• Winter Storm Warnings in effect for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana through Thursday

    ByRishav Kothari

    A major winter storm is affecting the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, with winter storm warnings in effect through 16:00 PST on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Heavy snow is forecast to continue across the Cascades of Washington and Oregon, extending into Idaho and western Montana. Snow accumulations are forecast to reach between 30 cm and 120 cm (1 to 4 feet), with gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph) causing whiteout conditions and difficult travel across mountain passes.

  • Two winter storms forecast to bring heavy mountain snow and rain to the Pacific Northwest

    ByRishav Kothari

    Two frontal systems are forecast to bring widespread precipitation and heavy mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest between Tuesday and Thursday, January 6 and 8, 2026. The first, associated with a weakening atmospheric river, will bring rainfall to the region on Tuesday, followed by a second, stronger system on Wednesday and Thursday, January 7–8. Snowfall totals of 30–120 cm (12–48 inches) are expected across the Cascades and Olympic Mountains, with locally higher amounts above 1 500 m (5 000 feet).

  • Arctic cold blast expands across Europe as Greenland block steers polar air south

    ByRishav Kothari

    An Arctic cold wave is moving across Europe as a persistent Greenland block redirects polar air southward. Forecast models show temperature anomalies between −10°C and −15°C (14°F and 5°F) at 850 hPa with extensive snow cover developing over much of the continent, with heavy snow already affecting parts of the UK and Balkans at the start of January 2026.

  • Record-breaking King Tides flood San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California coast, U.S.

    ByRishav Kothari

    Record-breaking King Tides struck the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of the Northern California coast on Friday and Saturday, January 2-3, 2026, causing widespread coastal flooding across multiple counties. Tide gauges across the region recorded water levels up to 0.76 m (2.5 feet) above normal, breaking multiple records and prompting road closures, flood warnings, and emergency advisories.

  • Polar Vortex disruption expected after January stratospheric warming

    ByRishav Kothari

    A Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event evolving over the Arctic through mid-January 2026 is forecast to weaken and displace the Polar Vortex, according to ECMWF and NOAA extended-range guidance. The disturbance is expected to propagate downward over the following weeks, raising the probability of Arctic air outbreaks and colder-than-normal conditions in parts of North America and Europe during the second half of January 2026.