Windy, sunny but cold

Big old downed tree

When Melanie and I hiked last Thursday, we had a chance to revisit an area that was completely impassable last time we were there. They have cleared the trail, but so many downed trees are still around, like this one.

I see that much of the nation will be joining us here in the Pacific Northwest in another gasp of winter weather. We are situated just a few miles south of the Canadian Fraser River and what is known as the Fraser Gap,  a cliff that narrows over the river. Cliff Mass, Seattle meteorologist, explains it like this:

The most substantial weakness in the Cascades north of the Columbia River is the Fraser River valley, located just north of Bellingham. When cold, dense air fills the interior basin of British Columbia, a big pressure difference occurs down the Fraser, and as a result cool, dry air pushes along its axis to the southeast.

I found this quote in numerous places, but the fact is that if you live in the area, when the winds pick up out of the northeast, they are usually coming through the Fraser Gap. We are in the midst of an outflow of cold air from Canada, ahead of a big temperature drop to come tomorrow. I suspect that the big tree I show here was felled during a windstorm from that area. That is usually the strongest wind we experience, and I'm quite sure trash cans and small dogs will be airborne in the coming hours. (I hope I am exaggerating about the dogs.)

When I got off the bus this morning, I was facing directly into the harsh northeast wind, and as I bundled up and hurried the mile-and-a-half to home, I got very chilled and wished I had worn even more clothes when I ventured out this morning. And even though the sun is shining fiercely, the temperature is just above freezing and will drop into the low twenties tonight (–6°C) and even colder tomorrow night. Although I will head out again later today, I'll be ready for it, covered head to toe with warm clothes.

:-)