April 2019 Weather Discussion in the PNW

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Some visitors this afternoon.

 

[TigerWoodsLibido]

Still filthy out there.  Good stuff. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Daily rainfall totals for April through 4:20pm today

 

1st: 0.19

2nd: 0.86

3rd: 0.39

4th: 0.59

5th: 0.70

6th: 1.71

7th: 1.18

 

Total: 5.62" 

[Omegaraptor]

I have no idea what is going on with this climate. First the longest streak of days without a 50ºF or higher high in Portland history, then a massive March heatwave with monthly records set in parts of the PNW and now we're eyeing a much wetter than normal April with a chance of record wet in some areas.

 

What other years have had similarly extreme weather overall?

[TacomaWaWx]

I have no idea what is going on with this climate. First the longest streak of days without a 50ºF or higher high in Portland history, then a massive March heatwave with monthly records set in parts of the PNW and now we're eyeing a much wetter than normal April with a chance of record wet in some areas.

 

What other years have had similarly extreme weather overall?

There’s been lots of unusual weather extremes all across the country not even just in the PNW. Everything has been out of whack across the country. In terms of the PNW, The Portland area seemed to really miss out on a lot of the big weather events this year either to the south or the north though. Was a 6 week period of below normal temps then way above.

[Omegaraptor]

There’s been lots of unusual weather extremes all across the country not even just in the PNW. Everything has been out of whack across the country. In terms of the PNW, The Portland area seemed to really miss out on a lot of the big weather events this year either to the south or the north though. Was a 6 week period of below normal temps then way above.

 

Oh yeah. There were the -60ºF windchills in North Dakota and now we have the insane storms in Texas and Louisiana causing flooding.

 

EDIT: Can't believe I forgot the Plains flooding.

[Requiem]

There’s been lots of unusual weather extremes all across the country not even just in the PNW. Everything has been out of whack across the country. In terms of the PNW, The Portland area seemed to really miss out on a lot of the big weather events this year either to the south or the north though. Was a 6 week period of below normal temps then way above.

 

Portland basically missed out on everything. Maybe we'll be rewarded with some thunderstorms or something. Seriously doubt it with the way this year has gone.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Fun to have some weather to track that will also have a great positive impact on our summer water situation. Willamette Basin Reservoirs will be brimming now!

[jcmcgaffey]

Lots of damaged trees along Redmond/Bend from the heavy snow they got a little more than a month ago.

[TacomaWaWx]

Portland basically missed out on everything. Maybe we'll be rewarded with some thunderstorms or something. Seriously doubt it with the way this year has gone.

Yeah they missed the big snow to the north and to the south unfortunately. Maybe there will be some interesting weather this summer and there’s always next winter.

[TacomaWaWx]

Lots of damaged trees along Redmond/Bend from the heavy snow they got a little more than a month ago.

Many different places in the region have damage from heavy snowfall and windstorms. I haven’t been to East Oregon personally to see the storm damage but I can imagine the record heavy snowfall all across the South half of Oregon saw, but many places in Western Washington have lots of fallen trees from the many different weather events this winter.

[Guest CulverJosh]

Things that make you go hmmmmmm!!! I was just wondering if Mark Nelsen was the chief meteorologist of Fox12 or if he was the chief vacationist...hmmm. Dont you actually have to work sometimes to be a chief anywhere??? Many indians are rolling in their teepees hearing him use the word chief.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Precipitation is increasing again The lord is blessing us mightily today.

[Phil]

Seems like these storms coming through could potentially be the last significant rains until October. It will obviously rain again before and during the summer but it will probably be hot and dry this summer like usual.

That is looking less likely at the moment. Mild and unusually wet/zonal at times seems more likely to me.

[Phil]

Oh yeah. There were the -60ºF windchills in North Dakota and now we have the insane storms in Texas and Louisiana causing flooding.

 

EDIT: Can't believe I forgot the Plains flooding.

Been weird out here too. Severe thunderstorm that changed to snow, the almost instant flip from summer to winter, wettest year on record in 2018 by a mile, etc.

 

Now an ominous calm. Feels like something is brewing.

[TacomaWaWx]

That is looking less likely at the moment. Mild and unusually wet/zonal at times seems more likely to me.

I hope so

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Eugene up to 1.81" of rain since midnight. 5.1" on the month now. 

[TigerWoodsLibido]

Eugene up to 1.81" of rain since midnight. 5.1" on the month now. 

 

Love it

[ShawniganLake]

Not sure if it was mentioned before but it looks like nino 3.4 came in at 0.8C for JFM. Officially a weak nino for the winter of 18-19.

[TacomaWaWx]

Eugene up to 1.81" of rain since midnight. 5.1" on the month now.

