The Ground Hog was RIGHT!!

When the ground hog saw his shadow two weeks ago, people around here laughed. At the time of his forecasted 6 more weeks of winter, Seattle was building a strike of days above normal temperatures. Today was our 59th straight day of temperatures about normal and the streak will end tomorrow with everyone noticing. One word describes the week's end forecast-

COLD

NOAA Weather forecasters are saying Friday and Saturday could be the coldest days in more than seven years in Seattle. The NOAA forecast low for downtown Seattle is 17 degrees. The KING5 forecast as seen above is a little more conservative with forecasted lows in the 20s. Nonetheless temperatures on Thursday and Friday may not get above freezing all day long.

The long range forecast for Seattle is for highs in the low to mid 40s after this weekend. The average highs this time of year are usually in the low 50s. So we could actually be making our way towards below normal temperature through mid-March which would match the Ground Hogs forecast. I'll be sure to have my camera with me... who know what will happen with the cold weather--

NOAA Forecast for Downtown Seattle: (I actually have a friend that writes these)

February 15, 2006 15:30:20 PST

• Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the 20s. North wind around 10 mph shifting to the southeast after midnight.
• Thursday: Partly cloudy with a chance of flurries. Windy. Highs in the upper 30s to mid 40s. Northeast wind 20 to 30 mph.
• Thursday night: Partly cloudy. Windy. Lows 10 to 20. North wind 20 to 30 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny. Breezy. Highs in the mid 20s to mid 30s. Northeast wind 15 to 20 mph.
• Friday night: Mostly clear. Lows 15 to 20. Northeast wind 15 to 20 mph.
• Saturday and Saturday night: Mostly clear. Highs in the 30s. Lows 15 to 22.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs near 40.Sunday night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 20s.
• Presidents day and Monday night: Mostly clear. Highs in the upper 30s to mid 40s. Lows in the mid 20s to lower 30s.