Historical Arctic Blast Archive

[Meatyorologist]

This is an archive intended for personal use, and of course for all to reference if they so please.

This will be a post-by-post archive of every arctic blast to affect Seattle, WA. Yes this is Seattle centric, but there will be stats for BLI, OLY, PDX, and EUG as well.

Arctic blasts I am defining by any weather pattern with a high below freezing. This is cold enough that it should weed out all but the chilliest inversion setups, and even then those such inversions are usually aided by backdoor easterlies of some kind.

Each blast will get its own post, and will be ordered from most recent to oldest. Extended events like January 1950 with warm interludes will be analyzed by each individual dip, as well as in aggregate. The aggregate posts will be labeled as such. The posts will be organized as follows:

-500mb height loop for the relevant timeframe, including the buildup and aftermath.

-Min/Max / Min / Lowest daily departure for the blast at each listed site

-# Subfreezing highs at each site

-# snow (in) at each site

Where data, particularly snowfall data, was missing, I exercised creative liberties when applicable. This included referencing nearby stations from the same immediate metro area, or using snowfall depth as a proxy. OLY data is particularly sparse, to the point where snowfall data does not exist at all, so I had to put some blanks in there. If anyone has some backup datasets, DM me please!

[Meatyorologist]

1/12/2025-1/18/2025

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 10 / 3 / -33.4

-SEA: 22 / 15 / -24.3

-OLY: 28 / 11 / -17.6

-PDX: 21 / 15 / -23.6

-EUG: 27 / 19 / -17.8

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 5

-SEA: 3

-OLY: 2

-PDX: 4

-EUG: 3

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 2"

-SEA: Tr

-OLY: N/A

-PDX: 1.6"

-EUG: 0.7"

[Meatyorologist]

12/17/2022-12/23/2022

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 17 / 11 / -25.2

-SEA: 26 / 18 / -19.5

-OLY: 27 / 22 / -13.9

-PDX: 25 / 20 / -18.3

-EUG: 30 / 25 / -12.5

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 5

-SEA: 2

-OLY: 2

-PDX: 2

-EUG: 1

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 12.2"

-SEA: 1.3"

-OLY: N/A

-PDX: 0.1"

-EUG: Tr

[Meatyorologist]

12/25/2021-1/1/2022

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 16 / 6 / -27.6

-SEA: 27 / 17 / -19.6

-OLY: 26 / 7 / -17.3

-PDX: 34 / 25 / -11.4

-EUG: 34 / 22 / -12.1

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 7

-SEA: 5

-OLY: 2

-PDX: 0

-EUG: 0

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 14.3"

-SEA: 9.2"

-OLY: N/A

-PDX: 3.5"

-EUG: 10.1"

[Meatyorologist]

2/11/2021-2/14/2021

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 25 / 21 / -18.4

-SEA: 31 / 25 / -15.8

-OLY: 31 / 21 / -11.9

-PDX: 30 / 24 / -16.9

-EUG: 36 / 29 / -8.9

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 4

-SEA: 1

-OLY: 1

-PDX: 2

-EUG: 0

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 7.5"

-SEA: 12.4"

-OLY: N/A

-PDX: 10.1"

-EUG: Tr

[Meatyorologist]

2/3/2019-2/13/2019

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 25 / 15 / -21.1

-SEA: 32 / 20 / -16.5

-OLY: 32 / 5 / -20.8

-PDX: 36 / 23 / -12.3

-EUG: 34 / 26 / -12.5

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 4

-SEA: 1

-OLY: 2

-PDX: 0

-EUG: 0

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 7.1"

-SEA: 20.2"

-OLY: N/A (Dataset lists a bunch of trace measurements but it definitely snowed here)

-PDX: 6.1"

-EUG: 0.3" (Huge anafront later in the month often cited as part of the whole month long -PNA event dumped a foot and a half in two days)

[Meatyorologist]

