March 2019 Weather Discussion in the PNW

[Deweydog]

Just think, people were popping Tagamet like Tic Tacs just a few months ago over our inability to avoid 70 degree highs...

[Deweydog]

Looks like Mark backed off on highs in the 30s Sunday/Monday. Which is weird since the models haven’t really changed.

We had a long chat today.

[Jesse]

We had a long chat today.

Might just be that the weekend shifter took over. That’s you right?

[Deweydog]

Might just be that the weekend shifter took over. That’s you right?

Whatever gets you through the day...

[Front Ranger]

Also, definite UHI influence there with the March stats at PDX. 

 

19 of 49 years hit 27 or lower, until 1989...about once every 2-3 years. 

 

It will be interesting to see what OLM can muster with this. The last impressive March low there was 20 on 3/10/2009.

 

They've gotten below 15 a few times the first week of March: 1989, 1960, and 1955.

[BLI snowman]

So  March 1875 was a pretty weird month. The high temperature was only 55 in Portland, a record low max for March. The low however was only 34! That 21 degree range is also the smallest on record for a month in Portland.

 

This was wedged in between two of the most impressive cold events on record locally (mid January and early April 1875).

[Front Ranger]

My son and I were just sitting on the deck and it felt very warm... even though the backyard is covered in snow still.     And even though we personally experienced many days in the low 80s in the last month.  

 

Did your son remove his jacket while you sipped a marg?

[BLI snowman]

We had a long chat today.

 

It's a borderline airmass. No way it snows or gets cold. Looks good for the coast though.

[Front Ranger]

Looks like Mark backed off on highs in the 30s Sunday/Monday. Which is weird since the models haven’t really changed.

 

He's beginning the transition to his warm season bias.

 

It's spring!

[Deweydog]

It's a borderline airmass. No way it snows or gets cold. Looks good for the coast though.

I’m sorry about your 2.3 inches (Ilwaco had about 6 inches).

[BLI snowman]

I’m sorry about your 2.3 inches (Ilwaco had about 6 inches).

 

You just can't compare climos. That area simply has waaay too many factors in its favor. 

[Deweydog]

You just can't compare climos. That area simply has waaay too many factors in its favor.

It’s home. I’m a coastal homer. Guilty as charged.

[MossMan]

I am betting a slice of pizza that I will see at least one more inch of snow before April 1st!

[ShawniganLake]

I’ve noticed a couple in sheltered spots around town down here the last few days or so as well. Hardy little sh*ts.

I was a little surprised but they were in a warm southern exposure.

 

Side note. I noticed parts of Shawnigan Lake are still frozen over. Mainly the west arm and smaller bays.

[GHweatherChris]

I am betting a slice of pizza that I will see at least one more inch of snow before April 1st!

.75 inches of extra snow here would take this winter from a C- to a B-, IMO.

[Front Ranger]

.75 inches of extra snow here would take this winter from a C- to a B-, IMO.

You've gotten over 14" of snow and you're giving it a C-? What kind of curve are you grading on?

[Gummy]

North Seattle is at a B(-) right now. North Bend is an A.

[MossMan]

Had a low of 28 and a high of 45.

[HighlandExperience]

[GHweatherChris]

You've gotten over 14" of snow and you're giving it a C-? What kind of curve are you grading on?

Lack of duration of snow on the ground, longest duration was only 4 days. My curve, my opinion!

[Prairiedog]

Yea, he inched it up a couple degrees but still 2-3 degrees cooler than Zaffinao and Hill.  I think Mark saw the colder temps in the basin and stronger east winds than the GFS lover mets saw. 

[snow_wizard]

Lack of duration of snow on the ground, longest duration was only 4 days. My curve, my opinion!

 

Yeah....the interior was a lot colder and snow lasted a lot longer.

[snow_wizard]

Yea, he inched it up a couple degrees but still 2-3 degrees cooler than Zaffinao and Hill.  I think Mark saw the colder temps in the basin and stronger east winds than the GFS lover mets saw. 

 

Central WA is impressively cold for this time of year.  I noticed they had temps in the 20s at 5pm in most places.  Downright cold for this time of year!

[GHweatherChris]

Yeah....the interior was a lot colder and snow lasted a lot longer.

Yes sir, lots of borderline here. The night before last gave me the best quality snow, and it was only a 1/2 inch, stuck right away and lasted until midday yesterday before starting to melt.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

Still 7.5 inches of snow on the ground imby. Longest I've ever had total snow cover ever.

[snow_wizard]

Had a low of 28 and a high of 45.

 

Now things get colder...yet again.  It will be pretty interesting to see how cold it actually ends up being.  This is a legit cold air mass heading our way with thickness dropping to about 519 with 850s dropping to the -8 to -10 range.  Could be good enough to see some teens in favored areas.  With high temps the sun is going to have quite a bit of power, but wind and CAA at the lower and mid levels is going to have a say also.

 

On another note I'm very impressed how the DPs have managed to stay so low over the past couple of days without any real reinforcement of continental air.  Pretty rare for this area and testament to how well entrenched the chilly continental air mass really is.

