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


snow_wizard

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Forgot to post yesterday, December 8th wasn't just the cold blast in 2013. The F2 Tornado in Newberg, Oregon occurred in 1993 on the 8th. One of the strongest west side tornadoes in recent history.

 

And on Dec 8th 2013 (exactly 20 years later!) I got a low of -20, and a high of only 6.

Ashland, KY Weather

'23-'24 Winter

Snowfall - 5.50"
First freeze: 11/1 (32)
Minimum: 2 on 1/17

Measurable snows: 4
Max 1 day snow: 3" (1/19)

Thunders: 11
1/27, 1/28, 2/10, 2/22, 2/27, 2/28, 3/5, 3/6, 3/14, 3/15
3/26, 

-------------------------------------------------------
[Klamath Falls, OR 2010 to 2021]
https://imgur.com/SuGTijl

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12-9-

 

1919 - One of the most intense Arctic blasts of the 20th century commenced on this day.  While this blast only produced 1 inch of snow in Seattle, amounts further south were much higher.  The low temperature of 12 on the 12th was one of the coldest min temps ever recorded in the city of Seattle in the month of December.  I'm sure others will have much to say about this event as it was uber historic in NW OR.

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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We're making history up here in the North...

 

Taken from http://juneauempire.com/local/news/2017-12-08/december-heat-wave-warmest-73-years-juneau

 


A heat wave unprecedented in the past 73 years has toppled weather records across Alaska, particularly in Southeast Alaska.

 

 
 

On Friday, the National Weather Service thermometer at Juneau International Airport hit 54 degrees, tying the highest temperature ever recorded in December there.

The airport is the city’s official measuring point, and according to records kept by the Weather Service since 1936, three of the 10 warmest December days in Juneau’s history have come in the past week. The city has set four daily high-temperature records.

It was warm elsewhere in the city, too. On Thursday evening, the temperature in the Mendenhall Valley reached 58 degrees. Downtown, it was 50. At the base of Eaglecrest, it was 47.

It was warmer in Juneau on Friday than it was in Houston. That’s the Houston in Texas, not the one in Southcentral Alaska.

It was warmer in Juneau than in Jacksonville, Florida or Monterrey, Mexico.

And Juneau wasn’t alone.

Sitka had an extraordinary event: The low temperature Thursday (53 degrees) was above the previous record high for the day (52 degrees).

“These are some fairly long-standing records that have fallen. Definitely the Sitka temperature you could say that about,” said Devid Levin, a general forecaster for the Weather Service in Juneau.

Southeast Alaska high temperatures (ºF) on Thursday, Dec 7th. Some of these are record highs for the date. For reference, highest reliable Alaska temperature in December is apparently 65F (18C) at Sitka on Dec 12, 1944.

According to Weather Service records, it’s the biggest December heat wave in Juneau since 1944, when the thermometer also spiked at 54 degrees and high temperatures stayed at or above 49 degrees for four days. Temperatures also reached 54 degrees in 1999.

"There are so many waves coming in all the time, you don't have to worry about that. Take your time—wave come. Let the other guys go; catch another one." -Duke Kahanamoku

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Yes Jim, 1919 was a pretty remarkable event, possibly the snowstorm of the century for Oregon. The airmass actually moved in on the 8th from the east and interacted with a developing offshore low on the 9th. The storm dropped down the coast from probably Grays Harbor on south before moving onshore near Newport and slowly progressing inland. The snow continuedin many places for 36 hours straight as frontogenesis presumably enhanced moisture along the outer bands.

 

From a line from Olympia on northward, accumulations were light and spotty, ranging from a trace to 2". Immediately to the south, historic totals began to be observed. On the 9th-10th, Centralia measured 10.5", Castle Rock had 19", Vancouver had 21", Downtown Portland had 17.5", Forest Grove had 25.1", Oregon City had 27", McMinnville had 24", Salem had 23", Albany had 25.5", and Eugene measured 8.5" as the rain turned to snow later south of the low's path. Temps in western OR and SW WA dropped into the mid teens as the snow picked up, with winds of 30-40mph in many spots blowing and drifting the snow significantly.

 

Elsewhere, the Bend region was obliterated with snow, a record 32.5" fell on the 9th-10th and depths in downtown reached 47" on the morning of the 11th. Hood River measured 31" on the 9th-10th, The Dalles had 26", and Pendleton had a single day record of 12". Even well to the south, locales such as Ashland recorded 18.3". 

 

Needless to say, this amount of snow going into a major arctic airmass was nearly unprecedented for the PNW lowlands. Thus it's no surprise that the following days brought some of the most anomalous temperature readings in the region's history.

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No doubt December 1919 is the standout event for Portland kicking Seattle's butt.  It would have been painful to see Centralia get 10.5" while this area had an inch.

