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February Weather Stats...Monitoring This Historic Month


snow_wizard

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One way to find new records is to go to NWS sites, go to the pull-down "latest text products", and look for "record reports".  Then, whatever you find, look for the "older" one, and then again look for the "older" one, and so on.  For example, from Seattle NWS: (you can go on and on and on with these, start here: https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?afos=xxxrersew&wfo=sew&font=120&new=1&version=2 

 

 RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
1234 AM PST TUE FEB 12 2019

...RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT...

A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 6.1 INCHES WAS SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT
YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 1.1 SET IN 1981.

&&

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT SEATTLE WA WFO...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 29 DEGREES WAS SET AT SEATTLE WA WFO
YESTERDAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 29 SET IN 2006.

 

And:

 RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
523 PM PST MON FEB 11 2019

...RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT...

A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 5.1 INCHES WAS SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 1.1 SET IN 1981.

&&

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE TIED AT SEATTLE WA WFO...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 29 DEGREES WAS SET AT SEATTLE WA WFO
TODAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 29 SET IN 2006.

 And:

 RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
1234 AM PST MON FEB 11 2019

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 21 DEGREES WAS SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA
AIRPORT YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 24 SET IN 1982.

&&

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT SEATTLE WA WFO...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 18 DEGREES WAS SET AT SEATTLE WA WFO
YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 26 SET IN 2001.

&&

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT BELLINGHAM WA AIRPORT...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 15 DEGREES WAS SET AT BELLINGHAM WA
AIRPORT YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 20 SET IN 1994.

&&

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT OLYMPIA WA AIRPORT...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 5 DEGREES WAS SET AT OLYMPIA WA AIRPORT
YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 15 SET IN 1982.
And

  
 RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
518 PM PST SUN FEB 10 2019

$$

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA AIRPORT...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 21 DEGREES WAS SET AT SEATTLE-TACOMA WA
AIRPORT TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 24 SET IN 1982.

&&

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT OLYMPIA WA AIRPORT...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 5 DEGREES WAS SET AT OLYMPIA WA AIRPORT
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 15 SET IN 1982.

&&

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT BELLINGHAM WA AIRPORT...

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 15 DEGREES WAS SET AT BELLINGHAM WA
AIRPORT TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 20 SET IN 1994.

&&

...RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT SEATTLE WA WFO...

  A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 18 DEGREES WAS SET AT SEATTLE WA WFO TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 26 SET IN 2001.

 

You can keep going with this all the way to the beginning of the event.

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And SEA didn't report snowfall for a period of years in the 90's and 00's.* It's why Dec 1996 is missing from the list of top snowfall months. Overall, the most recent event felt a lot like 1996 to me. A once in a generation event. I think Dec 1996 was around 21", very comparable to Feb 2019.

 

* They considered it "not important," which to me sounds ludicrous. Sure, it doesn't snow very much in this climate, but when it does, it often has a severe impact on air travel.

Yeah, Dec 1996 was fairly similar for Seattle for total snowfall.

 

However, that event only lasted a few days and was basically two huge snow dumps. This event lasted over a week and featured 4 separate snowstorms. And a lot more record cold.

 

It also occurred in February. So overall, I think Feb 2019 was easily more impressive from a historical perspective.

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Yeah, Dec 1996 was fairly similar for Seattle for total snowfall.

 

However, that event only lasted a few days and was basically two huge snow dumps. This event lasted over a week and featured 4 separate snowstorms. And a lot more record cold.

 

It also occurred in February. So overall, I think Feb 2019 was easily more impressive from a historical perspective.

December 1996 was a fair bit snowier for the city though. 17.9" at Sand Point and 22.5" at the downtown site.

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Yeah, Dec 1996 was fairly similar for Seattle for total snowfall.

 

However, that event only lasted a few days and was basically two huge snow dumps. This event lasted over a week and featured 4 separate snowstorms. And a lot more record cold.

 

It also occurred in February. So overall, I think Feb 2019 was easily more impressive from a historical perspective.

For Seattle. For the North Sound, the 1996 event started 6 days earlier and had a lot more snow and a white Christmas.
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December 1996 was a fair bit snowier for the city though. 17.9" at Sand Point and 22.5" at the downtown site.

 

I know Sand Point recorded more in 1996, but judging from some of the totals by posters here in Seattle, seems like a lot of them got close to what SEA got. Remember, with the last storm much of Seattle didn't switch over from snow until at least a couple hours after SEA did.

 

Sand Point was definitely on the low end for a couple of the storms this month that actually favored areas further south and west in the city.

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I know Sand Point recorded more in 1996, but judging from some of the totals by posters here in Seattle, seems like a lot of them got close to what SEA got. Remember, with the last storm much of Seattle didn't switch over from snow until at least a couple hours after SEA did.

