This week, southwest Washington is experiencing an unusually mild winter interlude as a strong upper‑level ridge builds over the Pacific Northwest. That ridge, signaled in the recent Weather Eye column in The Columbian, continues to repress classic winter conditions locally.

According to reporting from Axios, Seattle is in for a “springuary” warm‑spell with temperatures reaching the upper‑50s to possibly 60°F, a notably brisk rise for early February in the region. The shift in pattern is directly attributed to the influence of a ridge of high pressure dominating inland flows across the region.

Insider meteorologists at Ingalls Weather confirm that this upper‑level high pressure centered over British Columbia and extending into the Pacific Northwest has been responsible for weeks of dry, mild weather, suppressing precipitation and limiting snowpack growth in upstream basins like Yakima.

In local context, Longview, Kelso, and the broader Cowlitz County have followed the same script: more fog, more cloud cover, and higher temperatures—not the sub‑freezing days or snow events typical of mid‑winter. While this warm‑spell offers a welcome break for those weary of winter’s chill, it also raises concerns regarding the region’s dwindling snowpack, critical for summertime water supply. Reservoir levels remain stable for now, but continued ridging could leave downstream communities and ecosystems vulnerable later in the season.

Why this matters
This pause in winter weather interrupts snow accumulation during one of the traditionally snow‑rich months. For communities reliant on seasonal runoff—such as farmers, fish hatcheries, and reservoir managers—a weaker snowpack compromises future water availability. In the face of this ridge‑driven pattern, local leaders and planners may need to monitor water resources more precociously to ensure resilient summer operations.