2/4/2014-2/9/2014

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 30 / 20 / -15.7

-SEA: 29 / 21 / -18.6

-OLY: 29 / 13 / -17.2

-PDX: 23 / 19 / -22.2

-EUG: 25 / 20 / -20.0

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 3

-SEA: 2

-OLY: 2

-PDX: 4

-EUG: 3

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: Tr

-SEA: 2.9"

-OLY: 4.2"

-PDX: 7.3"

-EUG: 8.7"

[Meatyorologist]

12/5/2013-12/11/2013

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 26 / 12 / -20.5

-SEA: 32 / 19 / -17.0

-OLY: 30 / 11 / -18.7

-PDX: 28 / 12 / -22.2

-EUG: 19 / -10 / -36.5 (All time record low)

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 3

-SEA: 1

-OLY: 5

-PDX: 5

-EUG: 7

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 0.0"

-SEA: 0.0"

-OLY: Tr

-PDX: 0.5"

-EUG: 7.0"

[Meatyorologist]

1/15/2012-1/19/2012

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 19 / 10 / -24.8

-SEA: 30 / 26 / -14.6

-OLY: 31 / 18 / -13.2

-PDX: 38 / 26 / -8.4

-EUG: 37 / 19 / -13.5

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 2

-SEA: 2

-OLY: 2

-PDX: 0

-EUG: 0

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 3.1"

-SEA: 9.6"

-OLY: 16.2"

-PDX: 2.3"

-EUG: N/A

[Meatyorologist]

2/23/2011-2/26/2011

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 29 / 16 / -18.5

-SEA: 31 / 19 / -19.2

-OLY: 30 / 5 / -23.5

-PDX: 33 / 18 / -20.0

-EUG: 36 / 19 / -17.0

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 2

-SEA: 1

-OLY: 2

-PDX: 0

-EUG: 0

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 0.0"

-SEA: 2.0"

-OLY: N/A

-PDX: 1.5"

-EUG: 0.0"

[Meatyorologist]

11/21/2010-11/25/2010

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 24 / 12 / -24.0

-SEA: 25 / 14 / -24.5

-OLY: 27 / 9 / -23.5

-PDX: 30 / 18 / -21.3

-EUG: 37 / 25 / -12.8

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 4

-SEA: 3

-OLY: 2

-PDX: 2

-EUG: 0

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 6.5"

-SEA: 2.5"

-OLY: Tr

-PDX: 0.3"

-EUG: N/A

[BLI snowman]

Nice work!

That 2010 vort was a thing of beauty for WA.

[Meatyorologist]

1 hour ago, BLI snowman said:

Nice work!

That 2010 vort was a thing of beauty for WA.

From a 500mb perspective Dec 2021 was a BEAST. I'm surprised the numbers put up weren't colder. I know Vancouver BC had themselves a generational blast

[Meatyorologist]

1 hour ago, BLI snowman said:

Nice work!

That 2010 vort was a thing of beauty for WA.

Arguably Nov 2010 should have been more impressive... That first trough had a lot going for it from a 500mb standpoint but no 850's. Technically the arctic trough was a reload

[Meatyorologist]

12/4/2009-12/13/2009

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 29 / 14 / -18.6

-SEA: 30 / 16 / -17.3

-OLY: 31 / 6 / -20.7

-PDX: 30 / 12 / -21.1

-EUG: 30 / 7 / -22.3

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 4

-SEA: 3

-OLY: 3

-PDX: 3

-EUG: 5

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: Tr

-SEA: Tr

-OLY: Tr

-PDX: 0.0"

-EUG: N/A

[Meatyorologist]

12/13/2008-12/26/2008

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 18 / 11 / -23.3

-SEA: 26 / 14 / -21.6

-OLY: 27 / 7 / -21.4

-PDX: 24 / 20 / -18.9

-EUG: 27 / 10 / -21.7

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 11

-SEA: 6

-OLY: 5

-PDX: 6

-EUG: 2

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 14"

-SEA: 13.9"

-OLY: N/A

-PDX: 19.0"

-EUG: 1"

[Meatyorologist]