Eugene Oregon has gotten almost as much rain as Tacoma has received in the months of March and April since midnight then.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Eugene Oregon has gotten almost as much rain as Tacoma has received in the months of March and April since midnight then.

 

They are still about 8.5" below normal on the water year, but at least making up some ground today. Already a daily rainfall record. The single day April record is 2.05", so within reach. 

 

Wettest April of all time at EUG is 7.85" in 1993. Could be in jeopardy. By the end of today it will probably already be a top 10 wettest April. 

[Timmy Supercell]

Really starting to hear the Spring birds a lot now. 

 

Still not much rain out of this, though I have a feeling that overnight I'll get more than this.

[Requiem]

The rain has been extremely light here in PDX. I know we’re not going to get as much as much as Eugene, but I thought at least a quarter inch more was likely.

[TT-SEA]

They are still about 8.5" below normal on the water year, but at least making up some ground today. Already a daily rainfall record. The single day April record is 2.05", so within reach. 

 

Wettest April of all time at EUG is 7.85" in 1993. Could be in jeopardy. By the end of today it will probably already be a top 10 wettest April. 

 

 

I thought we discussed this before... but didn't they move the EUG station some years back but they are still using averages from a significantly wetter area?

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I thought we discussed this before... but didn't they move the EUG station some years back but they are still using averages from a significantly wetter area?

 

I think the station moved in 1948, but yes the NWS uses records back to 1892 that were taken downtown which is wetter and not as much of a frost hollow. I was going off  Mahlon Sweet records exclusively though. 1948-present. 

[TT-SEA]

I think the station moved in 1948, but yes the NWS uses records back to 1892 that were taken downtown which is wetter and not as much of a frost hollow. I was going off  Mahlon Sweet records exclusively though. 1948-present. 

 

Ahhh.... many years back.    But I remember people talking about their crazy negative departures a couple years ago and said the reality was probably not so extreme because the station averages are overstated based on its current location.

[TT-SEA]

On a sports note... they need to break up the Mariners!   Its unfair to the rest of the league right now.  

[El_Nina]

An inch for the day here now, 3.01 as a month total.

[Phil]

Not sure if it was mentioned before but it looks like nino 3.4 came in at 0.8C for JFM. Officially a weak nino for the winter of 18-19.

Gotta love OISSTv2. Perpetually warm.

[ShawniganLake]

Gotta love OISSTv2. Perpetually warm.

I had a feeling you would doubt the numbers.

[Omegaraptor]

Possibly stupid question.

 

Why is the GFS showing below normal temperatures for April 10-11 even though there is no active trough over the PNW at that time, and in fact we would be at the edge of a ridge? Is it just the heavy cloud cover also shown by the GFS on that date?

[Phil]

I had a feeling you would doubt the numbers.

You sure? I posted about this in the ENSO thread over a month ago. I think you’ve got me pegged wrong.

[TT-SEA]

Possibly stupid question.

 

Why is the GFS showing below normal temperatures for April 10-11 even though there is no active trough over the PNW at that time, and in fact we would be at the edge of a ridge? Is it just the heavy cloud cover also shown by the GFS on that date?

 

 

Widespread rain... pretty simple.

 

[Jesse]

Possibly stupid question.

 

Why is the GFS showing below normal temperatures for April 10-11 even though there is no active trough over the PNW at that time, and in fact we would be at the edge of a ridge? Is it just the heavy cloud cover also shown by the GFS on that date?

Overriding wet system on the heels of a coolish airmass. NWrly flow, chilly-ish rain, maybe some mountain snow. Pretty normal fare for mid-April.

[ShawniganLake]

Possibly stupid question.

 

Why is the GFS showing below normal temperatures for April 10-11 even though there is no active trough over the PNW at that time, and in fact we would be at the edge of a ridge? Is it just the heavy cloud cover also shown by the GFS on that date?

The ridge is too our west, which often lends itself to chilly weather. And yea, it’s raining

[Phil]

[Phil]

To hell with summer. Pointless season. Let’s skip it this year and go straight to autumn.

[Omegaraptor]

Okay, thanks for explaining. That trough looks extremely cold in the Scottsbluff, Nebraska area. They're forecasting 35/18 on there on 4/11 with 25 MPH wind on Wunderground. NOAA shows a milder 39/22.

[ShawniganLake]

[TT-SEA]

Okay, thanks for explaining. That trough looks extremely cold in the Scottsbluff, Nebraska area. They're forecasting 35/18 there on 4/11 with 25 MPH wind.

 

You pick very specific locations and temperatures.    

 

There is a late season snowstorm and cold from Colorado to Wisconsin... and you say its cold specifically in Scottsbluff, NE.