January 2015 Observations for the Pacific Northwest

[Phil]

They destroy MD for severe weather and cold. I'd take Wisconsin's climate over your's pretty easily.

Wisconsin is way too cold for me. But we're actually similar in terms of severe weather, precipitation, and snowfall (we average about 115" up here). That's why I like this climate (..pretty much a mix of everything. Only downside is that springs suck.

 

Best part is nowhere else can you average over 100" of snow, 55" of precip, and 15-20 severe days.

 

Severe:

 

http://catchmypicture.com/f/Dw03Bk/800.jpg

 

Lightning:

 

http://catchmypicture.com/f/0uPanv/800.jpg

 

Snowfall:

 

http://catchmypicture.com/49Nr7r.jpg

[snow_wizard]

I came here from the midwest.  You haven't seen a heating bill till you've seen something like what they have in Chicago.  Our hydroelectric is cheaper than anything they use there. (We don't use AC in the summer either). We really have a very nice climate (with interest from time to time), you just need to change your standards.

 

I think this climate is terrible, but that's just my opinion I guess.

 

EDIT:  I should have said our winter and spring climate is terrible.  I don't know how people can think endless gloom is so nice.   Summer and fall are just fine though.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

I would bet that in the last 200 years there have been highs in the single digits in the puget sound area.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I think this climate is terrible, but that's just my opinion I guess.

 

I don't think its terrible. I don't think its always exciting, but its not terrible. I lived in Oklahoma. Their climate can be very exciting! But it is terrible.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

I think this climate is terrible, but that's just my opinion I guess.

I agree. So much nicer in eastern wa. I dont want to leave when I am over there.

[Dan the Weatherman]

El Niño is favored in the means during/just after solar max. Thing is, given the weak cycle, we're on a threshold where the relevant solar forcings aren't enough to finish the job..hence the lack of an ENSO signal altogether for the last 3 years and counting. Starting to think 2015-16 could be yet another ENSO neutral winter, or maybe a weak La Niña? I'm not sure we make it down to La Niña in time, though..

So that's why we have been seeing all these half-a**ed El Nino attempts lately and have been stuck in ENSO neutral. I have been wondering all along why we haven't gotten anywhere in the last 2-3 years as far as ENSO goes. Meanwhile CA continues to suffer a major drought and we desperately need a huge shake-up in the overall pattern that brings larger storms into the West Coast and brings much needed snowfall not only to CA, but to the PNW as well. 

[TT-SEA]

Having actually lived there, this isn't the case. Plenty of 6-12 in storms through out the inter and always a nice spring storm. I'm hoping that I pick up a job in Minneasota mainly for that climate.

 

 

Minnesota is great for weather... in all seasons.    And the Twin Cities is upscale and a very nice area.   Probably the nicest large metro area east of the Rockies.  

 

Lack of mountains... but lots of lakes and bluffs and other glacial side effects.

 

And the people are awesome there.    

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I was in Wisconsin once in the summer when I was about 11 years old. I still remember being shocked at how green it was, and just beautiful. One of my friends from high school went to UW-Madison. He got an IT job in that area after college, but his fiance was from out here so he eventually moved back. He loved it there though.

[snow_wizard]

I don't think its terrible. I don't think its always exciting, but its not terrible. I lived in Oklahoma. Their climate can be very exciting! But it is terrible.

 

I think some decades are fairly decent here, but I am really unhappy with pretty much this entire century so far.  In truth spring is the season I hate the most.  Sometimes it's almost like torture waiting for it to get nice after suffering through a disappointing winter.  I also don't want to live anywhere palm trees can grow BTW.  It's very iffy in my exact area because they have a tendency to get freeze dried by the harsh cold east winds we get on occasion, but still.

 

I'm to the point where a fairly dry continental climate with cold winters and warm summers sounds just perfect.  I would hate the oppressive damp heat in the eastern part of the country in the summer.  A few days with summer thunderstorms is nice, but I'm not all that interested in overpowering severe weather in the spring and summer.  I'm very much a cold and snow guy, but I like a lot of cold and clear days mixed with the snowy ones.  I'm really tired of the maritime crap.  Even somewhere like Juneau would have that smothering maritime feel to it.

