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On This Day In History...Major Weather Events in the PNW or West


snow_wizard

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I thought it would be fun to have a running topic where we can post major events on this day in history.  I'm mainly looking for events for the PNW Western Lowlands, but major events for anywhere in the West are welcome.

 

I'll start it off with November 18th...

 

The big cold wave / snow events in November 1985 were just getting started on this date.  My daily temperature range was 35-26 with just a trace of snow on the ground, but much more was very near.  Landsburg already had 2 inches on the ground.

 

Sea-Tac Airport had a massive 9.4" dump with a low of 28 in 1946.

 

EDIT: Upon further investigation it's obvious the 1946 snowstorm was a classic AR event that turned to snow well before the moisture ran out.

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Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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November 19th, 2010. A slow moving modified arctic airmass began pushing out of the Fraser Valley during the day. That evening it collided with a moist southerly flow over southern Vancouver Island. Heavy snow fell many places with 11.5” accumulating at Shawnigan Lake that night.

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November 19th, 2010. A slow moving modified arctic airmass began pushing out of the Fraser Valley during the day. That evening it collided with a moist southerly flow over southern Vancouver Island. Heavy snow fell many places with 11.5” accumulating at Shawnigan Lake that night.

 

Wow!  It appears 1921, 1946, 1985, and 2010 all had big events right around the same date.

Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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On this date (Nov 19) 2003 the Portland area had a surprise snowfall of a few inches even in the lowlands.

As I recall it was quite warm ahead of the front, perhaps mid 50s. After the front passed the temperature crashed and rain changed to snow. Where I lived we had 2 or 3" of wet snow.

Winter 23-24: Total Snow (3.2")    Total Ice (0.2")     Coldest Low: 1F     Coldest High: 5F

Snow Events: 0.1" Jan 5th, 0.2" Jan 9th, 1.6" Jan 14, 0.2" (ice) Jan 22, 1.3" Feb 12

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11-19

 

1985 was starting to get serious.  At my place in Bothell (Finn Hill) we had 2.6" of snow with a 35-28 temperature range.  4" fell in Landsburg.

 

In 1946 SEA had 9 inches of snow on the ground with a low of 23 degrees.  Very impressive!

 

In 1921 there was a big snowstorm with 4.6" in Seattle and 10" in Landsburg.  Lows were below freezing at both locations.

 

In 1978 it snowed 4.9" at SEA, and 5" IMBY on a hill outside of Redmond WA.

 

In 1996 it snowed 7" IMBY  in Woodinville, and 5.5" at Landsburg.  Snow depth was 6" at SEA, but no record of daily snowfall.

 

All in all this date has been huge for snow for being so early in the season.

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Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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Atmospheric river in 1996. Historic rains hit NW OR, with Roseburg setting a calendar day record of 4.35", Corvallis seeing a record 4.45", PDX seeing 2.69", and Eugene seeing 6.43" in a two day period. To the north, WA stayed on the cold side of the jet stream. A major snowfall hit the Seattle area with 3-8" and 2-4" around SW WA, while a historic ice event hit Spokane with an inch of freezing rain. Central WA was slammed with snow, Yakima set a one day record with 14.8".

 

Potent little snowstorm in 1978. 2-4" around Portland, 4-8" around Seattle, and 8-12" between Tacoma and Castle Rock. Major Fraser River outflow event as well, with outflow winds hitting 60mph at BLI.

 

Another atmospheric river in 1897. A more impressive version of what took place on the same day 106 years later. Portland came down from a record high of 66 on the afternoon of the 18th, with heavy rain dropping the temp to 42 by midnight and to 32 by noon on the 19th. 3" of heavy wet snow hit downtown Portland that day, with more falling in outlying areas.

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Atmospheric river in 1996. Historic rains hit NW OR, with Roseburg setting a calendar day record of 4.35", Corvallis seeing a record 4.45", PDX seeing 2.69", and Eugene seeing 6.43" in a two day period. To the north, WA stayed on the cold side of the jet stream. A major snowfall hit the Seattle area with 3-8" and 2-4" around SW WA, while a historic ice event hit Spokane with an inch of freezing rain. Central WA was slammed with snow, Yakima set a one day record with 14.8".

 

Potent little snowstorm in 1978. 2-4" around Portland, 4-8" around Seattle, and 8-12" between Tacoma and Castle Rock. Major Fraser River outflow event as well, with outflow winds hitting 60mph at BLI.

