June (July) 2020 Weather Discussion for the PNW

[Omegaraptor]

Adding on to earlier... you might recall that I was in Texas and missed 1/10/17. However, San Antonio actually saw some impressive temperature extrema and swings while I was there.

 

The day I arrived it was 38/25, a -19 departure. The high temp went up but two days later they got a low of 19. Then the subtropical warmth broke through. On 1/10/17... it was 79/54 for a +16 departure.

 

The Rockies and Plains create a “funnel” for cold air to travel straight down into Texas and even farther south into Mexico. The northeast coast of Mexico is one of the only places on Earth to be within the tropics and yet have recorded frost at sea level. Veracruz just above the 19th parallel and right on the sea has a record low of 32.4°F.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Adding on to earlier... you might recall that I was in Texas and missed 1/10/17. However, San Antonio actually saw some impressive temperature extrema and swings while I was there.

 

The day I arrived it was 38/25, a -19 departure. The high temp went up but two days later they got a low of 19. Then the subtropical warmth broke through. On 1/10/17... it was 79/54 for a +16 departure.

 

The Rockies and Plains create a “funnel” for cold air to travel straight down into Texas and even farther south into Mexico. The northeast coast of Mexico is one of the only places on Earth to be within the tropics and yet have recorded frost at sea level. Veracruz just above the 19th parallel and right on the sea has a record low of 32.4°F.

 

I flew out of PDX as snow was falling on the evening of 12/14/16. I was in NE Oklahoma for the next 10 days. On the 17th we had a midday high of 52 and then an intense arctic front moved through, the temp fell to 8 by midnight. The next day was 17/-1. By the 20th the high hit 50 again. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

PDX recently updated their top 5 warmest/coldest months/seasons/years chart, through January 2020.

 

https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/pdxclimate/pg44.pdf

 

It looks like 2016-17 was their 5th coldest “deep winter” (December 15-February 10) period on record, with an average temp of just 35.2 in that stretch.

 

That year also featured their 5th lowest average max for Astronomical Winter on record, with an average high of just 45 for the entire December 21-March 20 period.

 

It’s a period that definitely seems to be slightly underrated on this forum. Even though it obviously didn’t roll with the big dawgs like 1955-56 in terms of extremes, the extended chillyness was consistent on an historically significant level.

 

4 of the top 5 warmest summers have been since 2014. 

[Jesse]

If we are talking about the Western lowlands I think PDX was a bit of an anomaly due to the outflow period following the January 10th event.

That being said, I do agree we, including myself, underrated it at the time. I think that had to do with the general lack of widespread snow north of Portland (outside of the February event), and no regional arctic outbreaks. From a sustained cold perspective it is hard to find many years that are similar. We went through pretty much an entire winter with no real torching.

I think if it was some winter from the 1920s we were looking at objectively we would rate it much higher than we do now. Especially when we factor in how sustained the cold on the east side was.

I think February/March 2019 is a period that will endure too. Though it is hard to say that period is underrated on here, it was pretty special.

Portland’s sustained cold was a reflection of the sustained cold in the gorge and on the east side. Nothing unusual there. It was our first winter in East Clark county and the cold offshore flow was VERY persistent. Well into February.

[Jesse]

[El_Nina]

First cicada I've noticed so far this year here. Definitely the thinnest marine layer of the week today, too. Beautiful Friday.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

In 16-17 I remember the flags seemed to be constantly blowing from the north down (up) the valley or all the way over the mtns from the east down the McKenzie valley in CCG events. I think there was one in early Jan?

[TT-SEA]

12Z EPS shows a slow and steady warm up after tomorrow's trough. Hope it will finally be right.

[Front Ranger]

If we are talking about the Western lowlands I think PDX was a bit of an anomaly due to the outflow period following the January 10th event.

 

That being said, I do agree we, including myself, underrated it at the time. I think that had to do with the general lack of widespread snow north of Portland (outside of the February event), and no regional arctic outbreaks. From a sustained cold perspective it is hard to find many years that are similar. We went through pretty much an entire winter with no real torching.

 

I think if it was some winter from the 1920s we were looking at objectively we would rate it much higher than we do now. Especially when we factor in how sustained the cold on the east side was.

 

I think February/March 2019 is a period that will endure too. Though it is hard to say that period is underrated on here, it was pretty special.

 

I think 2010-11 is the most underrated winter on here. Two top tier Arctic air masses for when they occurred, one in November and one in February. The fact that places south of OLM didn't do very well for snow has a lot to do with that, I'm sure, along with the big rug pull in January.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

I think 2010-11 is the most underrated winter on here. Two top tier Arctic air masses for when they occurred, one in November and one in February. The fact that places south of OLM didn't do very well for snow has a lot to do with that, I'm sure, along with the big rug pull in January.