[MossMan]

I would rank this winter at a B-. The December windstorm, the 3 days straight of continuous rainfall at the end of December, and of course the big February festivities were great! January was god awful, first part of Dec was dull...and November for that matter.

[GHweatherChris]

I would rank this winter at a B-. The December windstorm, the 3 days straight of continuous rainfall at the end of December, and of course the big February festivities were great! January was god awful, first part of Dec was dull...and November for that matter.

Exactly why personal perception is important, if I got what you got here, A+ all the way, but alas....

[snow_wizard]

Still 7.5 inches of snow on the ground imby. Longest I've ever had total snow cover ever.

 

Last month was just truly epic for some places.  Even with the more powerful February sun some places had snow cover last longer than Dec 2008.  This also shows why I really like mid and even late winter events.  They are usually a better bet for snow than the early cold snaps.  What you're seeing is like living in a much colder part of the country.  Pretty awesome!

[snow_wizard]

I would rank this winter at a B-. The December windstorm, the 3 days straight of continuous rainfall at the end of December, and of course the big February festivities were great! January was god awful, first part of Dec was dull...and November for that matter.

 

I get what you're saying, but February being so epic is worth a full letter grade bonus.  In a few years we aren't going to remember the dull part of the winter anyway.  We also still have potential for snow this month as well.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

Only a high of 42 here today but it was 49 at work in Port Orchard.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

I would rank this winter at a B-. The December windstorm, the 3 days straight of continuous rainfall at the end of December, and of course the big February festivities were great! January was god awful, first part of Dec was dull...and November for that matter.

I have to give it an A for 3 reasons. The thunder snow and 3.2 inches in 1 hr was incredible. A max depth of 27 inches is pretty impressive. And getting 24 inches in 33hrs in insane.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

Looking back I'd have to say it was the most exciting few weeks on the forum since in joined in 2009.

[snow_wizard]

I have to give it an A for 3 reasons. The thunder snow and 3.2 inches in 1 hr was incredible. A max depth of 27 inches is pretty impressive. And getting 24 inches in 33hrs in insane.

 

No doubt in your back yard it was one for the ages.  As for MBY I wish the huge event would have been snow instead of the wintry / nasty mix that I had.  Just a few miles north and a few miles east of here that event dropped over a foot.  As it is it was still very impressive here and there were many points that I really enjoyed.

[MossMan]

I get what you're saying, but February being so epic is worth a full letter grade bonus. In a few years we aren't going to remember the dull part of the winter anyway. We also still have potential for snow this month as well.

Yeah depending on how this month goes I.m might be able to upgrade to a B or B+. My only gripe with last month was that we were so close to getting absolutely buried. 22” for the month is great but wow the potential was there to have widespread Snowmizer/Tim amounts of snow! Also the scud clouds or breezes prevented single digits at my place. 13 was the lowest recorded. The longevity of the cold really made this very historic however!

[snow_wizard]

Looking back I'd have to say it was the most exciting few weeks on the forum since in joined in 2009.

 

If we can stay from a Nino next winter could be an encore performance.  For some reason big Februaries have a huge tendency to lead to greatness the next season.  The atmosphere often seems to exhibit a "memory" of the late winter patterns going into the next one.  I will have much more on this later.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

No doubt in your back yard it was one for the ages.  As for MBY I wish the huge event would have been snow instead of the wintry / nasty mix that I had.  Just a few miles north and a few miles east of here that event dropped over a foot.  As it is it was still very impressive here and there were many points that I really enjoyed.

It's ashame we couldn't get a big juicy sub tropical low passing in the sweet spot with all the cold air we've had over us and near us. It used to happen all the time and it just stopped and I'm talking the kind that hits everyone in western wa. It was almost a guarantee we would come out of an arctic mass of air with an overrunning event in the old days.

[wx_statman]

It will be interesting to see what OLM can muster with this. The last impressive March low there was 20 on 3/10/2009.

 

They've gotten below 15 a few times the first week of March: 1989, 1960, and 1955.

 

I still can't believe they hit 5 in late Feb. of 2011. That was insane. 

[snow_wizard]

Yeah depending on how this month goes I.m might be able to upgrade to a B or B+. My only gripe with last month was that we were so close to getting absolutely buried. 22” for the month is great but wow the potential was there to have widespread Snowmizer/Tim amounts of snow! Also the scud clouds or breezes prevented single digits at my place. 13 was the lowest recorded. The longevity of the cold really made this very historic however!

 

I made 13 here also.  That was probably the most incredible morning since I've lived here.  Crystal clear and heavy snow cover on everything.  There is no doubt if the atmosphere had been about 2 degrees colder during the huge event many of us would have had surreal amounts of snow.  During the period that North Bend got buried I had a mix the entire time after a little bit a straight snow at the beginning.

[wx_statman]

Major push of Arctic air west of the divide right now:

 

https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?wfo=pqr&sid=kgpi&num=25&raw=0&banner=off

 

This would be impressive in mid-winter!