December 2016 Observations and Model Discussion for the Pacific Northwest

[Timmy Supercell]

Haven't been here in a while. 

 

This morning I had 3.00" accumulation of snow. But that was over a period of about 12 hours. That's really light snowfall for this area.

 

So far total of 4.70" of snow this season. It looks like pack ain't over for December so I'll get more soon.

[Jesse]

Haven't been here in a while.

 

This morning I had 3.00" accumulation of snow. But that was over a period of about 12 hours. That's really light snowfall for this area.

 

So far total of 4.70" of snow this season. It looks like pack ain't over for December so I'll get more soon.

I'm really sorry to hear this. This has got to be a rough pattern for you.

[Deweydog]

The Snoqualmie Valley school district has become much more aggressive with keeping schools open in recent years. I love it.

 

Its particularly challenging out here because there are many neighborhoods at higher elevations than most of the schools. If roads are just slushy tomorrow morning in the valley then schools will be open but they might run limited transportation. That means us higher elevation folks are responsible for getting our kids to school and that is totally fair. Much better than shutting down with every possible snow event in the district.

Down here it's a matter of precedence. It's been a very long time where a protracted event has occurred to a level where they really needed to re-evaluate their policies, which have become overly cautious. February 2014 was last one which pushed things, out early on Thursday, off Friday, Monday and a two hour delay on Tuesday. If we were to see something like 2008 (which occurred over Xmas break) or 1992-93, they may have to pause for thought.

[TT-SEA]

Down here it's a matter of precedence. It's been a very long time where a protracted event has occurred to a level where they really needed to evaluate their policies, which have become overly cautious. February 2014 was last one which pushed things, out early on Thursday, off Friday, Monday and a two hour delay on Tuesday. If we were to see something like 2008 (which occurred over Xmas break) or 1992-93, they may have to pause for thought.

 

We had some protracted events a few years back and policies obviously changed.     They probably can't afford to be ridiculously cautious out here or school would run into July every year.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Haven't been here in a while. 

 

This morning I had 3.00" accumulation of snow. But that was over a period of about 12 hours. That's really light snowfall for this area.

 

So far total of 4.70" of snow this season. It looks like pack ain't over for December so I'll get more soon.

 

Saw K-Falls hit 40 today.

[snow_wizard]

Lots of goodies showing up on the radar now. Snowing at a better pace here now.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Silverton's school district has several outlying schools. They actually have one about a mile from me and at a similar elevation. Generally they just close or delay the 2-3 higher elevation schools specifically instead of the whole district. They did this on Monday actually.

[snow_wizard]

I've noticed this is coming more out of the SW instead of straight from the south. That might be the reason the west side of the sound seems to be lighter than I thought so far.

[Deweydog]

We had some protracted events a few years back and policies obviously changed. They probably can't afford to be ridiculously cautious out here or school would run into July every year.

Yeah. Last night we were out at dinner when the text was sent out about today's closure. Of course that started a flood of "back in my day..." stories of childhood experiences where there was ACTUALLY snow on the ground and I had to ACTUALLY attend school in spite of it. And of course I pointed out the fact we NEVER knew of a snow day the night before.

[snow_wizard]

20161208_181325.jpg

 

This work?

Where do you live?

[TT-SEA]

Silverton's school district has several outlying schools. They actually have one about a mile from me and at a similar elevation. Generally they just close or delay the 2-3 higher elevation schools specifically instead of the whole district. They did this on Monday actually.

 

 

That is another possibility out here but it gets messy with district events and transportation.   

[CTA]

Where do you live?

Olympia

[HighlandExperience]

Lots of goodies showing up on the radar now. Snowing at a better pace here now.

 

Much better than Monday.

[Timmy Supercell]

I'm really sorry to hear this. This has got to be a rough pattern for you.

 

Now now.... I may not be a fan of winter but I am not like that.

[seattleweatherguy]

Snowiz how you getting snow and I'm not

[Timmy Supercell]

Saw K-Falls hit 40 today.

