February 2017 Observations and Model Discussion for the Pacific Northwest

[HighlandExperience]

Getting a little light, wet snow here. Temp of 32.

We had a brief snow shower as well. To bad the bulk of the moisture isn't coming right now.

[VancouverIslandSouth]

Ended up with a max of 34F and sunny, though it was a bit warmer closer to the water, tonight it's completely clear but surprsingly calm. I took a few pictures on the walk in to work today and some more at lunch:

 

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p286/jemeric/IMG_3999_zpsiqeyz352.jpg

 

Looking southwest toward downtown Victoria:

 

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p286/jemeric/IMG_4010_zps1g46kspu.jpg

 

Looking north toward Shawnigan:

 

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p286/jemeric/IMG_4003_zpsnclcejpo.jpg

 

Looking northeast toward UVic/Gordon Head:

 

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p286/jemeric/IMG_4007_zpstvslxotw.jpg

 

Looking southeast toward Oak Bay/Seattle:

 

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p286/jemeric/IMG_4008_zpsyhcwkrs0.jpg

 

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p286/jemeric/IMG_4034_zpscfku719j.jpg

 

Beacon Hill Park looking toward Clover Point:

 

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p286/jemeric/IMG_4042_zpsldsozrnb.jpg

[Timmy Supercell]

And as of 11am K-Falls is now reporting 47 degrees and sunshine with a 33mph west wind...

 

And another notable thing, most of my accumulation happened with temps 35-36 degrees. Can't say I've seen that too many times, at least with events more than an inch or two. It was heavy enough that I'd say more inches would have happened had the temps been 30-32...

[Brennan]

My parents place today. ~8" sunday/monday for a compacted depth of 6".

[TT-SEA]

More awesome pics... really great that people are taking the time to share.   

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Looks like the Gorge and Basin have been seeing more snowfall today.

My brother got a little over an inch at river level, he said about 4" fell above 500'

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Flood watch up for NW Oregon

[BLI snowman]

Another high of 39 at PDX. Score.

 

And 32 at BLI. Double score.

[MossMan]

Down to 27 currently. Didn't loose any snow today, ground still covered with an inch or so.

[VancouverIslandSouth]

I'm not a fan of WRF snow maps but if this has any shred of truth Environment Canada is going to get a lot of flack for its winter storm warning and forecast of 4"+ in the lower mainland. Perhaps the WRF is seeing only freezing rain over there? Personally I have a hard time believing that area will be missed by the snow.

 

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/wrfrt/data/2017020800/images_d3/wa_snow24.36.0000.gif

[Canadian guy]

I'm not a fan of WRF snow maps but if this has any shred of truth Environment Canada is going to get a lot of flack for its winter storm warning and forecast of 4"+ in the lower mainland. Perhaps the WRF is seeing only freezing rain over there? Personally I have a hard time believing that area will be missed by the snow.

 

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/wrfrt/data/2017020800/images_d3/wa_snow24.36.0000.gif

It even shows the Fraser valley getting nothing. I can't see that verifying.

[Front Ranger]

Yup. 27 in last 64 days. 

 

That's actually quite incredible.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

I'm not a fan of WRF snow maps but if this has any shred of truth Environment Canada is going to get a lot of flack for its winter storm warning and forecast of 4"+ in the lower mainland. Perhaps the WRF is seeing only freezing rain over there? Personally I have a hard time believing that area will be missed by the snow.

 

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/wrfrt/data/2017020800/images_d3/wa_snow24.36.0000.gif

Not going to happen. That map is on meth.

[HighlandExperience]

Not going to happen. That map is on meth.

Hood Canal will defintly get snow tommorow. Wish central Sound would; even for just a couple hours. Would have been a nice way to end this.

[Front Ranger]

Another high of 39 at PDX. Score.

 

And 32 at BLI. Double score.

 

17 highs of 33 or colder this winter at BLI.

[luminen]

Hood Canal will defintly get snow tommorow. Wish central Sound would; even for just a couple hours. Would have been a nice way to end this.

 

Who knows, with the way this winter has gone, a March surprise wouldn't surprise me.

 

But yeah more snow would be nice for the Sound.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

I think i will get some for sure. The faster and heavier the precip comes in the better. Even as much as i know about the local weather over here sometimes it is still very hard to predict. I have seen it stay snow for much longer than you would think it could with the warm upper levels shown on the models.

[HighlandExperience]

Who knows, with the way this winter has gone, a March surprise wouldn't surprise me.

 

But yeah more snow would be nice for the Sound.

 

Ya this winter just keeps bringing the cold back. Wouldn't suprise me at all if something crazy pops up in a week or two. I wish every winter was like this. 

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

That small band shown on the radar on the Kitsap pen is dumping some very heavy snow. I was surprised when i left work and drove into it to see it was covering the roads.

[VancouverIslandSouth]

Ya this winter just keeps bringing the cold back. Wouldn't suprise me at all if something crazy pops up in a week or two. I wish every winter was like this. 

 

Well South/Central Oregon got it in December, Northern Oregon/Southern WA in January, now Central WA has got hit in February. The winter storms have progressively shifted north this year; maybe the next one in late Feb or earlier March ends up nailing the Seattle-Bellingham stretch.

