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


snow_wizard

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Heck, if you think the 1800s were epic, you would have been blown away by the 1600s..it was the coldest stretch in the NH since the end of the last ice age (or possibly the 8200kr event in local areas). ☃️

 

FWIW, almost 40% of the NH glacier melt had already occurred by 1900. Goes to show how far gone we are from the good ‘ole days. We’re essentially back to a MWP climate now.

 

 

Good 'ole days?

 

We probably would not be here discussing this if we stayed in the LIA.    ;)

**REPORTED CONDITIONS AND ANOMALIES ARE NOT MEANT TO IMPLY ANYTHING ON A REGIONAL LEVEL UNLESS SPECIFICALLY STATED**

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  • 2 weeks later...

On this day in 2002:

 

East winds @ PDX reach 40 mph sustained, gusting to 48 mph and dewpoints hit 3 degrees above zero.

Looks like Eugene managed to make it into the 50s on those days. While it's an interesting setup, that cold was wasted during this time of year, then it was a very sad winter after that.

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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Looks like Eugene managed to make it into the 50s on those days. While it's an interesting setup, that cold was wasted during this time of year, then it was a very sad winter after that.

Still a pretty interesting setup from a meteorological perspective.

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Probably one of the more recent airmasses to bring widespread monthly record lows throughout Oregon.

Was Dec 1972 and Dec 2013 enough to crack anything with that month as far as month records since, say, 1970? It's crazy to think places didn't get colder than that for the month of Oct going all the way back.

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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GoFundMe "College Basketball vs Epilepsy": gf.me/u/zk3pj2

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October 2002 is one of the most underrated events we've had in this region. I was in full geek mode as it was going down. I remember emailing Rod Hill about the low of 15 my Dad recorded on his farm outside Silverton. 

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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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October 2002 is one of the most underrated events we've had in this region. I was in full geek mode as it was going down. I remember emailing Rod Hill about the low of 15 my Dad recorded on his farm outside Silverton.

I remember it getting unusually cold at night. That's about it.

My preferences can beat up your preferences’ dad.

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I remember it getting unusually cold at night. That's about it.

Yeah it still got up unto the 50s. Granted the setup was crazy and I can't even imagine what it would have been like in Dec.

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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GoFundMe "College Basketball vs Epilepsy": gf.me/u/zk3pj2

My Twitter @CBBjerseys4hope

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Yeah it still got up unto the 50s. Granted the setup was crazy and I can't even imagine what it would have been like in Dec.

It was just a decent backdoor air mass. It was more about the dry advection than anything else, great for radiational cooling.

 

Late October/early November 2003 was far more impressive. That was one of if not the most impressive meridional -PNA patterns we've seen since December 1990.

My preferences can beat up your preferences’ dad.

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On this date in 2006 Eugene broke the all-time October record low which had previously been set in 2002 with a low of 16. I was living in Oklahoma at the time and pretty wrapped up in my new life there, so I do not remember many details of that cold snap.

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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Something like Dec 2009.

 

I would agree. 

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 2006 Eugene broke the all-time October record low which had previously been set in 2002 with a low of 16. I was living in Oklahoma at the time and pretty wrapped up in my new life there, so I do not remember many details of that cold snap.

I was probly too wasted at UO to remember that one. I do remember that being a decent winter with a bit of snow going into an Arctic event in Jan I think?

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

 

Venmo

GoFundMe "College Basketball vs Epilepsy": gf.me/u/zk3pj2

My Twitter @CBBjerseys4hope

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October 2002 is one of the most underrated events we've had in this region. I was in full geek mode as it was going down. I remember emailing Rod Hill about the low of 15 my Dad recorded on his farm outside Silverton. 

 

That was my local record low temperature, 15 degrees on 10/30/2002! Isn't that funny!

 

I almost locked horns with that yesterday with a low of 17.

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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  • 2 weeks later...

November 12-13, 1955, the PNW saw an intense Arctic front move through with some of the coldest highs/lows ever recorded in November, much less this early in the season.

 

- SEA saw a high of 21 on the 12th. The next earliest they have seen a high this cold is 12/16/64!