1/10/2007-1/17/2007

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 25 / 10 / -21.9

-SEA: 29 / 19 / -17.8

-OLY: 31 / 12 / -17.0

-PDX: 30 / 19 / -14.6

-EUG: 30 / 17 / -17.8

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 4

-SEA: 3

-OLY: 1

-PDX: 2

-EUG: 4

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 2"

-SEA: 2.6"

-OLY: 0.0"

-PDX: 3.5"

-EUG: 0.0"

[Meatyorologist]

11/27/2006-11/29/2006

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 17 / 12 / -27.6

-SEA: 27 / 18 / -21.5

-OLY: 30 / 18 / -16.2

-PDX: 35 / 27 / -12.9

-EUG: 39 / 26 / -9.0

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 2

-SEA: 1

-OLY: 1

-PDX: 0

-EUG: 0

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 12.0"

-SEA: 2.6"

-OLY: Tr

-PDX: 0.0"

-EUG: 0.0"

[Meatyorologist]

12/26/2003-1/7/2004

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 21 / 13 / -22.4

-SEA: 26 / 20 / -19.2

-OLY: 28 / 10 / -20.0

-PDX: 24 / 18 / -20.2

-EUG: 29 / 20 / -15.7

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 5

-SEA: 3

-OLY: 3

-PDX: 3

-EUG: 2

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 3"

-SEA: 0.0"

-OLY: 0.0"

-PDX: 10.7"

-EUG: 2"

[Meatyorologist]

12/19/1998-12/23/1998

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 25 / 10 / -20.6

-SEA: 24 / 15 / -22.1

-OLY: 23 / -1 / -26.4

-PDX: 24 / 11 / -21.8

-EUG: 25 / 10 / -22.0

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 5

-SEA: 4

-OLY: 5

-PDX: 4

-EUG: 4

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: Tr

-SEA: 2.0"

-OLY: N/A

-PDX: 2.0"

-EUG: 0.0"

[Meatyorologist]

12/23/1996-12/28/1996

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 18 / 11 / 24.3

-SEA: 32 / 27 / -11.6

-OLY: 32 / 29 / -8.0 (Two missing days during the coldest part of the stretch)

-PDX: 36 / 30 / -7.2

-EUG: 38 / 31 / -5.6

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 7

-SEA: 1

-OLY: 1

-PDX: 0

-EUG: 0

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 32.3"

-SEA: 22.5"

-OLY: N/A

-PDX: Tr

-EUG: N/A

[Meatyorologist]

1/24/1996-2/2/1996

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 17 / 10 / -27.4

-SEA: 27 / 15 / -20.9

-OLY: 28 / 10 / -18.6

-PDX: 23 / 14 / -23.5

-EUG: 29 / 18 / -18.3

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 5

-SEA: 2

-OLY: 2

-PDX: 5

-EUG: 2

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 12.3"

-SEA: 4.2"

-OLY: 0.0"

-PDX: 6.9"

-EUG: 0.0"

[Meatyorologist]

12/29/1992-1/17/1993

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 24 / 12 / -20.5

-SEA: 32 / 22 / -14.3

-OLY: 33 / 10 / -16.9

-PDX: 31 / 20 / -14.4

-EUG: 30 / 8 / -22.1

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 12

-SEA: 1

-OLY: 0

-PDX: 2

-EUG: 7

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 6.5"

-SEA: 2.1"

-OLY: 3.1"

-PDX: 2.9"

-EUG: 8.1"

[Meatyorologist]

12/18/1990-12/30/1990

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 16 / 6 / -25.3

-SEA: 20 / 12 / -25.5

-OLY: 21 / 0 / -27.4

-PDX: 19 / 12 / -24.9

-EUG: 16 / 4 / -29.0

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 9

-SEA: 7

-OLY: 8

-PDX: 8

-EUG: 8

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 8.7" (The arctic lobe re-visited the region as a tight border hugger two days later from 1/2-1/10, bringing 12.7" new snow and 5 more subfreezing highs. Seattle had two days in the 30s and less than half an inch of nighttime slush)

