Weather No. 10.

With high pressure hanging around for the week-and-a-half following our record snowfall, we've been stuck in an inversion. As the Seattle meteorologist and author Cliff Mass explains in his second volume of The Weather of the Pacific Northwest (thanks K for the Christmas gift!):

It is ironic that some of the foggiest and most depressing winter or autumn weather in the Pacific Northwest is associated with a meteorological situation that would produce the most favorable weather during the warmer portion of the year: high pressure. High-pressure areas and associated clear skies can result in cool temperatures at the surface, encourage the development of temperature inversions in the lower atmosphere, and lead to fog or low clouds.

Yep.

This past Thursday, however, the clouds lifted. For two days we got to see our beautiful valley again in full sun. Then, Friday night after we put the kids to bed, K remarked how the fog was rolling in. It was quite the sight as the stars were swallowed from the sky. The temps were below freezing, so we woke up Saturday morning to a layer of hoarfrost covering the valley. Though beautiful, the low clouds had returned.

The sun tried beating them back, and for a short time it looked like it was winning. If it did, I wanted to get some photos before the frost disappeared.

For the record, we've had snow on the ground for forty-two days and counting (the snow we got on December 13th before leaving to visit K's parents hasn't melted).