Friday, October 7, 2011

Will woolly weekend be wet?

Forecasters say storm will move out

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By KATHERINE WUTZ
Express Staff Writer

Though the weather outside has been frightful, forecasters say the weekend will be dry, cool and crisp.

This week has been especially dreary, but never fear—the National Weather Service says the rain is sure to pass by this weekend's Trailing of the Sheep Festival.

Jack Messick, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Pocatello, said the recent storms have been the result of a low-pressure system that has settled over the California coast. The rain is expected to linger through Thursday night, but should clear by today, Oct. 7, he said.

"Rain here in Idaho rarely lasts a week," Messick said. "Friday noon through at least Saturday afternoon should be partly to mostly sunny."

As for the parade Sunday, Messick said spectators and sheep alike are not likely to get drenched.

The forecast for Sunday includes rain, but is only likely late Sunday evening through Monday morning, he said, as the east side of the low pressure system settles over the state.

"Usually on the east side of lows, while it's colder air, it does tend to be drier," he said. Temperatures Sunday are expected to reach into the high 50s by noon—wool-sweater weather, for sure.

Messick said gloomy weather in October is not unusual.

"Rainfall starts ramping up this month," he said. "This is just the onset of the rainy season."

Temperatures are expected to rise slightly next week, Messick said, but September and October are traditionally gray and rainy, though Wood River Valley residents had been spoiled by a summer-like September.

"Much of September was very much like summer," he said. "For the first time in a long time, we were above normal for temperatures."

But the snow forecast is still up in the air, Messick said, as forecasting that far in advance is not always accurate.

"It's a kind of wait and see situation," he said.

Katherine Wutz: kwutz@mtexpress.com

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