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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No doubt December 1919 is the standout event for Portland kicking Seattle's butt. It would have been painful to see Centralia get 10.5" while this area had an inch.

It sucks more for us to get shut out because at least when we have snow, you still get the cold. When you guys get a lot of snow (like this coming winter will be) we are in boring, southerly flow with 45 degree rain zzzzzzz

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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The 1919 blast was one for the ages. The -24 in McMinnville was almost unimaginable, and the high of 9 at Eugene...

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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On this date in 1932 we were in the throes of the impressive, but often overlooked December 1932 arctic outbreak.

 

WA

 

BLI 33/5

Forks 27/14

OLY  30/10

SEA  30/19

Spokane 18/1

 

OR

 

Ashland 23/6

CVO      28/16

EUG      33/5

PDX       28/16

SLE       29/5

Roseburg 28/5

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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The 1919 blast was one for the ages. The -24 in McMinnville was almost unimaginable, and the high of 9 at Eugene...

 

-24 is a mind bender.  Are there any nearby stations that were similar?

 

The coldest readings I have any knowledge of for the Puget Sound region are...

 

1. -8 in January 1862

2. -15 in January 1893

3. -10 in January 1950

 

I'm sure some localized frost pockets managed to do better than these, but I doubt a -20 has ever happened.

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 1932 we were in the throes of the impressive, but often overlooked December 1932 arctic outbreak.

 

WA

 

BLI 33/5

Forks 27/14

OLY  30/10

SEA  30/19

Spokane 18/1

 

OR

 

Ashland 23/6

CVO      28/16

EUG      33/5

PDX       28/16

SLE       29/5

Roseburg 28/5

 

That winter was so much like 2013-14 in this area.  Big snowless cold blasts in Dec and Feb.  The Feb 1933 blast was colder than 2014 though.

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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That winter was so much like 2013-14 in this area.  Big snowless cold blasts in Dec and Feb.  The Feb 1933 blast was colder than 2014 though.

 

Some parts of the Puget Sound region definitely did better for snow in 1932-33. Olympia saw 14", which I believe is a lot more than that area saw in 2013-14.

A forum for the end of the world.

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-24 is a mind bender.  Are there any nearby stations that were similar?

 

The coldest readings I have any knowledge of for the Puget Sound region are...

 

1. -8 in January 1862

2. -15 in January 1893

3. -10 in January 1950

 

I'm sure some localized frost pockets managed to do better than these, but I doubt a -20 has ever happened.

 

So not only did McMinnville have a -24, they also had a -22 and -16. Some other Willamette Valley or W. Oregon stations.

 

Forest Grove had back to back -15's

Albany -15

Corvallis -14

Medford -10

Salem -6

Eugene -3 

 

And there were numerous other sites around W. Oregon below 0. 

 

In SW Washington 

 

Centralia -16

La Center -14

Vancouver -10

 

The Dalles also had -30 which is easily their all-time low. 

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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Portland really owned Seattle in January 1933. Big 6-10" snowstorm around the 18th-19th while Seattle saw nothing.

 

There was snow in the Puget Sound region with that, though. Bremerton saw 4", Olympia saw 6"+, Sedro Wooley saw a couple inches, and Clearbrook saw 3".

 

Forks kicked everyone's a** that month, though.

A forum for the end of the world.

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There was snow in the Puget Sound region with that, though. Bremerton saw 4", Olympia saw 6"+, Sedro Wooley saw a couple inches, and Clearbrook saw 3".

 

Forks kicked everyone's a** that month, though.

 

Yeah, that storm was significant from Olympia on down to roughly Salem. Downtown Seattle did have an inch on the 18th. Minor event up there though. 1932-33 was pretty disappointing for that area, whereas I consider it a pretty moderate to top tier winter for the Portland area.

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12/12/1995: One of the strongest low pressure systems in history affects the West Coast from roughly San Francisco on northward, bringing significant/damaging wind to many areas. Over $240 million in damage was done as gusts topped 60mph nearly everywhere west of the Cascades. Highest wind measurement was 120mph at the Sea Lion Caves on the Oregon coast. 

 

12/12/1969: One of the most significant tornadoes in PNW history occurred in an unstable, post-frontal airmass near Kent. Originally a waterspout, the tornado touched down intermittently for 5 miles before lifting. $250,000 in damage was done and one person was injured when a garage was completely destroyed. This made it the first official F3 tornado in Washington.

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12/12/1995: One of the strongest low pressure systems in history affects the West Coast from roughly San Francisco on northward, bringing significant/damaging wind to many areas. Over $240 million in damage was done as gusts topped 60mph nearly everywhere west of the Cascades. Highest wind measurement was 120mph at the Sea Lion Caves on the Oregon coast. 

