March 2024 Weather in the PNW

[Sunriver Snow Zone]

13 minutes ago, MR.SNOWMIZER said:

I give it a c+. The 2 reasons it wasn't an f were the 15 degrees at work at 4:30 in the afternoon was amazing and the snow rate today was 4.4 inches per hr which is amazing for any lowland area in the nation. Normally those rates are high in the mountains or in lake effect snow. That was the fastest I have seen 2 inches fall here since 2019. Decent chance this is the last snow chance for places below 1000ft the next 2 days so it was a good way to send the winter off here. This is the first winter since 2016 I haven't had a large snow of more than 8 inches.

I'd agree with you, I'd say it was a C+ here which could get bumped up to a B- if we score a foot or more tommorow night. Guaranteed to end the season on 70+" snow, a low of -6, quite a bit of sub zero and single digit lows, a -2 degree snowstorm, a daytime high of -1 and midnight high of 2, a nice torch in late January with temps up to 67 which was fine with me because our snowpack is above average now. It'll probably be a C- in terms of snow but everything else bumps up the ranking.

[MossMan]

28 minutes ago, Hawksfan2008 said:

Excited for tonight! 18z EURO added quite a bit more moisture out here. 925/850s look good as well. We won’t see this much but a few inches is certainly achievable. 

4” for me!! 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Just now, TT-SEA said:

You don't know where Randy lives???   He has only circled his house on the map for us about 1,000 times over the years.  

Its easy to pick out his area on a map because he right on the Snohomish/Skagit County border just a little east of the Sound and I-5.

Yeah, I don't really pay attention to posts that aren't data related or model runs. I'm more likely to remember one of his PNA chart posts. But that's roughly where I thought. south to north is King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom? 

Edited March 4 by SilverFallsAndrew

[Sunriver Snow Zone]

2 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Yeah, I don't really pay attention to posts that aren't data related or model runs. I'm more likely to remember one of his PNA chart posts. But that's roughly where I thought. North to south is King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom? 

Do you mean south to north? 

[TT-SEA]

2 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Yeah, I don't really pay attention to posts that aren't data related or model runs. I'm more likely to remember one of his PNA chart posts. But that's roughly where I thought. North to south is King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom? 

You just listed south to north... that is correct.

And his circles are always on snow maps so its model run related.  

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Just now, Sunriver Snow Zone said:

Do you mean south to north? 

Yeah, that's what I meant. I'm doing like 3 things, and taking care of a sick kid. My brain isn't really working on all cylinders at this point. 

Edited March 4 by SilverFallsAndrew

[ShawniganLake]

46 minutes ago, VancouverIslandSouth said:

Just 100 miles north there's heavy sticking snow right beside the ocean. I'd never guess it looking at the conditions around here. Feels like spring with sun breaking through the clouds.

Yea. Some areas from Duncan and north are doing okay this afternoon.  
 

Temps have cooled here this afternoon with a north breeze.   I’d bet we see a quick hit of snow this evening before things dry out. 

[MossMan]

10 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Yeah, I don't really pay attention to posts that aren't data related or model runs. I'm more likely to remember one of his PNA chart posts. But that's roughly where I thought. North to south is King, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom? 

I’m at the red dot! And wow I was not expecting anymore snow since the snow maps this morning were looking terrible for my area. Hopefully it happens. 

[ShawniganLake]

30 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

This post made me think about how I don't know that temps would have been any different here, had this occurred in December or January. The past two days have had about 522 500-1000mb thickness and -6/-7C 850mb temps, Friday was slightly warmer aloft. We had highs of 36,32,34. Seem about where one would expect in the winter. I generally expect a high around 32 with 522 thickness. 

Yea I’m not sure if this would have played out much differently in the heart of winter.  Perhaps daytime highs might have been a degree or 2 cooler but most areas would have still seen like 40/33 type days and been dependent on steady precip to drop sticking snow levels to the surface.  SeaTac has only seen 0.7” of liquid over the last few days. Even in December there would likely have never been more than a couple inches of snow on the ground. 

[GHweatherChris]

Snowing again, not sticking, still lame.

[ShawniganLake]

Snowing here now.  Already starting to stick.  Doesn’t look like it’ll last long.  

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Just now, ShawniganLake said:

Yea I’m not sure if this would have played out much differently in the heart of winter.  Perhaps daytime highs might have been a degree or 2 cooler but most areas would have still seen like 40/33 type days and been dependent on steady precip to drop sticking snow levels to the surface.  SeaTac has only seen 0.7” of liquid over the last few days. Even in December there would likely have never been more than a couple inches of snow on the ground. 

Yeah, highs might be cooler just because there is less daylight and lower sun angles, but the convective nature of these showers might be weaker because of those factors too. I don't see lows getting much below 32 due to the raging onshore flow. On the other hand the Tuesday-Friday period coming up, would be much colder at the surface in midwinter. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Corvallis might be in a good spot the next few hours. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

These were my stats from December 2021. Not super impressive temps definitely 4-5 degrees colder on the coldest days, but it was also a much colder airmass on the 26th and 27th with sub 516 thickness and 850mb temps in the -9 to -10C range. 