 

Sand Point was definitely on the low end for a couple of the storms this month that actually favored areas further south and west in the city.

I don't think downtown has had anywhere near 22" so far this month. Probably more like 10-15" on average judging from reports. The accumulations with the Monday storm were definitely pretty elevation dependent.

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I don't think downtown has had anywhere near 22" so far this month. Probably more like 10-15" on average judging from reports. The accumulations with the Monday storm were definitely pretty elevation dependent.

Eh, it's hard to say when you're not comparing the same exact spot. I doubt SEA had more snow in Dec 1996, maybe about the same. And there were reports of anywhere from 15-25" around Seattle from people on here, which sounds pretty comparable to 1996.

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Pretty sad the very small number of stations recording snowfall these days. One of the few that is did this month in western WA besides SEA and Seattle WFO is Monroe. They had 26.2" as of yesterday it looks like.

 

Wow, the updated stats show Monroe has now received 37.3" of snow this month. Their snowfall records are spotty, but that's the third snowiest month on record for them, behind only Jan 1950 and Jan 1969. Beat Dec 2008 by 8".

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Eh, it's hard to say when you're not comparing the same exact spot. I doubt SEA had more snow in Dec 1996, maybe about the same. And there were reports of anywhere from 15-25" around Seattle from people on here, which sounds pretty comparable to 1996.

SEA was on the southern edge of the 12/26/96 action though. A lot more snow fell just north with that. And SEA still had about 18" that month, I would guess.

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OLM pulled off 12 straight highs of 40 or colder, which is easily the longest such February streak on record.

 

Probably more on the way too.

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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Feb 1-15 at some official stations:

 

UIL: 2nd coldest @ 33.5 (1989 @ 29.5)

OLM: 2nd coldest @ 32.0 (1989 @ 27.1, also 1949 at 32.0)

SEA: 3rd coldest @ 34.6 (1989 @ 30.5, 1949 at 32.2)

BLI: 3rd coldest @ 29.5 (1949 @ 28.6, 1989 @ 28.8)

DLS: 3rd coldest @ 28.9 (1989 @ 22.7, 1956 @ 28.1)

 

At PDX, it was 6th coldest @ 37.4, coming in behind #5 in 2014 (37.0). Coldest is 1989 at 30.2 average.

 

In Montana, both Great Falls & Havre airports posted their coldest first half of February on record:

 

GTF: -0.3, previous 2.0 in 1975 (city record: -13.2 in 1936)

HVR: -6.4, previous -3.1 in 1975 (city record: -18.8 in 1936)

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The average for SEA through the 19th was 35.6 which would tie the 1956 monthly average if this were the end of the month.  I think they have an outside shot at coming in around that for the entire month, but that remains to be seen.  Next in line is 1989 with 35.9 and then 1949 with 37.2.  Looks like a high chance SEA will come in at number 3 coldest for this one.

 

Another stat of interest is freezing low temperatures.  They are currently at 12 and have a decent shot at dropping to freezing before midnight tonight which would put them at 14 tomorrow.  The record is 17 from 1949 and 1989.  This is especially impressive when you consider a lot of these were with cloudy skies and active weather.

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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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Just a quick rundown for SEA to date:

 

Snow:

 

Month = 20.2 ... Most in Feb since 1916

 

1" or more on ground = 9 days ... tied with 1949 for most days in the month of February

 

Max depth = 7" ... 2nd only to 1969 which had 11 on the 1st. Tied with 1990 and 1962

 

 

Temperature:

 

Monthly average to date = 36.0 ... 3rd place behind 1956 and 1989 (likely to finish in 3rd place)

 

Max below 40 = 9 ... 2nd to 1949 which had 13

 

Min 32 or below = 13 ... tied for 4th place (1949 had the most with 17)

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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Eugene set a daily snowfall record yesterday 2/25/19. With 9.5" of snowfall. They also broke a record for precip for the date with 1.24" of precipitation. This was the 2nd day in a row they set a record for precip. 

 

The 9.5" of snow is the 2nd most to be recorded at EUG in a single day in February. 

 

PDX also tied a record yesterday from 1971 for daily snowfall. They recorded 0.3". 

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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Probably more updated numbers later today...

 

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
115 PM PST MON FEB 25 2019

...NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH SNOWFALL FOR FEBRUARY 25TH...

NOTE: STATIONS MARKED WITH * INDICATE THAT THE STATION REPORTS ONCE
PER DAY. FOR CONSISTENCY...THESE VALUES ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE
OCCURRED ON THE DAY THE OBSERVATION WAS TAKEN BUT MAY HAVE ACTUALLY
OCCURRED (ESPECIALLY FOR MAX TEMPERATURE) ON THE PREVIOUS DAY.

