March 2024 Weather in the PNW

[Phil]

2 hours ago, TT-SEA said:

Reminds me around this same time in March 2020 when a warm spell was in sight and there was some shaming (from the same person) of people cheering it on because it was going to kill people.  Pull whatever levers you can to guilt people.   Parks are deadly on a 65-degree sunny day.   

Homicides do increase during warm weather.  

1 hour ago, Meatyorologist said:

He's probably too busy retrofitting the air circulation system in his house to include smoke filters, that way he's prepped for three weeks from now when Maryland is breathing in every last trunk of the Santiam old growth.

Nah it’s your turn to huff that shit. I’m surprised there’s anything left in eastern Canada to burn after what happened last year.

Basically ruined the first half of what was our coolest summer since 2014. Because, of course.

[Port Angeles Foothiller]

9 minutes ago, Phil said:

Homicides do increase during warm weather.  

Nah it’s your turn to huff that . I’m surprised there’s anything left in eastern Canada to burn after what happened last year.

Basically ruined the first half of what was our coolest summer since 2014. Because, of course.

He lives!!!

[TT-SEA]

22 minutes ago, Phil said:

Homicides do increase during warm weather.  

Flu and respiratory deaths increase in the winter.   

[TacomaWx]

52 minutes ago, MR.SNOWMIZER said:

If I can line up someone to cover me at work we are going to try and go to Valdez Alaska or possibly other places in Alaska late next week for a bit to enjoy more winter weather and “escape what's coming here”. Hopefully I can find the help! Should be fun. 

lol you’re seriously going to Alaska to escape some 70 degree weather in March

[TT-SEA]

11 minutes ago, TacomaWx said:

lol you’re seriously going to Alaska to escape some 70 degree weather in March

Probably peaks in low to mid 60s in most places.   

[westcoastexpat]

10 hours ago, iFred said:

This is going to be like last year where the mountains had a June look going into May.

Love it. Early alpine hiking season. Although I don't mind wearing crampons.

[westcoastexpat]

9 hours ago, Cascadia_Wx said:

That’s kind of been my whole point this morning. Of course there’s a chance that a cool and wet summer pattern can put a damper on a bad fire season, but those have become so rare these days it naturally puts more pressure on the spring time, since that is the season when the dice are loaded.

Agreed. It's something we are watching really closely up here - there is absolutely reason to be concerned about a warm and dry spring. There are still fires burning in western Canada from last year! Smoke doesn't stop at the border.

[Chewbacca Defense]

1 hour ago, Phil said:

He’s online now.  

Sorry for not checking in, have been dealing with a family issue in addition to a mountain of work. So my plate is full but hopefully the worst has past.

Hey wow, everybody say hello and welcome to the newest member of the forum!

[westcoastexpat]

59 minutes ago, Phil said:

Homicides do increase during warm weather.  

Nah it’s your turn to huff that . I’m surprised there’s anything left in eastern Canada to burn after what happened last year.

Basically ruined the first half of what was our coolest summer since 2014. Because, of course.

Oh there is a lot of fuel left. It's all forest in northern Ontario and Quebec. They are absolutely massive provinces.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

1 hour ago, Timmy Supercell said:

I started doing the majority of my outdoor activities on certain hours of the day (unless its not a warm day then it doesn't matter) Either the late morning or early evening. Most of the times I've been stung by a yellow jacket/hornet are between 12-4pm. It's been a few years since anything got me. I now have a property with even more of the critters than my other place in Klamath used to get, and so far this rule hasn't failed me. 

Are you allergic?

I don't do anything in particular to avoid getting stung, and it's been over 20 years since my last sting (honeybee, so not bad at all, wasp stings are much more painful).

[Rubus Leucodermis]

2 minutes ago, westcoastexpat said:

Oh there is a lot of fuel left. It's all forest in northern Ontario and Quebec. They are absolutely massive provinces.

It takes the train a day and a half to reach Manitoba from Toronto... and Toronto is nowhere near the Quebec border. And most of that day and a half the train is crossing wilderness forest.

