January 2017 Observations and Model Discussion for the Pacific Northwest

[Front Ranger]

I hate to blame Snow Wizard for the bad luck the Puget Sound region has seen this winter, but I think it's pretty clear that his rage-filled tirade after the first bust of the winter was bad karma.

 

No other way to explain how many times Mother Nature has teased, but failed to deliver. Truly uncanny how close it's been time after time.

[bainbridgekid]

32.5 degree rain here.  Might need to find a new frog.

You just got 8" last week. 

[HighlandExperience]

It pleases me to announce it is snowing sideways in Federal way

Light snow at 32

There is hope for a dusting

[luvssnow_spokane]

Did you really drive around that much or is this just comedy relief?

Comedy relief... I did make a trip through orting and Tacoma tonight though. I stayed mainly south.

[BLI snowman]

7" and it keeps on coming...

[luvssnow_spokane]

[FroYoBro]

These heavy returns are stalling right on top of me. I went outside and I can literally hear the cracks of branches breaking in all directions. 

[TT-SEA]

These heavy returns are stalling right on top of me. I went outside and I can literally hear the cracks of branches breaking in all directions. 

 

 

I feel like it was just an hour ago when you were worried that the rain would not change over.  

[Dave]

You just got 8" last week. 

Not complaining.  I just feel like this frog may be exhausted is all. 

[Deweydog]

I keep expecting this to turn to zr.

[luterra]

Tail end of the heavy stuff passed me around 10 pm, over Salem now, probably will clear Portland 12-12:30 at this rate.  I would not be surprised if everything after that is pretty anticlimactic.  With the low inland and starting to fill, the main low-level moisture tap should be cut off.

 

1.31" of rain in Corvallis today - that is at least double any model or NWS QPF.

[Goducks09]

I keep expecting this to turn to zr.

 

I know...where are those southerlies???  

[TT-SEA]

I can now report that after looking under the yard light for maybe 30 seconds... I saw 3 snowflakes.    So it is snowing!  

[FroYoBro]

I feel like it was just an hour ago when you were worried that the rain would not change over.  

 

It is scary how close I am to rain. Places a little further south like Woodburn have just been getting pouring down rain this entire time. 

[Phil]

Congrats guys! I'm living vicariously through the street cams right now.

[Goducks09]

Tail end of the heavy stuff passed me around 10 pm, over Salem now, probably will clear Portland 12-12:30 at this rate.  I would not be surprised if everything after that is pretty anticlimactic.  With the low inland and starting to fill, the main low-level moisture tap should be cut off.

 

1.31" of rain in Corvallis today - that is at least double any model or NWS QPF.

 

Still may see some decent lift as the two air masses continue to collide over PDX metro.  Possible...maybe wishcasting though.

[Blizzard777]

What the fukk?! That is north of me. I swear to god the swamp is cursed!!

It is very light and now I can see the moon again

[Timmy Supercell]

Portland NWS lead forecaster just reported thundersnow for the first time in his 22 year career.

 

Also mentioned 4" per hour snowfall rates in that band earlier.

 

Insanity.

 

I've only experienced 1 thundersnow in my life. 05/06/2015 in Klamath Falls. There was another here reported back in 2004 but that was well before I came here. I don't recall when the previous one was before 2004.

[luvssnow_spokane]

It is very light and now I can see the moon again

That makes more sense... yes a flurry is possible.

[Jesse]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S STILL SNOWING THIS HARD.

[Geos]

Returns creeping up to I-90...

 

[FroYoBro]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S STILL SNOWING THIS HARD.

 

I don't know what to do with myself. I've been going back and forth from walking around outside, to pacing in front of the window, to looking at the radar. 

[bainbridgekid]

First double digit report.

 

10" report just tweeted by Portland NWS from the West Hills.

[luvssnow_spokane]

Returns creeping up to I-90...

 

http://climate.cod.edu/data/nexrad/ATX/N0Q/ATX.N0Q.20170111.0707.gif

Most likely virga.. I had dark green over me for over an hour and not a single flake.

[Phil]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S STILL SNOWING THIS HARD.

#iceageacometh

[Phil]

Returns creeping up to I-90...

Pixie dust.

[TT-SEA]

Most likely virga.. I had dark green over me for over an hour and not a single flake.

 

 

Still have not been able to add to my total of 3 snowflakes here under the heavier returns.

[Geos]

Most likely virga.. I had dark green over me for over an hour and not a single flake.

 

Yeah I think except maybe for the higher terrain by TT, it is mostly virga. Would have been nice to see another snow so soon.

 

Moon is mostly obscured here now.

[Kayla]

First double digit report from the West Hills.

 

10" report just tweeted by Portland NWS.

 

I can also report 10" up here! Just amazing out there. I've pretty much given up on shoveling the driveway at this point as I don't think our road is going to get plowed anytime tomorrow. 

[HighlandExperience]

Trying really hard to channel any jealousy into joy for those getting buried tonight.

 

Truly some special stuff happening in Portland tonight.

 

Soak in in guys. Looking like a once or twice a decade type storm.

Same here. Hope we can join in their joy this winter. But it's been a heart breaker in king county so far. Congrats

[Tyler Mode]

5" at my place in Battle Ground, 8.25" at my parents in Vancouver.  The 8.25"+ is my heaviest one day (and really only 5 hours) snowfall every in my 21 years of record.

[bainbridgekid]

Just a friendly reminder what the WRF looked like this morning. 

[Jesse]

I don't know what to do with myself. I've been going back and forth from walking around outside, to pacing in front of the window, to looking at the radar.

That basically sums up my last four hours. That and a harrowing trek to Freddie's.

[FroYoBro]

Looks like the incredibly heavy stuff is starting to move out of the metro area.

 

 

 

It is only moderately snowing now.

 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Hrrr keeps snow falling pretty much through noon tomorrow, Clark county had likely seen the bulk of their snow, but a lot more snow is left to fall west and south metro through the morning.

[Front Ranger]

Barring something weird later tonight, this may end up being one of the most Portland-centric storms on record. Pretty sharp cutoff of major accumulations to both the north and south.

 

Not very often Portland sees a huge snowstorm and hardly anyone north of Chehalis OR south of McMinnville sees much of anything.

[Kayla]

Looks like the incredibly heavy stuff is starting to move out of the metro area.

 

 

 

It is only moderately snowing now.

 

 

I don't know, it's still continuing to enhance to the SW...

[Blizzard777]

bed is calling, enjoy the storm all!

I will fall asleep to the wind

[bainbridgekid]

Barring something weird later tonight, this may end up being one of the most Portland-centric storms on record. Pretty sharp cutoff of major accumulations to both the north and south.

 

Not very often Portland sees a huge snowstorm and hardly anyone north of Chehalis OR south of McMinnville sees much of anything.

What makes it even weirder is it wasn't even really heavily reliant on the Gorge for cold air.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Barring something weird later tonight, this may end up being one of the most Portland-centric storms on record. Pretty sharp cutoff of major accumulations to both the north and south.

 

Not very often Portland sees a huge snowstorm and hardly anyone north of Chehalis OR south of McMinnville sees much of anything.

I still think there will be accumulating snow south of McMinnville, that wasn't supposed to start until after midnight anyways, unless you mean areas south of there won't get 4-6" accumulations then yes you are probably right.