STATION PREVIOUS NEW RECORDS
RECORD/YEAR RECORD BEGAN

*BEND(CITY), OR 4.0 / 1917 12.5 1901
*COVE, OR 4.0 / 2011 4.1 1917
*JOHN DAY(CITY), OR 4.2 / 1971 5.0 1891
*LONG CREEK, OR 5.0 / 1911 6.5 1908
*PRINEVILLE, OR 1.5 / 1928 9.9 1897
*WHITMAN MISSION, WA 0.5 / 2014 3.2 1962
*LOWER HAY CREEK, OR 0.5 / 1971 10.0 1938

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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snow-totals-south-valley-central-oregon-

snow-totals-south-valley-central-oregon2

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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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Although it's not quite official, it looks like BLI will set the record for the coldest February in its history (since 1949). If my math is correct the monthly average will come in at 32.54. The previous coldest February was 1989 which was 33.83. However, there is a day missing from that month which would have made the average quite a bit colder. What day was it? Of course, Feb. 1st. For some reason the data is missing for that day. Based on the hourly data that is available, that day would have had a high temp around 8° and a low of 4°, making the monthly average 32.84. This is still warmer than 2019, which makes this record even more legit.

 

Also, I believe this was the coldest month overall since Nov. 1985.

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Looks like PDX will end the month with an average temp of 37.6, third coldest overall February on record.

 

Average MAX was 42.9 which is the second coldest on record, average MIN was 32.3 which was fifth coldest on record.

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SEA finished the month with a myriad of impressive stats.  I will be posting those soon.  Pretty amazing to have a February be the coldest month of this century so far being nearly 1/5 of the way into it.  A strong break from the front loaded nature of most of the winters we have grown accustomed to.

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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Although it's not quite official, it looks like BLI will set the record for the coldest February in its history (since 1949). If my math is correct the monthly average will come in at 32.54. The previous coldest February was 1989 which was 33.83. However, there is a day missing from that month which would have made the average quite a bit colder. What day was it? Of course, Feb. 1st. For some reason the data is missing for that day. Based on the hourly data that is available, that day would have had a high temp around 8° and a low of 4°, making the monthly average 32.84. This is still warmer than 2019, which makes this record even more legit.

 

Also, I believe this was the coldest month overall since Nov. 1985.

 

That is ridiculously cold for Feb.  I ended up at 34.6 here which ain't too shabby.

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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SEA finished the month with a myriad of impressive stats. I will be posting those soon. Pretty amazing to have a February be the coldest month of this century so far being nearly 1/5 of the way into it. A strong break from the front loaded nature of most of the winters we have grown accustomed to.

Do you have an opinion as to what causes the front loaded winters?

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Do you have an opinion as to what causes the front loaded winters?

 

No real idea unless it's something to do with solar activity.  I do think the cold coming early often reduces the chances of the main part of the winter being good.

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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In most of Western Oregon this was the coldest February since 1989. 

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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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Coldest Feb. on record at a number of WA stations, especially those that weren't around in 1936: 

 

15.7 at Holden Village

16.2 at Mazama

21.9 at Wenatchee Airport

24.3 at Moses Lake Airport

24.8 at Pasco/Tri Cities Airport

24.9 at Whitman Mission

25.1 at Richland

26.7 at Ice Harbor Dam

26.8 at Ross Dam

29.4 at Dallesport (The Dalles Airport)

31.8 at Baring

32.5 at BLI

35.0 at Quillayute (tied 1989!)

36.2 at Boeing Field

36.6 at Seattle WFO

36.9 at Vancouver Pearson

 

For historical Feb. monthly averages, 1936 remains untouched. The coldest Feb. averages on record at any WA stations are from that year, and no other year has come close:

 

3.6 at Twisp

5.3 at Winthrop

6.2 at Chesaw

7.5 at Conconully

9.0 at Republic

9.3 at Waterville

10.0 at Laurier

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4th coldest February on record at Medford.

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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What about personal stats?  This was my second best winter after 2008.

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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I posted this in the main thread, but reposting here for archiving purposes:

 

Harts Pass Snotel, WA averaged 12.5 degrees last month. 

 

Looks like this was the coldest Feb average at any Snotel or RAWS station in WA state history! The RAWS network went online in 1985, and the Snotel network around 1980. The previous coldest Feb. average was 12.8, at "83 Monument" RAWS in February 1989. 

 

For official stations, the Feb. average at Tonasket 11NE COOP was 13.3 degrees - coldest for Feb. at any official WA station since 1936! Narrowly beat out the 13.6 degree average at Twisp 10W in February 1956. In February 1936, a number of stations in eastern WA averaged in the single digits.

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