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SW Flow vs NW Flow?


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Which do you prefer and why? what are the pros and cons to each? I am biased to NW Flow as the air is cleaner and lower snow levels. Does NW flow always lower snow levels?

 

Interesting northerly flow, especially offshore, bringing cold air from the Columbia basin toward a low pressure that stalls off the coast of Cape Blanco.

Springfield, Oregon regular season 2023-24 Stats:

  • Coldest high: 25F (Jan 14, 2024)
  • Coldest low: 20F (Jan 14, 2024)
  • Days with below freezing temps: 24 (Most recent: Mar 8, 2024)
  • Days with sub-40F highs: 4 (Most recent: Jan 16, 2024)
  • Total snowfall: 0.0"
  • Total ice: 2.25”
  • Last accumulating snowfall on roads: Dec 27, 2021 (1.9")
  • Last sub-freezing high: Jan 15, 2024 (27F)
  • Last White Christmas: 1990
  • Significant wind events (gusts 45+): 0

Personal Stats:

  • Last accumulating snowfall on roads: Dec 27, 2021
  • Last sub-freezing high: Jan 16, 2024 (32F)
  • Last White Christmas: 2008
  • Total snowfall since joining TheWeatherForums: 42.0"
  • Sub-freezing highs since joining TheWeatherForums: 4

 

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Oh! NW flow in summer doesn't deliver.  why is it in the winter it does a fairly good job?

 

Jet stream is farther north.

Mercer Island, 350 ft

2021-2022: 11.6", 02/21

2020-2021: 15.6"

2019-2020: ~10"

2018-2019 winter snowfall total: 29.5"

2017-2018: 9.0", 2016-2017: 14.0"

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For my area WNW flow is terrible because it shadows my area from snow, but true NW flow can work out well sometimes.  One of the best bets for snow in a marginal or just cold enough to snow situation is often WSW.  In general there is no question NW flow brings colder / more enjoyable weather in the winter than SW.

Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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For my area WNW flow is terrible because it shadows my area from snow, but true NW flow can work out well sometimes.  One of the best bets for snow in a marginal or just cold enough to snow situation is often WSW.  In general there is no question NW flow brings colder / more enjoyable weather in the winter than SW.

 

Yeah definitely like the NW flow better. In order to avoid the sinking motion after the air rises and sinks downwind of the Olympics, it almost needs to be NNW. Like 270-300 degrees trajectory.

Mercer Island, 350 ft

2021-2022: 11.6", 02/21

2020-2021: 15.6"

2019-2020: ~10"

2018-2019 winter snowfall total: 29.5"

2017-2018: 9.0", 2016-2017: 14.0"

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For my area WNW flow is terrible because it shadows my area from snow, but true NW flow can work out well sometimes.  One of the best bets for snow in a marginal or just cold enough to snow situation is often WSW.  In general there is no question NW flow brings colder / more enjoyable weather in the winter than SW.

That's rather odd that SW flow can bring snow in marginal conditions but I've seen it sometimes.  What's up with that?

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Maybe depends where you live. NW flow is generally bone dry here. Most of our snow comes with precip from the SW meeting cold air from the NE.

 

Yeah you tend to hold onto cold air better up there. Must get trapped in between you and the mainland. Of course you have some orographic lift as well from that flow.

Mercer Island, 350 ft

2021-2022: 11.6", 02/21

2020-2021: 15.6"

2019-2020: ~10"

2018-2019 winter snowfall total: 29.5"

2017-2018: 9.0", 2016-2017: 14.0"

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Yeah you tend to hold onto cold air better up there. Must get trapped in between you and the mainland. Of course you have some orographic lift as well from that flow.

Any type of Easterly component to the wind will help trap the cold air up against the Vancouver Island mountains.
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What is the best setup for the east side of the valley? It seems like a lot of times the west side gets hit harder.

 

For the west side you need cold air to be flowing through the Fraser Valley and Squamish Valley. Then you need moisture over that, but not in a SW flow but more from a NW flow where the cold air drainage is overtaken by deeper milder ocean air.

Mercer Island, 350 ft

2021-2022: 11.6", 02/21

2020-2021: 15.6"

2019-2020: ~10"

2018-2019 winter snowfall total: 29.5"

2017-2018: 9.0", 2016-2017: 14.0"

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