When Will Yakima See Its First Snowfall This Year?

Leaves are flying off trees, rain is falling, and it seems like we see the sun less and less, meaning winter is on the way!Many are wondering, “When will we see our first snowfall?”

History

According to Yakima weather records, the average date of first snowfall is November 26. The city has seen freakishly early snowfall as early as October 10, when the city received half an inch back in 1955, and has had to wait until January 15 in the notorious “year without a winter.”

Looking at the extended forecast, we don’t see any snowfall in the immediate 14 days leading up to November 24,although temperatures will drop significantly, with highs in the low 40s and lows in the mid-20s by Thanksgiving week!

white pendant lamp hanging on ceiling outside of snow covered forest

When We Might See Snow

However, we can look at the atmospheric patterns and come up with an estimate. Meteorologists believe that snowfall in Yakima will arrive fairly late this year. First of all, a strong El Niño pattern (extremely warm water in the central Pacific Ocean) is pushing warm, mild air into the region. However, expected changes in the jet stream, a weakening polar vortex,and high-pressure systems building near Alaska have a high chance of pushing colder-than-normal air down from Alaska later in the season.

While the last week of November and first week of December are looking to be relatively mild, snow might arrive in time for the Christmas festivities! Models indicate a potential chance of valley snowfall by December 11!

Remember, this is preliminary and way too far out to predict actual weather; it is only a signal. I’m praying it comes true,though, because I’m tired of all our snow coming in January–February in recent years, and we seem much overdue for a White Christmas!