[bainbridgekid]

Well South/Central Oregon got it in December, Northern Oregon/Southern WA in January, now Central WA has got hit in February. The winter storms have progressively shifted north this year; maybe the next one in late Feb or earlier March ends up nailing the Seattle-Bellingham stretch.

SW BC has had the most anomalously blockbuster Winter of anywhere in the region, but your general point does still stand.

 

I certainly wouldn't complain about a solid CZ snow that hit that region. Been a remarkable lack of CZ snow the last several Winters.

[Arctic Front]

Well South/Central Oregon got it in December, Northern Oregon/Southern WA in January, now Central WA has got hit in February. The winter storms have progressively shifted north this year; maybe the next one in late Feb or earlier March ends up nailing the Seattle-Bellingham stretch.

You like the late Feb/early March timeframe?

[VancouverIslandSouth]

SW BC has had the most anomalously blockbuster Winter of anywhere in the region, but your general point does still stand.

 

I certainly wouldn't complain about a solid CZ snow that hit that region. Been a remarkable lack of CZ snow the last several Winters.

 

Very true, maybe a meet in the middle sort of thing. The northern extent has shifted south a little, Victoria didn't do very well until this last event. What's been lacking is the classic Arctic shortwave with a low pressure system forming in northern BC and riding down the coast. That's almost always a sure way to get a good snowfall to Seattle-Bellingham.

[HighlandExperience]

Well South/Central Oregon got it in December, Northern Oregon/Southern WA in January, now Central WA has got hit in February. The winter storms have progressively shifted north this year; maybe the next one in late Feb or earlier March ends up nailing the Seattle-Bellingham stretch.

Recent winters have really favored that time period. Wouldn't surprise me.

[VancouverIslandSouth]

You like the late Feb/early March timeframe?

 

Yes, albeit with no scientific backing, but it would be roughly inline with the frequency of cold snaps this year. We can't seem to go more than 2 weeks without getting another.

[Brennan]

Well South/Central Oregon got it in December, Northern Oregon/Southern WA in January, now Central WA has got hit in February. The winter storms have progressively shifted north this year; maybe the next one in late Feb or earlier March ends up nailing the Seattle-Bellingham stretch.

I don't think people realize that Bellingham area got 5-8" of snow sunday/monday... and it was below freezing the entire time. I'd say we did just as good or better than the south sound when considering temperatures with this most recent event...

[wx_statman]

SW BC has had the most anomalously blockbuster Winter of anywhere in the region, but your general point does still stand.

 

I certainly wouldn't complain about a solid CZ snow that hit that region. Been a remarkable lack of CZ snow the last several Winters.

 

Pretty amazing winter in the Chilliwack/Agassiz area. They got about 20" of snow in the second week of December with more or less continuous snowcover since. Already a solid winter there before the 3+ feet of snow this month. 

[Tenochtitlan]

Yeah, I guess Bellingham has been halfway between Seattle and the SW Mainland for how good this winter's been. I've had 12 or 13 total days of snow on the ground. 

 

it's such a pretty night, the moon is shining on 4 inches of snow. The WECU thermometer read 22F on my walk home, so it's below the NWS forecast low already. best snow night I've seen since 2012 in Seattle

 

I'm hoping we get an inch or two more tomorrow. I always love it when snow falls on snowcover, which doesn't happen too often around here. 

[Brennan]

Yeah, I guess Bellingham has been halfway between Seattle and the SW Mainland for how good this winter's been. I've had 12 or 13 total days of snow on the ground.

 

it's such a pretty night, the moon is shining on 4 inches of snow. The WECU thermometer read 22F on my walk home, so it's below the NWS forecast low already. best snow night I've seen since 2012 in Seattle

 

I'm hoping we get an inch or two more tomorrow. I always love it when snow falls on snowcover, which doesn't happen too often around here.

Amen to that dude. It sucks this can't stick around for a few days, it's absolutely perfect out tonight.

[wx_statman]

-7/-25 today in Cut Bank, MT (2/7). Coldest day there since 11/30/2014. 

 

So this turned out to be a pretty impressive shot of Arctic air into MT. Its too bad (or fortunate for those sick of winter weather) that more of this cold air didn't slide into the Columbia Basin and down the Gorge...or we'd be dealing with another major winter storm tomorrow. 

[snow maniac]

Just started snowing here.

[snow maniac]

Just started snowing here.

Very wet

[TT-SEA]

Snowing here again this morning and the roads are covered.    School delayed again and not sure how long it will take to transition to rain out here but the sooner the better in my opinion.   I am all snowed out and would like to resume a normal schedule.  

 

[MossMan]

Currently 30F and cloudy.

[GHweatherChris]

Moderately snowing here, last hurrah!!

[Geos]

32° here. Don't see any flakes yet.

 

...Nevermind just started seeing the first few.

[MossMan]

Winter Storm Warning for Whatcom Co. and given how old it is here I should see some flakes before the changeover.

[crf450ish]

[Geos]

Steady light snow falling here.

[Jesse]

Tomorrow is looking like a pretty easy call for our warmest day since late November. PDX should finally break the magic 52 degree barrier.