January 2016 in the PNW

[Jesse]

Band does look to be filling in a little to the SW.

Almost has a deformation band vibe to it.

[Josh The Snowman Gladstone]

Has anyone been out and about this morning?  How are the roads?  Wondering if I should take my trek up the hill in West Linn.

[Deweydog]

Has anyone been out and about this morning? How are the roads? Wondering if I should take my trek up the hill in West Linn.

Shelter in place.

[Deweydog]

Sure is pretty out!

[Josh The Snowman Gladstone]

Almost has a deformation band vibe to it.

Cloud tops cooling and intensifying to the south between the two main bands as well.  Wouldn't be surprised if it were to continue to fill in. 

[BLI snowman]

Almost has a deformation band vibe to it.

 

We're in a lucky spot for frontogenesis, with the ULL just to our north.

[Jesse]

PDX down to 28 with moderate snow.

 

26 here and snowing beautifully.

[Josh The Snowman Gladstone]

Shelter in place.

???

[FroYoBro]

That band is definitely filling in to the south and west. Snow still has sleet mixing in at times. Even if it does change soon, we have a great covering of powder at this point. 

[Deweydog]

Almost has a deformation band vibe to it.

It's most definitely deformation precip.

[Jbolin]

Seattle proper sees NOTHING out of this "event" if you want to call it that north of PDX

ULL is too weak and likely shredded apart during it's movement NNE

[Jesse]

That band is definitely filling in to the south and west. Snow still has sleet mixing in at times. Even if it does change soon, we have a great covering of powder at this point.

Yeah, and I don't see a lot of areas north of Wilsonville or so going above freezing until sometime tomorrow.

 

So whatever is on the ground, we get to enjoy for a while.

[Gradient Keeper]

Yellowstone Mtn (southeast of Salem) 3080' up to 31 degrees as of 7:17 AM. It was 22 at 1:17 AM

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?sid=YEFO3&table=1&banner=off

[Jesse]

Yeah, I'm surprised the snow came this early.

One of the first times I've literally been surprised by snow upon waking up since I was a kid. It's an awesome feeling!

[Gradient Keeper]

It sure sounds like sleet is mixing in with the snow here near west Gresham. 24.8 degrees

[Deweydog]

It sure sounds like sleet is mixing in with the snow here near west Gresham. 24.8 degrees

Get him, Jess!

[FroYoBro]

It sure sounds like sleet is mixing in with the snow here near west Gresham. 24.8 degrees

 

Yeah, I think I am pretty much done with pure snow at this point. It was great to watch it fall for a while. 

[luvssnow_spokane]

My warmest night yet... Warmed up to 26 with crystal clear skies and calm winds.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

 

Yellowstone Mtn (southeast of Salem) 3080' up to 31 degrees as of 7:17 AM. It was 22 at 1:17 AM

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?sid=YEFO3&table=1&banner=off

 

 

That is NE of Sweet Home I believe.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I notice the hourly report for Medford says flurries...

[SilverFallsAndrew]

A quick break from the snow talk to mention that Olympia hit 15 again this morning. 

 

For our Washington friends!

[Josh The Snowman Gladstone]

Radar definitely backfilling. Points between Wilsonville and south metro look to get back in the action soon.

[stuffradio]

Coming down hard now. Huge flakes.

 

Good lord

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Friend in the Oregon City area just said it has turned to ZR.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Some light rain and 26 degrees here.

[James Jones]

One of the first times I've literally been surprised by snow upon waking up since I was a kid. It's an awesome feeling!

Same here, I was actually feeling pessimistic about this going to bed last night. I definitely didn't expect to see precip this early, and I thought it was going to quickly switch to sleet/ZR.

 

Reminds me of January 2004 with regards to the timing of the event, coming right as schools and businesses open up again after the holidays. I went back to school for one day that Monday in 2004, then the next 4 days all got canceled. 

[HighlandExperience]

Good lord

Sucks we are getting shafted up north eh?

[Josh The Snowman Gladstone]

Friend in the Oregon City area just said it has turned to ZR.

