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

[snow_wizard 11674]

I think My Location definitely would have gotten snow in January 1980. I've studied that event enough to know your spot probably did alright once the flow turned onshore on the 10th. Even Salem had an inch or two.

 

1980 was one of my all time favorite snowstorms.  Widespread 6 to 12 inch amounts for the Puget Sound region.  I still remember how excited everyone was at my High School in the hours just before the snow started falling.

[MR.SNOWMIZER 6931]

On this day a year ago Tim planted flowers.

[SilverFallsAndrew 14787]

I think My Location definitely would have gotten snow in January 1980. I've studied that event enough to know your spot probably did alright once the flow turned onshore on the 10th. Even Salem had an inch or two.

 

I looked back at the stats from Silver Falls for January 1980 and I think you are right. That station is horrible at recording snowfall, especially in the late 70s up through about 10 years ago. The 10th at Silver Falls was 35/25 with 0.52" of precip. Safe to say based on that they probably did very well actually. Later in the month the arctic blast produced 4 straight lows in the single digits. 

[wx_statman 2469]

1-11-1963

 

21/11 at PDX with dp's down to -20 at one point. 

 

https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPDX/1963/1/11/DailyHistory.html

[SilverFallsAndrew 14787]

1-11-1963

 

21/11 at PDX with dp's down to -20 at one point. 

 

https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPDX/1963/1/11/DailyHistory.html

 

\Looks like Silverton had a 23/7 with that blast. About as cold as it gets with bare ground. 

[wx_statman 2469]

\Looks like Silverton had a 23/7 with that blast. About as cold as it gets with bare ground. 

 

Makes me wonder what that airmass would have done with some snow to work with. 

[SilverFallsAndrew 14787]

Makes me wonder what that airmass would have done with some snow to work with. 

 

I think we could knock off a few degrees from the highs and probably at least 5 off the lows...At least most of the valley had some good snow late in the month.

[wx_statman 2469]

I think we could knock off a few degrees from the highs and probably at least 5 off the lows...At least most of the valley had some good snow late in the month.

 

That was a very decent winter storm later in the month. There was also snow on the transition out from the mid-month airmass (13th/14th). 

[BLI snowman 6767]

Going way back, a major snow and ice storm on this day in 1857. Fort Vancouver had 1.05" of precip with a 27/19 spread, with 0.45" and 31/27 on the 12th. This followed a major arctic blast which had produced 18/2 a few days earlier.

 

Five years later in 1862, the 2nd week of January snowstorm sweetness struck again, with 17" falling in Vancouver on the 10th-11th in what would be the biggest snow event of that winter.

[wx_statman 2469]

Going way back, a major snow and ice storm on this day in 1857. Fort Vancouver had 1.05" of precip with a 27/19 spread, with 0.45" and 31/27 on the 12th. This followed a major arctic blast which had produced 18/2 a few days earlier.

 

Five years later in 1862, the 2nd week of January snowstorm sweetness struck again, with 17" falling in Vancouver on the 10th-11th in what would be the biggest snow event of that winter.

 

January 1857 was crazy cold. Still the coldest month on record in the Minneapolis area. The Washington DC-Richmond blizzard on the 16th-18th. Chesapeake Bay frozen out to the Atlantic. Also one of the greatest New England cold waves on record. I've read before that people measured -50 on spirit thermometers in Vermont during that one. If memory serves one town hit -50 and another -44. Fun winter. 

[Front Ranger 7604]

On this day in 1963, DEN had their coldest day on record: -9/-25.

 

Here's the NWS summary of the event. 

 

1963: A Arctic cold wave plunged temperatures well below zero across metro Denver. Temperatures were below zero for a total of 64 consecutive hours. Low temperatures reached25 degrees below zero on both the 11th and 12th. The high temperature of 9 degrees below zero on the 11th was the coldest ever recorded at Stapleton Airport and equaled the record low maximum for the month first set on January 19, 1883, in downtown Denver. The high temperature on the 12th reached only 1 degree below zero. On the 12th, an 18-year-old youth died of exposure from the extreme cold in Denver. There were many losses and damage to property from frozen water systems, stalled cars, and over-burdened heating systems. Light snow accompanied the Arctic blast. At Stapleton Airport, 2.3 inches of snow fell on the 10th and 11th.