December 24: 36/32 1.27” 5.5”

December 25: 33/29 0.46” 3.8”

December 26: 29/27 0.77” 8.0”

December 27: 28/23 0.39” 4.8”

December 28: 34/26 0.15” 2.0”

[SouthHillFrosty]

How does the storm look for tomorrow down south? Hope y’all score! Haven’t been tracking it 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Just now, SouthHillFrosty said:

How does the storm look for tomorrow down south? Hope y’all score! Haven’t been tracking it 

It's going pretty far south, might give DareDuck and SunRiver some backwash snow. Not sure how it's looking for the Rogue Valley. 

[GHweatherChris]

I have never seen this much 35-36 degree snowfall here in my life over a 2 day stretch.... until now lol, insane.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

This would be nice, but not counting on it. Been halfheartedly raining with a little slush in it all afternoon. If only the precip rates were higher it would be fun times.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

NAM 3km is a lot stingier with the snow. My feeling is it’s probably correct.

[VancouverIslandSouth]

Been watching the web cams up near Parksville, the Tigh-na-mara one at Rathtrevor Beach looks pretty cool:

Absolutely dumping snow in Nanoose now -

 

[RentonHill]

1 hour ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Yeah, that's what I meant. I'm doing like 3 things, and taking care of a sick kid. My brain isn't really working on all cylinders at this point. 

It’s been obvious to me for a while that you’re not all there. Not sure why it’s so hard for others. 

[MWG]

24 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

It's going pretty far south, might give DareDuck and SunRiver some backwash snow. Not sure how it's looking for the Rogue Valley. 

Not much going on for tonight into tomorrow morning. The WWA is for 1500' and up.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Just now, RentonHill said:

It’s been obvious to me for a while that you’re not all there. Not sure why it’s so hard for others. 

Because that's the kind of folx this place attracts. 

[Sunriver Snow Zone]

00z HRRRRRR, NAM, and NAM 3KM all gave me over half a foot of snow. HRRRRR gave me less than the 18z, but the other models trending north is encouraging, it's going to be fun tracking this thing! My location is circled in green for future reference.

[VancouverIslandSouth]

Wow, snowing up near Shawnigan. Seems like the band is stalling out just north of here. Still have yet to see a drop of rain in this part of Victoria. I miss those surprise snowfalls, Victoria seems utterly incapable of getting in on this type of event.

[ShawniganLake]

32 minutes ago, Rubus Leucodermis said:

This would be nice, but not counting on it. Been halfheartedly raining with a little slush in it all afternoon. If only the precip rates were higher it would be fun times.

I think you’ll see some tonight.  Higher elevations could do well over there.  
 

Picked up 1/2” here but I think the precip is finished already 

[MossMan]

I’m on team Euro! 

[GHweatherChris]

God Daamn moon angles for this time of year is keeping me from getting accumulating snow tonight, BS!!

Edited March 4 by GHweatherChris

[SilverFallsAndrew]

My daughters school has already been canceled for tomorrow. 

[MossMan]

14 minutes ago, GHweatherChris said:

God Daamn moon angles for this time of year is keeping me from getting accumulating snow tonight, BS!!

 

[GHweatherChris]

Moderate snow, still not sticking, temp won't drop, lame.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Just now, GHweatherChris said:

Moderate snow, still not sticking, temp won't drop, lame.

Looks like a lot of moisture heading your way.

[Perturbed Member]

1 hour ago, SouthHillFrosty said:

How does the storm look for tomorrow down south? Hope y’all score! Haven’t been tracking it 

It looks to stay pretty far south. This is about as far north as the precip gets. 

[Frontal Snowsquall]

4 hours ago, Gummy said:

 

Oh yes please and it will be during the weekend also! 60-65 and some sun sounds very pleasant and a nice change from this windy cold rain pattern.

Agreed! It would be great hiking weather.

[Anti Marine Layer]

What is the HRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR showing tonight?

[GHweatherChris]

12 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Looks like a lot of moisture heading your way.

Umm, no actually not.

[Cascadia_Wx]

11 minutes ago, Frontal Snowsquall said:

Agreed! It would be great hiking weather.

I went hiking today. And here I am, alive to tell the tale.

[VancouverIslandSouth]

Yikes, sounds like trees are starting to come down in Nanoose. That heavy band has just been hanging over there. Some parts must be approaching 6". This is from a few hours ago, seems like a very wet snow

[Frontal Snowsquall]

48 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

My daughters school has already been canceled for tomorrow. 

Good call. The 00z GFS has rain changing over to snow just before midnight. Some other school districts might follow suit or at least do a 2 hour late opening depending on where the snow showers hit.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

Well, at least I’m getting a thunderstorm out of it.