 

Another atmospheric river in 1897. A more impressive version of what took place on the same day 106 years later. Portland came down from a record high of 66 on the afternoon of the 18th, with heavy rain dropping the temp to 42 by midnight and to 32 by noon on the 19th. 3" of heavy wet snow hit downtown Portland that day, with more falling in outlying areas.

 

Great stuff.  This date is huge for snow in this area.  I totally forgot 1996 was this early...same with 1978.  Amazing!

Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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I like this thread idea!

 

It should get really fun when we get to the big bad stuff in the 19th century.  Most of that comes later on.  Our winters were much more mid loaded then.

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Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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On this date in 2011 I had 4" of snow pushing my 2 day total to 6.5". Easily my biggest November event since I've lived up here (2011).

 

Looks like 2" of snow fell here on this date in 1946, and on this date in 1978 Silver Falls had a record low of 12. 

Snowfall                                  Precip

2022-23: 95.0"                      2022-23: 17.39"

2021-22: 52.6"                    2021-22: 91.46" 

2020-21: 12.0"                    2020-21: 71.59"

2019-20: 23.5"                   2019-20: 58.54"

2018-19: 63.5"                   2018-19: 66.33"

2017-18: 30.3"                   2017-18: 59.83"

2016-17: 49.2"                   2016-17: 97.58"

2015-16: 11.75"                 2015-16: 68.67"

2014-15: 3.5"
2013-14: 11.75"                  2013-14: 62.30
2012-13: 16.75"                 2012-13: 78.45  

2011-12: 98.5"                   2011-12: 92.67"

It's always sunny at Winters Hill! 
Fighting the good fight against weather evil.

 

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Back in November 1967 a strong storm brought copious rains to Socal. 1.87" fell on this day (November 19) in just one hour in Los Angeles, the city's highest one hour total on record and this storm produced a total of 7.96" in L.A. over a 3 day period. (source: NWS San Diego)

 

Wow!

Snowfall                                  Precip

2022-23: 95.0"                      2022-23: 17.39"

2021-22: 52.6"                    2021-22: 91.46" 

2020-21: 12.0"                    2020-21: 71.59"

2019-20: 23.5"                   2019-20: 58.54"

2018-19: 63.5"                   2018-19: 66.33"

2017-18: 30.3"                   2017-18: 59.83"

2016-17: 49.2"                   2016-17: 97.58"

2015-16: 11.75"                 2015-16: 68.67"

2014-15: 3.5"
2013-14: 11.75"                  2013-14: 62.30
2012-13: 16.75"                 2012-13: 78.45  

2011-12: 98.5"                   2011-12: 92.67"

It's always sunny at Winters Hill! 
Fighting the good fight against weather evil.

 

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11-20

 

1946 - SEA still had 8" of snow on the ground following the big storm a couple of days prior.

 

1960 - Yet another significant snow event for the Seattle area produced 5.2" at SEA and 4.1 at Landsburg

 

1977 - Cold snap began that would produce significant snow a few days later.

 

1985 - Cold continued to deepen and light snow continued to fall leaving many locations in the Puget Sound region with a few inches of snow on the ground.  Landsburg already had 7" on the ground.  Low temperature IMBY dropped to 22.

Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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0.7" of snow fell on this day (20th) at Grand Mound, just north of Centralia, in 1896. On the following day (21st), a massive 14.3" buried the town. The snow remained on the ground through month's end and by the 28th, Grand Mound had fallen to -5F for a low. This is the coldest November reading in a lowland western WA location that I'm aware of. 

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0.7" of snow fell on this day (20th) at Grand Mound, just north of Centralia. On the following day (21st), a massive 14.3" buried the town. The snow remained on the ground through month's end and by the 28th, Grand Mound had fallen to -5F for a low. This is the coldest November reading in a lowland western WA location that I'm aware of.

Was this in 1985?

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11-21

 

1896 - Massive snowstorm dumps 13 inches of snow on Seattle!

 

1985 - The first major snowstorm of the 1985 cold wave strikes the Puget Sound region with generalized 6 to 8 inch totals falling with temperatures well below freezing.  SEA recorded 7.1" and I had 6.1" with a 29 - 20 temperature range.  Snow depth IMBY by the end of the day was 9 inches.

Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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11-21

 

1896 - Massive snowstorm dumps 13 inches of snow on Seattle!