 

12/12/1969: One of the most significant tornadoes in PNW history occurred in an unstable, post-frontal airmass near Kent. Originally a waterspout, the tornado touched down intermittently for 5 miles before lifting. $250,000 in damage was done and one person was injured when a garage was completely destroyed. This made it the first official F3 tornado in Washington.

 

I was wondering what the exact date was for that tornado.  I happen to have a picture of it.  Looks like a genuine Kansas tornado!

post-222-0-92351300-1513067756_thumb.jpg

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 was wondering what the exact date was for that tornado.  I happen to have a picture of it.  Looks like a genuine Kansas tornado!

 

Yeah it seemed to be pretty photogenic for a local tornado, there are several other pics online of it

 

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00431672.1970.9931489?journalCode=vwws20

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Dec 12 was the first day of snowfall across southern Vancouver Island during 2008. 3” fell at Shawnigan Lake and 5.5” at Nanaimo. It was just an appetizer as the true arctic air moved in later on the 13th with heavier snowfall eventually reaching the Capital region.

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12/12/95

 

Video posted by none other than Steve Pierce.

 

Power was knocked out for almost two days from that storm in my area! I stood in the garage that evening and watched the nearly constant flashes and bangs from transformers blowing all around the area.

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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Power was knocked out for almost two days from that storm in my area! I stood in the garage that evening and watched the nearly constant flashes and bangs from transformers blowing all around the area.

 

Time sure flies doesn't it. I remember that as if it was yesterday, but it was 22 years ago today. 

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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Time sure flies doesn't it. I remember that as if it was yesterday, but it was 22 years ago today.

I cannot believe it’s already been 22yrs since I also remember it so vividly. Crazy how fast time goes the older you get.

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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The biggest snowstorm in Arizona history began on December 13, 1967. Over the next 8 days, a record 84.6" of snow buried Flagstaff:

 

https://climate.usurf.usu.edu/reports/e15daily.php?stn=USW00003103&year=1967&month=12&unit=EN&network=direct:ghcn&sidebar=0

 

This storm was a disaster on the Navajo reservation, with people stranded and livestock lost. Supplies were flown in by the military on helicopters and transport planes. 

 

Official state records were set for single day snowfall (38" at Heber on the 14th) and depth (91" at Hawley Lake on the 21st). The storm total snowfall at Hawley Lake was 102.7"; other totals included 99" at Greer and 91.5" at Heber. The cold airmass produced a trace of snow down to San Diego, which I believe is the last time snow fell there. 

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A fairly wet day in Portland on December 12 in 1882 as a record 4.07" of rain fell in downtown.

 

The following day was wet, too. A probably unbreakable all-time record of 6.68" fell on the 13th. It seems a sharp baroclinic band stalled over northern Oregon and southern Washington, while places to the north stayed much cooler/drier. Olympia had a comparatively light 2.18" of rain on those same days with temps hovering in the upper 30s.

 

The 10.75" in two days represents the wettest 48 hour period in Portland history by an extremely large margin, almost double. Thankfully it seems the fall had been pretty devoid of any serious mountain snow to that point, or the flooding would have likely been on a catastrophic level.

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Nine years ago today we still lived in an area where significant snow accumulations were no longer possible.

 

I was thinking about that yesterday. Time sure flies when you are having fun. 

 

We had a nice snow event on the 14th last year too. 

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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I was thinking about that yesterday. Time sure flies when you are having fun. 

 

We had a nice snow event on the 14th last year too. 

 

Would have easily been the highlight of last winter here in Portland, if not for our lottery win in January. I had something like 2.5"-3" in NE Portland on 12/14, with blowing and drifting. Stuck around for a few days too. 

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December 14th has been a busy weather day the past decade.

 

2008 - First day of the arctic/snow event that would go on for a week and a half. Silverton had about 2" that evening. 

 

2016 - Fairly widespread snowfall from Albany to PDX. Marion County was probably the hardest hit with about 5" in Salem/Silverton. Up here I actually only ended up with about 2.5". Several days of very chilly weather followed with Salem posting 4 consecutive days with over a -10 departure including a 33/16 on the 17th. 

 

And often forgotten was the EF-2 Aumsville Tornado on 12/14/2010. 

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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December 13 was the first official day of the big pattern change.....in 1884.

 

People who think 2008 was impressive should see how much it pales in comparison to 124 years earlier, only offering further proof that even the royal-flush, powerball megamillions winning patterns of today (actually of a decade ago now) still are dwarfed in comparison to yesteryear.

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December 13 was the first official day of the big pattern change.....in 1884.

 

People who think 2008 was impressive should see how much it pales in comparison to 124 years earlier, only offering further proof that even the royal-flush, powerball megamillions winning patterns of today (actually of a decade ago now) still are dwarfed in comparison to yesteryear.

 

Well, you're comparing the greatest December event on record to anything else.

A forum for the end of the world.

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