[RentonHill]

Good news everyone the time until mega death ridge has been extended by a whole day!

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

47 minutes ago, TacomaWx said:

lol you’re seriously going to Alaska to escape some 70 degree weather in March

Working on it, no different than going somewhere to find the sun and warmth

[Rubus Leucodermis]

If it's a death ridge, can we name it Melissa?

[Frontal Snowsquall]

5 hours ago, MR.SNOWMIZER said:

God that makes me sick just to think of that heat. 80 is one thing but 100 is insane. It would be like hitting 10 degrees in April, just insane.

The summer of 1983 was crazy. At PDX it hit 100 on May 28, 1983 but the rest of the summer was pretty cool, especially June and July. There were numerous days with only highs in the 60s. It only hit 90+ twice in late July and mid August. Probably the only time ever the highest temperature of the year at PDX was in May.

Portland International Airport Temperature History in the Summer of 1983

[Phil]

Leaf-out has already commenced for some species here (willows/etc). Even earlier than last year. And somehow there are already a few mosquitos out.

The next 6 months are going to suck.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

Gfs and nam both show some snow out here Sunday morning.

[TT-SEA]

8 minutes ago, MR.SNOWMIZER said:

Working on it, no different than going somewhere to find the sun and warmth

Those sun and warmth places are very popular of course.  You might well be the only person in the entire country going to Valdez at the end of winter to get a little more winter.   

But you only live once and if it makes you happy then why not?  

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

4 minutes ago, Rubus Leucodermis said:

If it's a death ridge, can we name it Melissa?

That was my wife's name but with one s.

[TT-SEA]

GFS looks farther west with the ridge... definitely cooler than last couple runs.   There might not be any 60-degree heat to escape!

[TigerWoodsLibido]

33 minutes ago, Rubus Leucodermis said:

If it's a death ridge, can we name it Melissa?

My sister in law's boyfriend's last name is Deatheridge.

Seriously.

[Cascadia_Wx]

5 hours ago, ShawniganLake said:

Don’t even think about getting out and enjoying some March sunshine. Stay home and think about how bad this fire season may or may not be.   

 

5 hours ago, MossMan said:

Stay home, Stay safe! 

Probably best to close the blinds as well so you don’t even think about enjoying 2 hours of warm sun. 

There is some real irony to the fact that I was out enjoying the sunny afternoon and evening while this crap was being posted

Today was a beauty. 50/26 here with morning frost and afternoon sun, and decorative puffy clouds throughout.

[snow_wizard]

They finally got the 7 day change fixed for the ENSO map!  Wowzers!

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Down to 31 after a 43/23 day. 

[Cascadia_Wx]

40 minutes ago, MR.SNOWMIZER said:

Working on it, no different than going somewhere to find the sun and warmth

Just want to let you know you’re in the MINORITY Really need to drive that one home Of course my preferences, on the other hand, are objectively superior so I can pretty comfortably speak for everyone

[snow_wizard]

1 hour ago, Rubus Leucodermis said:

Are you allergic?

I don't do anything in particular to avoid getting stung, and it's been over 20 years since my last sting (honeybee, so not bad at all, wasp stings are much more painful).

I'm a magnet for bee stings.  2 hornets a couple of years ago and two wasps last year.  Both kinds hurt a lot.

[snow_wizard]

4 minutes ago, Cascadia_Wx said:

Just want to let you know you’re in the MINORITY Really need to drive that one home Of course my preferences, on the other hand, are objectively superior so I can pretty comfortably speak for everyone

[Sunriver Snow Zone]

1 hour ago, westcoastexpat said:

Love it. Early alpine hiking season. Although I don't mind wearing crampons.

Might be fine for hiking, but it'll be an earlier end to mountaineering season in BC/WA if we have a low snowpack. No more Glacier travel by late July/early August in a year with low snowpack, a year with a high snowpack will continue the crevasse snowbridges to a later time.

 

Low snowpack = less months of safe mountaineering = I hate low snowpack.

 

 

 

[BLI snowman]

May be tempting fate here, but March is one month where our heat benchmarks are squarely in the past.