 

1985 - The first major snowstorm of the 1985 cold wave strikes the Puget Sound region with generalized 6 to 8 inch totals falling with temperatures well below freezing.  SEA recorded 7.1" and I had 6.1" with a 29 - 20 temperature range.  Snow depth IMBY by the end of the day was 9 inches.

 

November 1896 was truly epic. Blaine hit -3 by the end of that month and Ellensburg hit a monthly state record of -29. The Columbia and Willamette Rivers were frozen in Portland for the only time on record in November. 

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Oops, forgot the year. Edited. 1896

 

Wow!  I was wondering if their were records other than Seattle for 1896 in Western WA.  Obviously there were.

Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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November 1896 was truly epic. Blaine hit -3 by the end of that month and Ellensburg hit a monthly state record of -29. The Columbia and Willamette Rivers were frozen in Portland for the only time on record in November. 

 

It's really is amazing how many remarkable events WA has had in November.  It performs very well when stacked up against many cities in the Eastern US.

Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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1921: One of the most epic two day storm events in PNW history was wrapping up on November 21. Portland saw 6.09" of rain in a 48 hour period, on the edge of a major baroclinic zone. While Salem basked in near record warmth (60 degrees), eastern Portland saw a historic November ice event with over an inch of freezing rain falling. The arctic airmass covered all of WA state. The combination of tropical moisture and arctic air created a historic snowfall in the eastern Columbia Gorge. The Dalles measured 54" of snow in a 3 day period ending on the 21st. Hood River measured a 31" depth on the 21st, by far their greatest November snowdepth on record. Other locales also saw historic November totals, including Kennewick which set an all time single day record with 14" falling on the 20th.

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Nice shot of Arctic air in 1900. 

 

It was -16 at Ellensburg and 9 at Sedro Woolley on this day (21st). Also a very impressive -12 in Pasco. 

 

Olga had a maximum of 24 on the 19th in the Fraser outflow. 

 

Really amazing how many of these November events happened between the 18th and the 22nd.  2010 is coming up tomorrow.

Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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11-22

 

2010 - A strong surface low tracked across either SW WA or the South Puget Sound region creating a major snowstorm for the Central and South Puget Sound regions.  Widespread 4 to 8 inch accumulaions were common with areas such as Eatonville recording around a foot.  The snow was accompanied by strong north winds and plunging temperatures.  This was very possibly the sharpest Arctic front to strike the region since December 1990.  I remember being quite amazed watching bone dry powder snow drifting in on strong NW winds.  The temperature during the second half of the snowfall sat at a bone chilling 22 degrees IMBY.  Probably my favorite snow event out of all the time I've lived at my present location (since 2000).  The Arctic air mass and heavy snow cover combined to allow the temperature to drop to 8 degrees the night after the snowstorm.  The coldest I've recorded at this location.

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Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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11-22

 

2010 - A strong surface low tracked across either SW WA or the South Puget Sound region creating a major snowstorm for the Central and South Puget Sound regions.  Widespread 4 to 8 inch accumulaions were common with areas such as Eatonville recording around a foot.  The snow was accompanied by strong north winds and plunging temperatures.  This was very possibly the sharpest Arctic front to strike the region since December 1990.  I remember being quite amazed watching bone dry powder snow drifting in on strong NW winds.  The temperature during the second half of the snowfall sat at a bone chilling 22 degrees IMBY.  Probably my favorite snow event out of all the time I've lived at my present location (since 2000).  The Arctic air mass and heavy snow cover combined to allow the temperature to drop to 8 degrees the night after the snowstorm.  The coldest I've recorded at this location.

 

Great event. Up to 14" of snow fell in Sequim heading into the airmass. Temperatures dropped to as low as 3F in the western lowlands (Enumclaw RAWS). On the east side, Davenport hit -25 which was within 4 degrees of the monthly state record for November (-29 at Ellensburg in 1896).

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Great event. Up to 14" of snow fell in Sequim heading into the airmass. Temperatures dropped to as low as 3F in the western lowlands (Enumclaw RAWS). On the east side, Davenport hit -25 which was within 4 degrees of the monthly state record for November (-29 at Ellensburg in 1896).

 

Interesting.  Enumclaw is close to here so this must have been one of the colder areas.  I clearly remember that night got cloudy right around midnight.  If it had stayed clear I'm sure readings would have dropped another 5 degrees or so.  It would appear the Nov 2010 air mass was a bit colder than anything we had in 1985, but much shorter lived of course.