[BLI snowman 6767]

January 1857 was crazy cold. Still the coldest month on record in the Minneapolis area. The Washington DC-Richmond blizzard on the 16th-18th. Chesapeake Bay frozen out to the Atlantic. Also one of the greatest New England cold waves on record. I've read before that people measured -50 on spirit thermometers in Vermont during that one. If memory serves one town hit -50 and another -44. Fun winter. 

 

Interesting, locally the progression was actually very, very similar to last winter. Fort Vancouver stayed at 36 or below from December 26 to January 17. I didn't know it was so crazy in the East. Unlike the modern era, the whole country shared in on the extreme stuff quite frequently back then.

[wx_statman 2469]

Interesting, locally the progression was actually very, very similar to last winter. Fort Vancouver stayed at 36 or below from December 26 to January 17. I didn't know it was so crazy in the East. Unlike the modern era, the whole country shared in on the extreme stuff quite frequently back then.

 

The 1850's stand out to me historically. It seems as though both coasts got hit hard, repeatedly, throughout that decade. 

[wx_statman 2469]

On this day in 1963, DEN had their coldest day on record: -9/-25.

 

Here's the NWS summary of the event. 

 

1963: A Arctic cold wave plunged temperatures well below zero across metro Denver. Temperatures were below zero for a total of 64 consecutive hours. Low temperatures reached25 degrees below zero on both the 11th and 12th. The high temperature of 9 degrees below zero on the 11th was the coldest ever recorded at Stapleton Airport and equaled the record low maximum for the month first set on January 19, 1883, in downtown Denver. The high temperature on the 12th reached only 1 degree below zero. On the 12th, an 18-year-old youth died of exposure from the extreme cold in Denver. There were many losses and damage to property from frozen water systems, stalled cars, and over-burdened heating systems. Light snow accompanied the Arctic blast. At Stapleton Airport, 2.3 inches of snow fell on the 10th and 11th.

 

The -50 in Laramie, WY from that cold wave is IMO one of the most impressive cold records anywhere in the country. It took them until January 2017 to even hit -40 again. There were also press reports of -57 at Ciniza, New Mexico. Measured at the Western Refinery (which still exists today) on their facility thermometer. I actually found a link to it:

 

https://weather.nmsu.edu/climate/about/

 

The lowest temperature recorded at regular observing stations in the State was -50° F at Gavilan on February 1, 1951. An unofficial low temperature of -57° F at Ciniza on January 13, 1963, was widely reported by the press.

[Scott 358]

The -50 in Laramie, WY from that cold wave is IMO one of the most impressive cold records anywhere in the country. It took them until January 2017 to even hit -40 again. There were also press reports of -57 at Ciniza, New Mexico. Measured at the Western Refinery (which still exists today) on their facility thermometer. I actually found a link to it:

 

https://weather.nmsu.edu/climate/about/

 

The lowest temperature recorded at regular observing stations in the State was -50° F at Gavilan on February 1, 1951. An unofficial low temperature of -57° F at Ciniza on January 13, 1963, was widely reported by the press.

 

-51 at Eagle Colorado was a pretty good one as well.   January 2017 only hit -17 there.   It's true that Eagle did hit -46 on 2/1/1951, but those are the only readings (1951 and 1963) below -36 in the station's history.

 

The 8 in Las Vegas on 1/13/1962 was a pretty good one too.

[Phil 11734]

I’ll have to find/link the studies, but there’s evidence that midwinter wavelengths were substantially longer across the Western Hemisphere during the 19th century, perhaps by up to 20-25%.

 

That might explain why a larger portion of North America could score during the same pattern.

[wx_statman 2469]

Here's some more info about January 1857:

 

http://www.glenallenweather.com/ex9/Very%20Cold%20Periods%20in%20the%20Eastern%20US.pdf

 

The lowest readings from press releases from Maine were: -52 at Bath, Maine; -51 at Franconia New Hampshire; and 50 below at both Montpelier and St. John's., Vermont. The present day excepted low temperature for Maine by the National Climate Data Center is 50 below zero. Early American Winters, I 1604-1820 by David M. Ludlum pp. 54-61

[wx_statman 2469]

-51 at Eagle Colorado was a pretty good one as well.   January 2017 only hit -17 there.   It's true that Eagle did hit -46 on 2/1/1951, but those are the only readings (1951 and 1963) below -36 in the station's history.