[TT-SEA]

Here is a home for you Jim... gets VERY cold at this location on the west side of Minneapolis.  

 

http://clarenproject.com/RMLSImages/original/756/4501756_1.jpg

 

http://clarenproject.com/RMLSImages/original/756/4501756_2.jpg

 

http://clarenproject.com/RMLSImages/original/756/4501756_6.jpg

 

http://clarenproject.com/RMLSImages/original/756/4501756_9.jpg

 

http://clarenproject.com/RMLSImages/original/756/4501756_18.jpg

[snow_wizard]

I was in Wisconsin once in the summer when I was about 11 years old. I still remember being shocked at how green it was, and just beautiful. One of my friends from high school went to UW-Madison. He got an IT job in that area after college, but his fiance was from out here so he eventually moved back. He loved it there though.

 

If I lived in the east it would have to be really far north like that.  The summers are much better in the far north.

[jaya]

I think this climate is terrible, but that's just my opinion I guess.

 

EDIT:  I should have said our winter and spring climate is terrible.  I don't know how people can think endless gloom is so nice.   Summer and fall are just fine though.

To each his own.  Of course, in the midwest - I always had something on (heat or air).  Could not open the windows more than a couple weeks a year it seemed. When I lived in various places on the north Gulf coast, very hot and humid 6 months out of the year followed by a nice and short shoulder season - with lots of dreary weather in the winter. Our springs -- not really all that bad - bright and cool with only light showers at times.

[jaya]

I think some decades are fairly decent here, but I am really unhappy with pretty much this entire century so far.  In truth spring is the season I hate the most.  Sometimes it's almost like torture waiting for it to get nice after suffering through a disappointing winter.  I also don't want to live anywhere palm trees can grow BTW.  It's very iffy in my exact area because they have a tendency to get freeze dried by the harsh cold east winds we get on occasion, but still.

 

I'm to the point where a fairly dry continental climate with cold winters and warm summers sounds just perfect.  I would hate the oppressive damp heat in the eastern part of the country in the summer.  A few days with summer thunderstorms is nice, but I'm not all that interested in overpowering severe weather in the spring and summer.  I'm very much a cold and snow guy, but I like a lot of cold and clear days mixed with the snowy ones.  I'm really tired of the maritime crap.  Even somewhere like Juneau would have that smothering maritime feel to it.

Maybe Anchorage?  Problem there would be darkness in winter.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

When I was young I hated spring. It was baseball season and it always rained to much and rained out our games. Now April through about the 4th of July is my favorite time of year. So much new life and really the last 3 springs have been pretty decent.

[TT-SEA]

When I was young I hated spring. It was baseball season and it always rained to much and rained out our games. Now April through about the 4th of July is my favorite time of year. So much new life and really the last 3 springs have been pretty decent.

 

 

Yeah... the spring weather in 2013 and 2014 was just fine.     2010 and 2011 were complete nightmares.

[snow_wizard]

Maybe Anchorage?  Problem there would be darkness in winter.

 

I'm definitely shooting for Western Montana.  I was interested in Leavenworth, but my wife wants a more substantial town nearby.  The places in this state that have a climate I would like only have fairly small towns except Spokane and I'm not really interested in that.

[richard mann]

-
Currently 51° at my house. Partly cloudy skies forecast for tomorrow, with a 20% chance of rain Sunday night into Monday.

NWS pin-point conditions and forecast.

[TT-SEA]

I'm definitely shooting for Western Montana.  I was interested in Leavenworth, but my wife wants a more substantial town nearby.  The places in this state that have a climate I would like only have fairly small towns except Spokane and I'm not really interested in that.

 

I think Missoula has some polluted inversions in the winter.   

[snow_wizard]

When I was young I hated spring. It was baseball season and it always rained to much and rained out our games. Now April through about the 4th of July is my favorite time of year. So much new life and really the last 3 springs have been pretty decent.