Death To Warm Anomalies!

 

Winter 2023-24 stats

 

Total Snowfall = 1.0"

Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1

Total Hail = 0.0

Total Ice = 0.2

Coldest Low = 13

Lows 32 or below = 45

Highs 32 or below = 3

Lows 20 or below = 3

Highs 40 or below = 9

 

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Interesting.  Enumclaw is close to here so this must have been one of the colder areas.  I clearly remember that night got cloudy right around midnight.  If it had stayed clear I'm sure readings would have dropped another 5 degrees or so.  It would appear the Nov 2010 air mass was a bit colder than anything we had in 1985, but much shorter lived of course.

 

I don't think it was. November 1985 actually set some all-time records up in SW BC. Also 5 at Quillayute on 11/23, which was an all-time record since the station was established in 1966. You had readings down to -1 in Kent and 0 at OLM as well.

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I don't think it was. November 1985 actually set some all-time records up in SW BC. Also 5 at Quillayute on 11/23, which was an all-time record since the station was established in 1966. You had readings down to -1 in Kent and 0 at OLM as well.

 

For western OR and WA, the upper level airmass in 2010 was definitely a bit more impressive. 850mb temps hit -13c over Portland and -16c over Seatte, both a couple degrees colder than at any point in 1985. 

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11-22

 

2010 - A strong surface low tracked across either SW WA or the South Puget Sound region creating a major snowstorm for the Central and South Puget Sound regions. Widespread 4 to 8 inch accumulaions were common with areas such as Eatonville recording around a foot. The snow was accompanied by strong north winds and plunging temperatures. This was very possibly the sharpest Arctic front to strike the region since December 1990. I remember being quite amazed watching bone dry powder snow drifting in on strong NW winds. The temperature during the second half of the snowfall sat at a bone chilling 22 degrees IMBY. Probably my favorite snow event out of all the time I've lived at my present location (since 2000). The Arctic air mass and heavy snow cover combined to allow the temperature to drop to 8 degrees the night after the snowstorm. The coldest I've recorded at this location.

That was weird since we had nothing down here at all. Didn't have any winter really other than some onshore flow snow in late Feb. 10-11 and 11-12 were complete busts here.

Springfield, Oregon regular season 2023-24 Stats:

  • Coldest high: 25F (Jan 14, 2024)
  • Coldest low: 20F (Jan 14, 2024)
  • Days with below freezing temps: 24 (Most recent: Mar 8, 2024)
  • Days with sub-40F highs: 4 (Most recent: Jan 16, 2024)
  • Total snowfall: 0.0"
  • Total ice: 2.25”
  • Last accumulating snowfall on roads: Dec 27, 2021 (1.9")
  • Last sub-freezing high: Jan 15, 2024 (27F)
  • Last White Christmas: 1990
  • Significant wind events (gusts 45+): 0

Personal Stats:

  • Last accumulating snowfall on roads: Dec 27, 2021
  • Last sub-freezing high: Jan 16, 2024 (32F)
  • Last White Christmas: 2008
  • Total snowfall since joining TheWeatherForums: 42.0"
  • Sub-freezing highs since joining TheWeatherForums: 4

 

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Wasn't it today 7yrs ago that we had the snow and flash freeze? 

Traffic inches along Mercer Street headed for I-5 on Nov. 22, 2010. Some drivers just gave up. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/today/files/2014/11/11222010-620x413.jpg

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Elevation 580’ Location a few miles east of I-5 on the Snohomish Co side of the Snohomish/Skagit border. I love snow/cold AND sun/warmth! 

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54 years ago today it rained in the morning in Dallas, TX.

 

Ouch

Snowfall                                  Precip

2022-23: 95.0"                      2022-23: 17.39"

2021-22: 52.6"                    2021-22: 91.46" 

2020-21: 12.0"                    2020-21: 71.59"

2019-20: 23.5"                   2019-20: 58.54"

2018-19: 63.5"                   2018-19: 66.33"

2017-18: 30.3"                   2017-18: 59.83"

2016-17: 49.2"                   2016-17: 97.58"

2015-16: 11.75"                 2015-16: 68.67"

2014-15: 3.5"
2013-14: 11.75"                  2013-14: 62.30
2012-13: 16.75"                 2012-13: 78.45  

2011-12: 98.5"                   2011-12: 92.67"

It's always sunny at Winters Hill! 
Fighting the good fight against weather evil.

 

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