 

The 8 in Las Vegas on 1/13/1962 was a pretty good one too.

 

Yeah, the penetration into the desert SW was pretty insane in Jan 1963. 29/8 in Vegas and 32/3 in Barstow. 

[snow_wizard 11674]

1-12- 

 

1854 - One of the all time great January cold waves began on this day when the low temperature at Fort Steilacom dropped to 22 degrees.  The cold wave lasted until the 24th and had 10 consecutive days with highs below freezing and 12 consecutive days with highs of 33 or below.  About 5 inches of snow fell going into the event.  Following is a list of dates and temperatures for the greatest part of the cold wave.

 

16. 24 - 4

17. 22 - 3

18. 18 - 5

19. 25 - 0

20. 30 - 10

21. 32 - 19

22. 26 - (-1)

23. 28 - 0

[Scott 358]

The lowest readings from press releases from Maine were: -52 at Bath, Maine

 

 

Bath is on the coast, so if the reading really is accurate, it must have been really cold inland, especially in northern Maine.

[wx_statman 2469]

Bath is on the coast, so if the reading really is accurate, it must have been really cold inland, especially in northern Maine.

 

That reading is hard to believe. Although as you know, Portland ME did hit -39 in Feb 1943. 

[Scott 358]

That reading is hard to believe. Although as you know, Portland ME did hit -39 in Feb 1943. 

 

Yes, very hard to believe, though it would still be amazing if accurate.  Even the Portland 1943 reading does seem out of place when compared to the surrounding areas, but it is accepted as being accurate.

 

For what it's worth, the -57 at Ciniza mention also seems unlikely.   None of the other weather stations in the vicinity were below -27, including Fort Wingate (-26) which is right next to Ciniza.    Average January lows for most of the stations in that area are 18-20, so if the -57 really did happen, it would be almost surely be the coldest reading in the US for a location with such a high average low.   

[wx_statman 2469]

Yes, very hard to believe, though it would still be amazing if accurate.  Even the Portland 1943 reading does seem out of place when compared to the surrounding areas, but it is accepted as being accurate.

 

For what it's worth, the -57 at Ciniza mention also seems unlikely.   None of the other weather stations in the vicinity were below -27, including Fort Wingate (-26) which is right next to Ciniza.    Average January lows for most of the stations in that area are 18-20, so if the -57 really did happen, it would be almost surely be the coldest reading in the US for a location with such a high average low.   

 

Oh, interesting. I wasn't aware of that. Definitely seems unlikely now. 

[snow_wizard 11674]

1-13-

 

1950

 

This is the day the infamous Friday the 13th blizzard stuck the lowlands of Western WA and NW Oregon.  This is one of the few times large amounts of snow fell across the area with temperatures well below 20 degrees.  Seattle would go on to achieve an impressive 24 hour total of 21.4".  Their high temperature on the following day was a bone chilling 16 degrees which is the lowest max temp on record for Seattle during the 20th century.  This storm was one of the few on record for Seattle to officially meet all of the criteria for a true blizzard.

 

The 500mb map below is a composite of January 13 and 14, 1950.  This is how it's done!

 

Note:  This is also proof positive that we can score big with a Hudson's Bay PV in play.

[SilverFallsAndrew 14787]

This date in 1971 was the final day of a 4-day snow event that dumped about 36" of snow at Silver Falls. This was one of the snowiest winters on record not only at Silver Falls, but also in parts of the Willamette Valley. I am sure others know more about this setup, but I believe it was a very cold onshore flow event similar to February 1990.

 

In the valley it was a very wet snow event, but a very significant snow event. Here are some totals for the valley ending the 14th.

 

 

Eugene   18.1"

Corvallis  15.3"

Silverton   14.0

Salem      11.1"

PDX           6.9"

[Guest happ]

Reminder that we have active weather in SoCal

 

NWS_SD

 

[SilverFallsAndrew 14787]

Reminder that we have active weather in SoCal

 

NWS_SD

 

That 1963 cold wave was a beast in the SW.

[Guest happ]

That 1963 cold wave was a beast in the SW.

 

It can get cold down here. 2007 is another example.