 

- BLI saw a low of 5 (by far the earliest any event has produced single digits, next closest being 1985 almost two weeks later).

 

- Republic in NE WA saw a high of 9 on the 12th.

 

- Palmer saw a high of 20 on the 13th

 

- Forks saw a high of 26 on the 13th

 

- PDX saw a high of 28 on the 12th

 

- Spokane saw a high of 11 on the 13th

 

- Astoria saw a high of 31 on 11/12. The next earliest event with a sub-freezing high isn't until 11/23/2010.

 

Most of OR would see their coldest temps a couple days later.

A forum for the end of the world.

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On this date in 1996 we were on day two of a pretty heavy rain event in the Willamette Valley. Totals from the 18-19th:

 

Eugene: 6.43"

Salem:   5.11"

PDX:      4.47"

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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8 years ago today there was a cold drizzle falling. Then it snowed 11.5” that night.

Must have been a N/S deal. I don't recall that event at all.

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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GoFundMe "College Basketball vs Epilepsy": gf.me/u/zk3pj2

My Twitter @CBBjerseys4hope

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The snow that night was fairly localized as a weak outflow met a very moist southerly flow. But didn’t you guys get something in Nov 2010. I thought the second round was focused south of here.

 

It got cold in NW Oregon in November 2010, but there was not much snow. Most valley locations had a T-1" of snow with the arctic front overnight the 22nd. The two coldest days in NW Oregon were the 23rd and 24th. Sub-freezing highs made it down to about Corvallis. Very impressive event for November in NW Oregon.

 

PDX

30/18

32/18

 

SLE

31/24

35/19

 

CVO

32/23

35/24

 

EUG

37/25

38/27

 

Up here at Silver Falls 

26/18

31/16

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 1996 we were on day two of a pretty heavy rain event in the Willamette Valley. Totals from the 18-19th:

 

Eugene: 6.43"

Salem: 5.11"

PDX: 4.47"

Mid month was incredibly active in 1996. Record snowfall in the Fraser Valley. The 19” on the 16th at Agassiz is their one day record.
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Single-day totals were insane in that Nov. 1996 event. Many all-time records in western Oregon. Some totals that really stand out (1-day):

 

11.65" @ Port Orford 5E

8.85" @ Illahe

6.67" @ OTH

6.29" @ Corvallis (water bureau)

6.15" @ Cave Junction

5.92" @ Drain

5.72" @ Cottage Grove Dam

5.23" @ Falls City

4.82" @ Grants Pass

4.35" @ Roseburg

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It pussed out by the time it got to Eugene, but that was the coldest airmass this decade in W. Washington. Colder than anything in DJF. 850's were down to -18c over the WA coast. Really impressive up there.

 

#3 November Arctic event in the airport era for sure, after 1955 and 1985.

 

Had that pattern/air mass occurred about a month later, probably would have seen highs in the 17-23 range for western WA, similar to Dec 1990.

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November 1993 was better than 2010 once you get south of Portland. No sub-freezing highs, but colder lows and longer duration. Similar T-1" snowfall totals.

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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November 1993 was better than 2010 once you get south of Portland. No sub-freezing highs, but colder lows and longer duration. Similar T-1" snowfall totals.

 

As an overall event for the PNW, though, 2010 easily tops 1993. The coldest places were colder in 2010, and there was a lot more lowland snowfall.

 

I do remember being on the OR coast for family Thanksgiving in 1993 and seeing frozen puddles on the beach, the only time I've seen that in many trips to the OR coast.

A forum for the end of the world.

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As an overall event for the PNW, though, 2010 easily tops 1993. The coldest places were colder in 2010, and there was a lot more lowland snowfall.

 

I do remember being on the OR coast for family Thanksgiving in 1993 and seeing frozen puddles on the beach, the only time I've seen that in many trips to the OR coast.

 

I won't argue that. There must have also been quite a bit of a radiational cooling component to 1993, The temps down the valley were much more impressive than at PDX. Eugene had 3 consecutive lows in the mid-teens. Kind of the opposite of 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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