Friend in the Oregon City area just said it has turned to ZR.

Um, didn't change to anything it stopped or is very light. Some people see that and think it turned to rain. lol

[Jesse]

Same here, I was actually feeling pessimistic about this going to bed last night. I definitely didn't expect to see precip this early, and I thought it was going to quickly switch to sleet/ZR.

 

Reminds me of January 2004 with regards to the timing of the event, coming right as schools and businesses open up again after the holidays. I went back to school for one day that Monday in 2004, then the next 4 days all got canceled.

I remember that well. Turned into the longest Christmas break ever. I was a Senior in High School so I didn't have to make up the snow days either!

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Sucks we are getting shafted up north eh?

 

At least you have a professional football team.

[Jesse]

Snowing hard here again.

[stuffradio]

I wish I had what the Euro was on last night. The deterministic model gives me 10" of snow by hour 240. The ECMWF HRES model gives me 29" of snow by day 10. It's so sad this thing never verifies... I would have had up to 50-60" this year instead of the 0" of snow I currently have had...

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Looks like the main precip has moved N and W of Portland now with some backfilling now occurring. Just cloudy and 26 here after about 10 mins of very light freezing rain/mist. Interesting to see what precip type SLE reports on the hour. 

[Gradient Keeper]

12z GFS somewhat close to a major Winter Storm(Ice?) Friday night-Saturday. It all depends on a few factors. Where exactly do the areas of low pressure develop and track, how much does the Gorge/Columbia Basin scour, will there be snow cover in the eastern Gorge/Columbia Basin. By Friday, Saturday arctic air moves south right near the Canadian border. These systems could easily track south of PDX pulling in colder air into eastern Washington/Columbia Basin/Gorge. It's something to keep an eye on this week.

 

Next Monday morning. Modified arctic air spilling into Columbia Basin. Low off to the southwest.... Keep that jet suppressed and we could see an incredible January. I'm saying it now. Write it down somewhere. Day 9 tantalizingly close to a major blast, at least into eastern Washington. At face value this would be a very strong cold pool once again. Would be most concerned for major ice potential for PDX with this... If the arctic air made it further south-southwest, then obviously cold layer would thicken/deepen again Gorge/west perhaps down the valley for Snow possibilities. A long ways off, but this pattern is quite possible due to main storm track/jet shifting south into California. Thanks, El Nino

[FroYoBro]

Um, didn't change to anything it stopped or is very light. Some people see that and think it turned to rain. lol

I think they may be mistaking sleet for rain.

 

I haven't seen any rain, but there is more sleet than snow falling at this point.

[BLI snowman]

Definitely looks to be exceeding expectations so far.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

12z GFS somewhat close to a major Winter Storm(Ice?) Friday night-Saturday. It all depends on a few factors. Where exactly do the areas of low pressure develop and track, how much does the Gorge/Columbia Basin scour, will there be snow cover in the eastern Gorge/Columbia Basin. By Friday, Saturday arctic air moves south right near the Canadian border. These systems could easily track south of PDX pulling in colder air into eastern Washington/Columbia Basin/Gorge. It's something to keep an eye on this week.

 

Next Monday morning. Modified arctic air spilling into Columbia Basin. Low off to the southwest.... Keep that jet suppressed and we could see an incredible January. I'm saying it now. Write it down somewhere. Day 9 tantalizingly close to a major blast, at least into eastern Washington. At face value this would be a very strong cold pool once again. Would be most concerned for major ice potential for PDX with this... If the arctic air made it further south-southwest, then obviously cold layer would thicken/deepen again Gorge/west perhaps down the valley for Snow possibilities. A long ways off, but this pattern is quite possible due to main storm track/jet shifting south into California. Thanks, El Nino

 

Wow, that is some cold air close by!

[chinook]

light coating in McMinnville. 1/4 inch or so.

 

Starting to kick down flurries again.

[Deweydog]

Definitely looks to be exceeding expectations so far.

Definitely cashing in on the bumped up timing.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Mark Nelsen did pretty well on this one.