[SilverFallsAndrew 14787]

It can get cold down here. 2007 is another example.

I remember this one. It was a decent cold snap in the PNW, but historic in the SW.

[SilverFallsAndrew 14787]

Looks like there was a major Fraser River blast associated with the major regional snow event of January 1971. 

 

BLI had an 18/13 day on the 12th! Temps Seattle and south were pretty similar to those in W. Oregon though. With lots of wet snow to go around. Here are some Washington snowfall numbers.

 

Aberdeen 9.8"

Sea-Tac   9.1"

BLI          25.1"

Olympia  15.1"

[BLI snowman 6767]

Looks like there was a major Fraser River blast associated with the major regional snow event of January 1971. 

 

BLI had an 18/13 day on the 12th! Temps Seattle and south were pretty similar to those in W. Oregon though. With lots of wet snow to go around. Here are some Washington snowfall numbers.

 

Aberdeen 9.8"

Sea-Tac   9.1"

BLI          25.1"

Olympia  15.1"

 

We had another similar multi-day event later that winter in late February. Lots of cold onshore flow that winter.

[BLI snowman 6767]

Mid January 1888 was perhaps the most intense arctic airmass in recorded history in the PNW.

 

After an impressive early month airmass (21/10 at Portland), a front came barreling in on the 13th and the temps grew progressively colder for the next few days before bottoming out on the 15th-16th. 

 

Temp spreads include 23/-3 at Ashland, an incredible 20/1 at Newport on the coast, 13/-5, at Eola, all time records of 9 and -2 in Downtown Portland (with bare ground!) on the 15th, a 16/10 day at Astoria on the 16th, and all time records of 18/-2 at Downtown Olympia.

 

East of the Cascades the airmass was phenomenal, Spokane set all time records on the 15th with a high of -10 and low of -30. Miles City, MT plunged to -65 on the 14th, still a record for that part of the state, and the historic blizzard that hit the plains with this arctic front was the deadliest in American history.

 

The cold wave lasted for several days before a fairly significant overrunning snowstorm moved in on the 16th-17th. The late part of the month featured a pretty impressive blowtorch.

[Guest Dome Buster]

Looks like there was a major Fraser River blast associated with the major regional snow event of January 1971.

 

BLI had an 18/13 day on the 12th! Temps Seattle and south were pretty similar to those in W. Oregon though. With lots of wet snow to go around. Here are some Washington snowfall numbers.

 

Aberdeen 9.8"

Sea-Tac 9.1"

BLI 25.1"

Olympia 15.1"

Olympic rain shadow must of been in full effect for that episode. Any details of the rest of king and snohomish counties?

[ShawniganLake 5447]

Looks like there was a major Fraser River blast associated with the major regional snow event of January 1971.

 

BLI had an 18/13 day on the 12th! Temps Seattle and south were pretty similar to those in W. Oregon though. With lots of wet snow to go around. Here are some Washington snowfall numbers.

 

Aberdeen 9.8"

Sea-Tac 9.1"

BLI 25.1"

Olympia 15.1"

Shawnigan Lake had 39” between the 10th and 14th in 1971.

 

Vancouver (YVR) had 40” in that time frame

[SilverFallsAndrew 14787]

Shawnigan Lake had 39” between the 10th and 14th in 1971.

 

Vancouver (YVR) had 40” in that time frame

 

Wow. The 18" at Eugene really stands out to me too...All with 15-20 mph southerly winds. I bet temps up in your area were pretty impressive!

[ShawniganLake 5447]

Wow. The 18" at Eugene really stands out to me too...All with 15-20 mph southerly winds. I bet temps up in your area were pretty impressive!

Jan 11. 24/20

Jan 12. 23/20

Jan 13. 24/20

 

The mainland was colder

Jan 11 to 14 at Abbotsford shows

 

14/10

16/10

17/13

17/12

[SilverFallsAndrew 14787]

Jan 11. 24/20

Jan 12. 23/20

Jan 13. 24/20

 

The mainland was colder

Jan 11 to 14 at Abbotsford shows

 

14/10

16/10

17/13

17/12

Incredible! Truly a regional event too! I would love to see a similar event one of these winters where EVERYONE scores.

[Scott 358]

Mid January 1888 was perhaps the most intense arctic airmass in recorded history in the PNW.

