March 2019 cold wave in OR & WA

[wx_statman]

I've been meaning to do a summary of some of the monthly records set during the March 2019 cold wave. Here it is!

 

All values below are records for the month of March.

 

The -21 at Chewelah is the coldest temperature recorded at any of the currently operating stations in WA in the month of March, across all networks (COOP, ASOS, RAWS, Snotel, etc.). Tied a reading of -21 at Bunchgrass Meadow in March 2009. The state record is -25 at Stockdill Ranch in March 1955, a long disused station. Since Chewelah is an official COOP station, I believe this was the coldest official March reading in WA since the 1955 cold wave. 

 

-21 at Chewelah, WA

-15 at Colville, WA

-9 at Sisters, OR

-9 at Pullman Airport, WA

-6 at Pendleton Branch Exp. Station, OR

-6 at Pullman 2NW, WA

-6 at LaCrosse, WA

-5 at Boundary Dam, WA

-4 at Goldendale, WA

-4 at Wilbur, WA

-3 at Cle Elum, WA

-1 at Pasco, WA

-1 at Odessa, WA

-1 at Coulee Dam, WA

-1 at Chief Joseph Dam, WA

0 at Pilot Rock, OR

0 at Whitman Mission, WA

1 at Moro, OR

1 at Pendleton Airport, OR

1 at Moses Lake, WA

2 at Boardman, OR

4 at Wenatchee Airport, WA

6 at Dallesport Airport (The Dalles), WA

6 at Sunnyside, WA

7 at Arlington, OR

8 at The Dalles, OR 

8 at Kennewick, WA

9 at Hood River, OR

9 at Pelton Dam, OR

9 at Carson Fish Hatchery, WA

17 at Falls City, OR

17 at Raymond, WA

18 at Clatskanie, OR

18 at Vancouver 4NNE, WA

19 at Cottage Grove Dam, OR

19 at Longview, WA

 

[Front Ranger]

This cold wave and February 2011 are probably the most impressive cold season air masses the PNW has seen in the past 25+ years.

[BLI snowman]

This cold wave and February 2011 are probably the most impressive cold season air masses the PNW has seen in the past 25+ years.

 

December 2013 and November 2010 are right up there.

[Front Ranger]

December 2013 and November 2010 are right up there.

 

I'd say right behind. Neither set as many benchmark cold temps as 2011 and 2019. 2013 is a little closer than 2010.

 

All were easily more impressive than any winter air mass seen from 1999-2008, that's for sure.

[BLI snowman]

I'd say right behind. Neither set as many benchmark cold temps as 2011 and 2019. 2013 is a little closer than 2010.

 

All were easily more impressive than any winter air mass seen from 1999-2008, that's for sure.

 

Depends on where you're looking. For OR overall, the 2013 event was easily more impressive than any of these other events IMO.

[Front Ranger]

Depends on where you're looking. For OR overall, the 2013 event was easily more impressive than any of these other events IMO.

I think you're looking more at absolute numbers. I'm looking at benchmark records for when they occurred.

[BLI snowman]

I think you're looking more at absolute numbers. I'm looking at benchmark records for when they occurred.

 

Well December 2013 simply had the misfortune of coinciding on the exact same dates as the more impressive 1972 event. I'm mostly just looking at how rare I feel the event was with respects to PNW climo.

[Front Ranger]

Well December 2013 simply had the misfortune of coinciding on the exact same dates as the more impressive 1972 event. I'm mostly just looking at how rare I feel the event was with respects to PNW climo.

 

Climo is based on what has happened in the past. Dec 1972 happened. 

[BLI snowman]

Climo is based on what has happened in the past. Dec 1972 happened. 

 

 

So did February 1890 and March 1960 

[Jesse]

This thread sure got Flatironed quick.

 

Dare I say an early season benchmark?

[wx_statman]

As far as a single, more or less continuous cold anomaly - I would say Feb-Mar 2019 was the most impressive thing to happen since maybe 1978-79?

[BLI snowman]

As far as a single, more or less continuous cold anomaly - I would say Feb-Mar 2019 was the most impressive thing to happen since maybe 1978-79?

 

 

I'd say Nov-Dec 1985.

[Front Ranger]

This thread sure got Flatironed quick.

 

Dare I say an early season benchmark?

 

I prompted a discussion with differing opinions. Bad me!

[wx_statman]

I'd say Nov-Dec 1985.

 

That crossed my mind. A little too inversiony on the back end. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

The persistence of the pattern was striking. Anomalous cold without interruption for about 6 weeks. It was fascinating how the cold air masses seemed to get colder over time. At least down here. It seemed like a real throwback pattern. Would love to see something like that start around December 20th one year.

[BLI snowman]

That crossed my mind. A little too inversiony on the back end. 

 

True.

 

February to early March 1989 would be another one if you're looking at 40 day periods. Didn't feature as many troughs as 2019 had, but was more impressive with the ones we got.

[wx_statman]

True.

 

February to early March 1989 would be another one if you're looking at 40 day periods. Didn't feature as many troughs as 2019 had, but was more impressive with the ones we got.

 

I suppose an argument could be made that Feb-Mar 1989 was part of the same wave train lock-in. We never really warmed up, and places like Barrow never really cooled down. 

[snow_wizard]

Another thing about March 2019 is that freak heatwave that hit after the cold.  I had a 76-59 on the 19th which is just utterly insane.  According to the Landsburg records the previous earliest low of 59 or lower for this area was many weeks later.

[wx_statman]

Another thing about March 2019 is that freak heatwave that hit after the cold.  I had a 76-59 on the 19th which is just utterly insane.  According to the Landsburg records the previous earliest low of 59 or lower for this area was many weeks later.

 

The 81 in Forks was pretty remarkable too. 

[Requiem]

This past March was the first where I've seen pretty heavy snow fall almost all day (but not stick). After I gave up on sticking snow, a lot of areas in Portland received a surprise 1-4 inches on the sixth.

 

'twas a nice end to a rather comparatively disappointing February, in general. The March 2019 cold wave was the highlight of winter for me in Portland.