-SEA: 9.6" (Using Seattle proper to reflect the CZ north of KSEA. Downtown hit 9F because of the extra snow)

-OLY: 2.2"

-PDX: 1.3"

-EUG: 3.6"

[Meatyorologist]

2/11/1990-2/19/1990

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 27 / 16 / -19.7

-SEA: 32 / 20 / -16.5

-OLY: 33 / 10 / -17.3

-PDX: 34 / 20 / -17.0

-EUG: 34 / 20 / -16.1

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 3

-SEA: 1

-OLY: 0

-PDX: 0

-EUG: 0

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 2.2"

-SEA: 9.8"

-OLY: 19.5"

-PDX: 7.8"

-EUG: 8.0"

[Meatyorologist]

1/31/1989-2/7/1989

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 12 / 5 / -32.5

-SEA: 18 / 7 / -29.0

-OLY: 19 / 2 / -26.6

-PDX: 15 / 9 / -31.0

-EUG: 17 / 4 / -29.8

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 4

-SEA: 4

-OLY: 4

-PDX: 3

-EUG: 5

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 0.6"

-SEA: 5.8"

-OLY: 13.9"

-PDX: 1.2"

-EUG: 5.6"

[BLI snowman]

9 hours ago, Meatyorologist said:

Arguably Nov 2010 should have been more impressive... That first trough had a lot going for it from a 500mb standpoint but no 850's. Technically the arctic trough was a reload

Gotta disagree on that one, it was by far the lowest 850mb temperature of the 21st century over UIL with -16.5c and the lowest thickness over PDX and SEA. It was a beast of an airmass, it was just somewhat unusual in that the vort max associated with it essentially maxed out over WA. So from a longwave perspective the tap wasn't quite there for truly top tier low level cold to advect in from our usual source regions. It was also extremely early in the season of course.

[Doom Buster]

6 hours ago, BLI snowman said:

Gotta disagree on that one, it was by far the lowest 850mb temperature of the 21st century over UIL with -16.5c and the lowest thickness over PDX and SEA. It was a beast of an airmass, it was just somewhat unusual in that the vort max associated with it essentially maxed out over WA. So from a longwave perspective the tap wasn't quite there for truly top tier low level cold to advect in from our usual source regions. It was also extremely early in the season of course.

Only two other years have had colder highs earlier than the 25 SEA saw on 11/23/10, 1955 and 1985.

[Doom Buster]

15 hours ago, Meatyorologist said:

12/26/2003-1/7/2004

Min/Max / Min / Lowest Daily Departure

-BLI: 21 / 13 / -22.4

-SEA: 26 / 20 / -19.2

-OLY: 28 / 10 / -20.0

-PDX: 24 / 18 / -20.2

-EUG: 29 / 20 / -15.7

# Subfreezing Highs

-BLI: 5

-SEA: 3

-OLY: 3

-PDX: 3

-EUG: 2

Snowfall (in)

-BLI: 3"

-SEA: 0.0"

-OLY: 0.0"

-PDX: 10.7"

-EUG: 2"

SEA and OLM definitely had snow with this one. Having lived in Tacoma at the time, my best guess would be 6-9" total for both.

[BLI snowman]

1 hour ago, Front Ranger said:

Only two other years have had colder highs earlier than the 25 SEA saw on 11/23/10, 1955 and 1985.

Yeah, for me I think there's a pretty good argument to be made that both it and February 2011 were the most historically impressive overall cold waves in the 21st century for WA. The 2010-11 Nina was quite legit. 

[Doom Buster]

13 minutes ago, BLI snowman said:

Yeah, for me I think there's a pretty good argument to be made that both it and February 2011 were the most historically impressive overall cold waves in the 21st century for WA. The 2010-11 Nina was quite legit. 

No doubt. The low of 5 at OLM on 2/25/11, the latest they've been that cold by an almost three week margin, is right there behind Dec 2013 at EUG for the most impressive surface cold anomaly of the 21st century in the PNW.

The whole 2008-2014 period was pretty blocky in general.