 

 

It hit the Rocky Mountains too (the Montana reading was already mentioned), though there weren't many weather stations around then.  The book History of Rich County (Utah) says that Randolph hit -65 on 1/15/1888.   I have always wondered about that reading.   Randolph is one of the coldest places in Utah, but besides that -65 mentioned in the history book (apparently unofficial since I have never seen any other data indicating that it is the state record), the coldest reading in a town in Utah was -50 at Woodruff on 2/6/1899.  I have looked for, but have never found any other information or sources on the -65.   

 

Since Randolph is a very cold spot (one of the coldest in Utah), I have wondered if the -65 could actually be accurate given the severity of the 1/1888 cold snap.   I guess I could see it under ideal conditions during a severe cold snap.

 

Official records in Randolph only date from 1893-1894 and then again (with much missing data) 1997-2017.  In the same general region, Border Wyoming produced a -60 on 2/8/1929 and Maybell produced a -61 on 2/1/1985.    Maybell and Border both have similar climates to Randolph.  It is true that Randolph didn't get as cold as Maybell during the 2/1985 cold snap, but it has with several other cold snaps.  Near the river and under ideal conditions, I guess I can see that the -65 might have some plausibility.   I don't think there's any way to verify or confirm it though.  

[James Jones 497]

Mid January 1888 was perhaps the most intense arctic airmass in recorded history in the PNW.

 

After an impressive early month airmass (21/10 at Portland), a front came barreling in on the 13th and the temps grew progressively colder for the next few days before bottoming out on the 15th-16th. 

 

Temp spreads include 23/-3 at Ashland, an incredible 20/1 at Newport on the coast, 13/-5, at Eola, all time records of 9 and -2 in Downtown Portland (with bare ground!) on the 15th, a 16/10 day at Astoria on the 16th, and all time records of 18/-2 at Downtown Olympia.

 

East of the Cascades the airmass was phenomenal, Spokane set all time records on the 15th with a high of -10 and low of -30. Miles City, MT plunged to -65 on the 14th, still a record for that part of the state, and the historic blizzard that hit the plains with this arctic front was the deadliest in American history.

 

The cold wave lasted for several days before a fairly significant overrunning snowstorm moved in on the 16th-17th. The late part of the month featured a pretty impressive blowtorch.

 

I'd love to know what the 850s looked like for that one. A high of 9 in Downtown Portland is just staggering.

[Scott 358]

A few other impressive temperatures and records from 1888 not mentioned yet.

 

California

 

Eureka:  36/20 on 1/14/1888

San Francisco:  39/29 on 1/15/1888

Fresno:  42/20 on 1/14/1888

 

Colorado

 

Denver:  -59 windchill (-83 on the old chart!) on 1/14/1888

 

Idaho

 

Boise:  -10/-28 on 1/16/1888

 

Minnesota

 

Minnesota/St Paul:  -17/-41 on 1/21/1888

Nebraska

 

Lincoln:   High of -16 on 1/14/1888 (on 7/25/1936 Lincoln had a low of 91, but that's another story)

Omaha:   High of -14 on 1/14/1888

 

Texas

 

Fort Elliot:   0/-14 on 1/15/1888

 

Utah

 

Randolph:  -65 reported on 1/15/1888 (see above)

[FAR_Weather 5173]

(on 7/25/1936 Lincoln had a low of 91, but that's another story)

 

There's pictures somewhere from that night. People who HAD homes (great depression, remember that) obviously didn't have AC, cuz it was the 30s. They had to spend that night in tents outside because their homes were so hot. Apparently crime was insane. There's a picture somewhere of the Hoovervilles outside the capitol.

[Scott 358]

There's a picture somewhere of the Hoovervilles outside the capitol.

It's right here:

 

http://snr.unl.edu/LincolnWeather/LNK1936capitol.jpg

 

It was a hot day:

 

 

It's a little off topic though, so maybe we'll discuss it on another thread.

[Phil 11734]

Minimum temperature of 91*F?

 

S**t, I hope it wasn’t humid.

[FAR_Weather 5173]

Minimum temperature of 91*F?

 

S**t, I hope it wasn’t humid.

I'm guessing it was. Generally the hottest days here are accompanied by humidity and a South wind which is equivalent to someone breathing on you in terms of temperature. 95° feels bad enough here, I can't imagine how that 115° felt. Dew points had to be in the 80s during that day.

