weeks, the West Coast is finally getting in on this warmth. Heat is building across the western third of the U.S. late this week, potentially bringing down some record highs for the last days of April.

However, forecasters are also cautioning that the heat will trigger the chance of flooding as the snowpack melts at a fast clip. Here is what you need to know.

Area of High Pressure Ushers in Warmth to the West

It was an especially wet winter season for the West Coast with California taking the brunt of the moisture in the form of both rain and snow.

A number of snowfall records fell across the Sierra Nevada with the current snowpack demonstrating this massive amount of wintry precipitation.

This snowpack is set to unleash once the temperature begins to climb. An area of high pressure building near California is pairing with a northward bulge in the jet stream to bring up the warmth from the Southwest.

This pattern will provide the groundwork for warmth to build across all of the West into the weekend.

What to Expect for Temperature Readings

How warm will it be? The mercury is predicted to climb to as much as 20 degrees above normal for the end of April. The Pacific Northwest and the central California Valley will experience the biggest departure from normal beginning Thursday and lasting until Sunday.

It will be quite a change for those in Seattle, a part of the country that has seen temperatures hover at least 2 degrees below normal in 2023. The Emerald City is forecast to break past the 75-degree mark for the first time since October.

Temperatures are expected to top out in the upper 70s on Friday, translating to about 15 degrees above average for this date. While no records are expected to fall, it will feel unseasonably warm for residents who have not seen this type of heat in months.

As is typical, it will be slightly warmer to the south in Portland. The Rose City may see a record high fall on Friday with the forecast of readings in the mid 80s. The current record for April 28 is 82 degrees, set back in 1998.

You will find even warmer temperatures farther to the south and moving inland. For instance, Sacramento is set to see the mercury soar into the low 90s by the end of the week, equating to about 20 degrees above average for this time of the year.

Although it will be unseasonably warm along the coastal areas, the swing in temperatures will not be quite as dramatic. San Francisco will see its warmest readings on Thursday with highs in the low 70s before falling back into the 60s for the foreseeable future.

Flooding Concerns Abound

The warmth will feel wonderful to residents that have been begging for a taste of summer. However, serious flooding concerns will accompany the heat.

After seeing one of the wettest winters in history, snowpack levels across California and the interior West are measuring well above normal.

In addition, water reservoirs and rivers at the lower elevations are already filled beyond capacity in some areas, meaning that they will have a more difficult time taking on more water from snowpack melt.

Officials at Yosemite National Park are already sounding the alarm bells about the potential of flooding. The National Park Service is closing the park on Friday through at least May 3 because of flooding concerns.

How Long With the Warmth Last?

A new storm system is on the horizon for the West Coast, expected to arrive early next week. This arrival will break up the area of high pressure currently responsible for the warm temperatures.

The Pacific Northwest and Northern California will see light rain beginning Sunday and lasting for a few days. While this precipitation will not be widespread or heavy, the cloud cover that the system ushers in will undoubtedly bring down temperatures back to a more normal level for the beginning of May.

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After being left out of the summer like weather that enveloped the East Coast over the last few weeks, the West Coast is finally getting in on this warmth. Heat is building across the western third of the U.S. late this week, potentially bringing down some record highs for the last days of April.

However, forecasters are also cautioning that the heat will trigger the chance of flooding as the snowpack melts at a fast clip. Here is what you need to know.

Area of High Pressure Ushers in Warmth to the West

It was an especially wet winter season for the West Coast with California taking the brunt of the moisture in the form of both rain and snow.

A number of snowfall records fell across the Sierra Nevada with the current snowpack demonstrating this massive amount of wintry precipitation.

This snowpack is set to unleash once the temperature begins to climb. An area of high pressure building near California is pairing with a northward bulge in the jet stream to bring up the warmth from the Southwest.

This pattern will provide the groundwork for warmth to build across all of the West into the weekend.

What to Expect for Temperature Readings

How warm will it be? The mercury is predicted to climb to as much as 20 degrees above normal for the end of April. The Pacific Northwest and the central California Valley will experience the biggest departure from normal beginning Thursday and lasting until Sunday.

It will be quite a change for those in Seattle, a part of the country that has seen temperatures hover at least 2 degrees below normal in 2023. The Emerald City is forecast to break past the 75-degree mark for the first time since October.

Temperatures are expected to top out in the upper 70s on Friday, translating to about 15 degrees above average for this date. While no records are expected to fall, it will feel unseasonably warm for residents who have not seen this type of heat in months.

As is typical, it will be slightly warmer to the south in Portland. The Rose City may see a record high fall on Friday with the forecast of readings in the mid 80s. The current record for April 28 is 82 degrees, set back in 1998.

You will find even warmer temperatures farther to the south and moving inland. For instance, Sacramento is set to see the mercury soar into the low 90s by the end of the week, equating to about 20 degrees above average for this time of the year.

Although it will be unseasonably warm along the coastal areas, the swing in temperatures will not be quite as dramatic. San Francisco will see its warmest readings on Thursday with highs in the low 70s before falling back into the 60s for the foreseeable future.

Flooding Concerns Abound

The warmth will feel wonderful to residents that have been begging for a taste of summer. However, serious flooding concerns will accompany the heat.

After seeing one of the wettest winters in history, snowpack levels across California and the interior West are measuring well above normal.

In addition, water reservoirs and rivers at the lower elevations are already filled beyond capacity in some areas, meaning that they will have a more difficult time taking on more water from snowpack melt.

Officials at Yosemite National Park are already sounding the alarm bells about the potential of flooding. The National Park Service is closing the park on Friday through at least May 3 because of flooding concerns.

How Long With the Warmth Last?

A new storm system is on the horizon for the West Coast, expected to arrive early next week. This arrival will break up the area of high pressure currently responsible for the warm temperatures.

The Pacific Northwest and Northern California will see light rain beginning Sunday and lasting for a few days. While this precipitation will not be widespread or heavy, the cloud cover that the system ushers in will undoubtedly bring down temperatures back to a more normal level for the beginning of May.

Did you find this content useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline for reference later.

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