 

Yeah, took an afternoon walk when it was 40. Most roads were wet (a few slushy) and sidewalks were doable.

 

Tomorrow we could get some afternoon rains, that'll wash away a lot of it.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Through 8 days I am running 15.1 degrees cooler than November.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Yeah, took an afternoon walk when it was 40. Most roads were wet (a few slushy) and sidewalks were doable.

 

Tomorrow we could get some afternoon rains, that'll wash away a lot of it.

 

Weren't you like 60 during the February 2014 snow storm up here.

[ShawniganLake]

Not likely.

 

Maybe initially... but the models show my area getting hit good through tomorrow for sure. I think it will stay cold enough for snow here through Saturday morning and there is lots of precip through that period.

 

I am guessing I will beat the totals for all of the area except maybe the North Interior and Vancouver Island and the lower mainland.

Environment Canada is being pretty bullish for my area. I think they are overdoing it. 1-2" tonight, 6" tomorrow and 2" tomorrow night.

[TT-SEA]

Some nice returns coming in from the coast. Also enhancement in the band just passing I-90.

 

Still nothing here. 30 degrees.

 

Second band has been disappointing.   Just very light snow.

[luvssnow_spokane]

I have gotten some very light snow and have just a trace on the ground. It was so pretty and beautiful!  --- Has stopped snowing for the last hour or so... East winds are really doing their trick like the normally do here. I am sooo happy I got to see snow though. I am pleased.  

 

I expect maybe a .5 inch to an inch here tonight but I am okay with that.

[luvssnow_spokane]

0z is running... Bring it!! 

[Deweydog]

Time for a run or two to go off the rails.

 

Keep things spiced up.

[The Swamp]

It snowed for five minutes in the swamp. Storm over.

 

Looks like frost in places.

 

Squirrels are extra furry now.

[luvssnow_spokane]

It snowed for five minutes in the swamp. Storm over.

 

Looks like frost in places.

 

Squirrels are extra furry now.

MY elevation allowed it to snow for like 30min off and on.... just amazing for the swamp highlands.

[Jesse]

Time for a run or two to go off the rails.

 

Keep things spiced up.

I will never get the whole deriving enjoyment from the angst of others thing.

[Deweydog]

I will never get the whole deriving enjoyment from the angst of others thing.

Moody tonight?

[The Swamp]

MY elevation allowed it to snow for like 30min off and on.... just amazing for the swamp highlands.

I just wanted enough to make a snow person. I think I asked for too much.

[Deweydog]

I just wanted enough to make a snow person. I think I asked for too much.

Nice touch not gender-assigning.

[Jesse]

Moody tonight?

Not at all. Just something I don't understand.

[χιόνι (chióni)]

Flurries here.

[seattleweatherguy]

Radar shows blue over bothell I don't see snow...

[luvssnow_spokane]

I just wanted enough to make a snow person. I think I asked for too much.

January.... 

[luvssnow_spokane]

Radar shows blue over bothell I don't see snow...

I had echoes over my house almost an hour and half until I actually got some light snowfall.

[Deweydog]

Not at all. Just something I don't understand.

Models are gonna do what they do, might as well have fun with it. You don't have to if you don't want to.

[Jesse]

Models are gonna do what they do, might as well have fun with it. You don't have to if you don't want to.

 

Fair enough.

[westcoastexpat]

Radar shows blue over bothell I don't see snow...

 

Virga.

 

The column needs to moisten. Just give it a minute.

 

(... that's what she said.)

[bainbridgekid]

Radar looks relatively juicy from Seattle all the way Southwest to the coast.

 

It will take some time to fight through this dry air, but once it does, it's definitely still looking good for a pretty widespread 1-2" IMO.

[luvssnow_spokane]

00z is rock solid until Sunday... Matching ALL previous runs. (so far) 

[MossMan]

00z is rock solid until Sunday... Matching ALL previous runs. (so far)

Don't jinx it!!