[Phil 11734]

I'm guessing it was. Generally the hottest days here are accompanied by humidity and a South wind which is equivalent to someone breathing on you in terms of temperature. 95° feels bad enough here, I can't imagine how that 115° felt. Dew points had to be in the 80s during that day.

Dewpoints in the 80s in Nebraska? I thought the dust bowl summers were defined by that dry, windy heat. How often do dewpoints reach the 80s there now?

 

The DC area’s most famous heatwaves also occurred back in the 1930s, but they weren’t very humid. The heatwaves of the late 1930s and 1940s became very humid, however, with dewpoints twice reaching 88*F during those swampy 1940s summers.

[FAR_Weather 5173]

Dewpoints in the 80s in Nebraska? I thought the dust bowl summers were defined by that dry, windy heat. How often do dewpoints reach the 80s there now?

 

The DC area’s most famous heatwaves also occurred back in the 1930s, but they weren’t very humid. The heatwaves of the late 1930s and 1940s became very humid, however, with dewpoints twice reaching 88*F during those swampy 1940s summers.

Almost never reach the 80s. Highest we normally reach each year are the mid-70s. I think we only hit that once this past Summer.

[TT-SEA 3675]

Proof that the 4th of July in 1910 was a beautiful day in North Bend. Actually I looked it up and it was 81 degrees here on 7/4/1910. Seems way too warm to be wearing these clothes!   It had been basically summer-like since April 15th in 1910... that was an absolutely gorgeous spring and early summer.   These people had already experienced almost 3 months of summer before this picture was taken. 

For those familiar with Mt Si... it sure does look bare. I believe it was logged and then there was a massive fire in the Snoqualmie Valley in 1913. They really mismanaged things back then.




And here is a later photo looking south towards Rattlesnake Ridge which is completely mangled. Our house would on the left side of this pic on the side of the ridge. I would say it looks infinitely more scenic today!

[wx_statman 2469]

Mid January 1888 was perhaps the most intense arctic airmass in recorded history in the PNW.

 

After an impressive early month airmass (21/10 at Portland), a front came barreling in on the 13th and the temps grew progressively colder for the next few days before bottoming out on the 15th-16th. 

 

Temp spreads include 23/-3 at Ashland, an incredible 20/1 at Newport on the coast, 13/-5, at Eola, all time records of 9 and -2 in Downtown Portland (with bare ground!) on the 15th, a 16/10 day at Astoria on the 16th, and all time records of 18/-2 at Downtown Olympia.

 

East of the Cascades the airmass was phenomenal, Spokane set all time records on the 15th with a high of -10 and low of -30. Miles City, MT plunged to -65 on the 14th, still a record for that part of the state, and the historic blizzard that hit the plains with this arctic front was the deadliest in American history.

 

The cold wave lasted for several days before a fairly significant overrunning snowstorm moved in on the 16th-17th. The late part of the month featured a pretty impressive blowtorch.

 

Meant to reply a couple days ago. The Missoula numbers were insane in January 1888.

 

12th: 27/-10

13th: -14/-28

14th: -25/-39

15th: -29/-42

16th: -27/-40

17th: -6/-22

18th: 20/5

 

I mean, those are really hard to believe. I want to believe them but I'm thinking something was off. 

[wx_statman 2469]

For reference, the next coldest reading in the Missoula signal service record (1870-1893) was -36 on 2-3-1883, and that was an absolute minimum. Only 3-daily obs were available in January 1888, implying even colder readings (at least possibly) outside of the 7am observation times. The lowest 7am reading outside of January 1888 was just -34 in January 1875, itself a massive cold wave. Really hard to believe three straight days pushing -40...but I guess it's possible.

[snow_wizard 11674]

At this time in 1862 we were right in the middle of the most intense cold wave of that winter.  This certainly ranks as one of the top 5 cold air masses since 1850.  Below are temperatures from Fort Steilacom and Fort Vancouver.

 

Steilacom:

 

15. 18/3

16. 21/-8

17. 18/-8

18. 21/-7

 

Vancouver:

 

15. 25/5

16. 18/-7

17. 13/-10

18. 16/-3

 

I would love to see people's reaction if we had something like that now!