 

10-11 was boring down this way. I feel like from a regional perspective, 16-17 is still better. As is 13-14.

[Phil]

First cicada I've noticed so far this year here. Definitely the thinnest marine layer of the week today, too. Beautiful Friday.

They’re out here now too. Overall ~ 2 weeks late, likely owing to the chilly May and late freezes. Lightning Bugs peaking now..usually that happens in late June.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

Yellowjackets/ground hornets are starting to become a nuisance now.

[Front Ranger]

4 of the top 5 warmest summers have been since 2014. 

 

Two of those summers were top 5 at OLM, 2015 and 2017.

[Front Ranger]

10-11 was boring down this way. I feel like from a regional perspective, 16-17 is still better. As is 13-14.

 

That was pretty boring for Puget Sounders. Very little snow.

 

In a lot of ways, 13-14 was the inverse of 10-11. Much more impressive for OR than WA.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Spring 2011 was something else. At Silver Falls the monthly max in March was 52, April 60, May 66, 81 in June but only 4 days that month were above 70. 

[TacomaWaWx]

67 here now.

[BLI snowman]

I think 2010-11 is the most underrated winter on here. Two top tier Arctic air masses for when they occurred, one in November and one in February. The fact that places south of OLM didn't do very well for snow has a lot to do with that, I'm sure, along with the big rug pull in January.

 

I think 1955-56 is 

[Phil]

What’s the most overrated winter, then?

[TT-SEA]

Silverwood... beautiful day. Perfect actually. Time to cool off after going on the rides with my daughter.

 

[MossMan]

Silverwood... beautiful day. Perfect actually. Time to cool off after going on the rides with my daughter.

 

Too many people too close together for my liking but it looks like a gorgeous day!

[TigerWoodsLibido]

What’s the most overrated winter, then?

 

11-12

10-11

96-97

[TT-SEA]

Too many people too close together for my liking but it looks like a gorgeous day!

Your wife and kids would love it.

[MossMan]

Got up early to test the repairs on my boat...Gorgeous morning on the lake!

[BLI snowman]

What’s the most overrated winter, then?

 

Any good recent winter will naturally be more discussed and thus "overrated" relative to the greats of the past, which are easier to minimize for us folks who didn't experience them.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Silverwood... beautiful day. Perfect actually. Time to cool off after going on the rides with my daughter.

 

Good lord. 81 new cases in that county today.

[El_Nina]

77 and mostly clear. Beautiful mountain view today, still quite white for so late.

[Kayla]

Silverwood... beautiful day. Perfect actually. Time to cool off after going on the rides with my daughter.

 

Whyyyyy

[El_Nina]

Though some warmer weather wouldn't be the worst thing this year, I wouldn't mind seeing a year that totally skips summer. After every summer basically being a torch from 2013 until this year it would probably be a good break for the vegetation. But this is better than those years at least so no complaints.

[TT-SEA]

Whyyyyy

Its not crowded. Its pretty easy to keep your distance and its all outside of course.

[Kayla]

Its not crowded. Its pretty easy to keep your distance and its all outside of course.

 

I just feel like a lake/river etc would be a lot safer. Unnatural and excessive considering that we're in the middle of a surging pandemic IMO.

[TT-SEA]

I just feel like a lake/river etc would be a lot safer. Unnatural and excessive considering that we're in the middle of a surging pandemic IMO.

True... but this has been pretty safe. I have not really been close to anyone and there is a nice breeze. Its not dangerous out here.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

I just feel like a lake/river etc would be a lot safer. Unnatural and excessive considering that we're in the middle of a surging pandemic IMO.

 

A personal, chlorinated pool is maybe safer? IDK.

[El_Nina]

Still really green all over the eco regions of eastern Oregon. From the Ochocos to the blue mountains.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

Still really green all over the eco regions of eastern Oregon. From the Ochocos to the blue mountains.

US26 at Ochoco Summit_pid2588 (5).jpeg

US26 at Ochoco Summit_pid2588 (5).jpeg

 

Hopefully a quiet fire season.

[Jesse]

Still really green all over the eco regions of eastern Oregon. From the Ochocos to the blue mountains.

US26 at Ochoco Summit_pid2588 (5).jpeg

AustinJunction_pid1522 (8).jpg

 

There is a very large juniper and sagebrush eco-region between those two spots.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Marine layer clouds, which appear white on visible satellite imagery, matter.

[Jesse]

18z ensembles have suddenly trended cooler again.

[Jesse]

Looks like PDX hit 80 today. Was a good run!

[Omegaraptor]

What’s the most overrated winter, then?

Any winter that delivered in other places that didn’t deliver here.

[TacomaWaWx]

72/53...Marine layer burning off at 11am...turning mostly sunny. Perfect summer day.