Portland did 82 on 3/29/1923 and 83 on 3/28/1930. Interesting thing is that both of those events came on the heels of frigid winters during a very blocky period in our climate history.

And March 1941 was an absolutely coked up Nino torch. Portland's lowest maximum that month was 56, with the monthly average max at a brisk 64 and 8 days of 70+.

 

Edited March 8 by BLI snowman

[snow_wizard]

6 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Down to 31 after a 43/23 day. 

23 is pretty real for this time of year. 

[Deweydog]

1 minute ago, BLI snowman said:

May be tempting fate here, but March is one month where our heat benchmarks are squarely in the past.

Portland did 82 on 3/29/1923 and 83 on 3/28/1930. Interesting thing is that both of those events came on the heels of frigid winters during a very blocky period in our climate history.

And March 1941 was an absolutely coked up Nino torch. Portland's lowest maximum that month was 56, with the monthly average max at a brisk 64.

 

Dew!!!

[Sunriver Snow Zone]

Down to 19 now, 44/0 day.

[TT-SEA]

4 minutes ago, Cascadia_Wx said:

Just want to let you know you’re in the MINORITY Really need to drive that one home Of course my preferences, on the other hand, are objectively superior so I can pretty comfortably speak for everyone

Yes Jesse... you tell us all the time that your preferences are superior.  

Lots of people go to winter places for vacation like skiing.   Its wildly popular.   But I don't think many people go to Valdez to escape 60-degree weather in March.   That is exotic in a way... very unusual.

[the_convergence_zone]

1 minute ago, snow_wizard said:

I'm a magnet for bee stings.  2 hornets a couple of years ago and two wasps last year.  Both kinds hurt a lot.

Now is the time to get those yellowjacket traps out! Every queen you catch now is hundreds less yellowjackets in late summer. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Just now, snow_wizard said:

23 is pretty real for this time of year. 

We only got down to 25 last March and it was our coldest ever. Though we only had a few highs above 50 that month and measurable snow on 14 different days. 

23 is about as cold as it gets here in March without a continental airmass. We hit 18 in March, 2019, but haven't been below 23 in any other March, we hit 23 in 2012 for sure, and I think another year, maybe 2018 or 2020. 

[snow_wizard]

4 minutes ago, BLI snowman said:

May be tempting fate here, but March is one month where our heat benchmarks are squarely in the past.

Portland did 82 on 3/29/1923 and 83 on 3/28/1930. Interesting thing is that both of those events came on the heels of frigid winters during a very blocky period in our climate history.

And March 1941 was an absolutely coked up Nino torch. Portland's lowest maximum that month was 56, with the monthly average max at a brisk 64.

 

The Seattle city records show 81 on March 11, 1892.  The pre 1894 records aren't available online for some reason, but I have them.

[the_convergence_zone]

Today was gorgeous. Did an 8 mile run at a pretty good clip and didn’t break a sweat thanks to the nice temps in the mid 40s. A little rain this weekend will feel good before we get an extended dry period. 
 

This ridge doesn’t look too bad to me, it’s not in the right spot to really torch. 

[the_convergence_zone]

1 minute ago, snow_wizard said:

The Seattle city records show 81 on March 11, 1892.  The pre 1894 records aren't available online for some reason, but I have them.

I didn’t know they had records prior to 1894. At the Federal building? 

[snow_wizard]

2 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

We only got down to 25 last March and it was our coldest ever. Though we only had a few highs above 50 that month and measurable snow on 14 different days. 

23 is about as cold as it gets here in March without a continental airmass. We hit 18 in March, 2019, but haven't been below 23 in any other March, we hit 23 in 2012 for sure, and I think another year, maybe 2018 or 2020. 

I pulled off 23 in March 2019 and 25 the last two days on this cold snap.

[snow_wizard]

Just now, the_convergence_zone said:

I didn’t know they had records prior to 1894. At the Federal building? 

Yup.  It is so lucky the records for the infamous winter of 1892-93 do exist for the city.  Jaw dropping.