 

Spring is a lot gloomier up here, but some people seem to like it ok.  I think Tim's hatred of clouds is rubbing off on me.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I was in Olympia for a week in April 2009 and it was glorious.

[TT-SEA]

Spring is a lot gloomier up here, but some people seem to like it ok.  I think Tim's hatred of clouds is rubbing off on me.

 

 

The last 2 springs have not been overly gloomy.      And I don't hate rain or clouds unless there are no meaningful breaks.

 

Today was my least favorite weather of all.   But the last 4 days have been dry and with appreciable sunshine at my house... so today was to be expected.

[Phil]

I'm definitely shooting for Western Montana. I was interested in Leavenworth, but my wife wants a more substantial town nearby. The places in this state that have a climate I would like only have fairly small towns except Spokane and I'm not really interested in that.

Try Michigan or Maine..you'll get tired of the lack of precip.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Fingers crossed if I get this job. I'm already daydreaming about getting a place in Uptown by the lake.

 

We'll miss you iFred!

[Front Ranger]

Minnesota is great for weather... in all seasons.    And the Twin Cities is upscale and a very nice area.   Probably the nicest large metro area east of the Rockies.  

 

Lack of mountains... but lots of lakes and bluffs and other glacial side effects.

 

And the people are awesome there.    

 

Many, many people would disagree with you about the winters there. Very cold and very long. PNW weenies long for more cold, but trust me, it can get old and for the vast majority of people, really old.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Try Michigan or Maine..you'll get tired of the lack of precip.

 

Maine would be rad.

[TT-SEA]

Many, many people would disagree with you about the winters there. Very cold and very long. PNW weenies long for more cold, but trust me, it can get old and for the vast majority of people, really old.

 

 

Sure... many people would disagree.   I am talking to a weather weenie who loves cold.   He will love MN in all seasons.   They call it the Super Bowl of weather there.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Sure... many people would disagree.   I am talking to a weather weenie who loves cold.   He will love MN in all seasons.   They call it the Super Bowl of weather there.

 

THE SUPER BOWL! Will the Seahawks make it or will they be bitten by the Panthers?!

[Front Ranger]

Sure... many people would disagree.   I am talking to a weather weenie who loves cold.   He will love MN in all seasons.   They call it the Super Bowl of weather there.

 

But when it's really cold so often, it's just not nearly as fun. Even for someone who loves it - and a big part of that is not getting to experience it much. Ask anyone who has actually lived in a cold climate. 

 

I love that I can experience extreme cold here one week, but then the next it might be warm enough to golf.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

I'm definitely shooting for Western Montana.  I was interested in Leavenworth, but my wife wants a more substantial town nearby.  The places in this state that have a climate I would like only have fairly small towns except Spokane and I'm not really interested in that.[/quoteOmak has everything you need and there are many nice places close. It only takes me a hr and 15 to get there and I am way out in the country.

[snow_wizard]

Try Michigan or Maine..you'll get tired of the lack of precip.

 

I don't think so.  I actually like the idea of a drier climate.  It still snows plenty in Western Montana and it's on the ground for the entire winter most years.

[TT-SEA]

But when it's really cold so often, it's just not nearly as fun. Even for someone who loves it - and a big part of that is not getting to experience it much. Ask anyone who has actually lived in a cold climate. 

 

I love that I can experience extreme cold here one week, but then the next it might be warm enough to golf.

 

 

Outside of true arctic outbreaks... most of the winter is in the teens and 20s which is just fine.   Minnesotans definitely embrace winter outdoors.

[snow_wizard]

We'll miss you iFred!

 

I bet he will still post on here.  No matter where I live I will always be trying to figure out what it will do in this contemptible place.  Living in a place where it always snows takes the drama out of it, but I would rather that than going without.

[snow_wizard]

Ice fishing parties.

 

Ice fishing is pretty cool.  Now there are a lot of winters where even Eastern WA isn't cold enough for it anymore.  On the other hand I will never forget drilling through 18 inches of ice on Mosses Lake in December 1985.

[snow_wizard]

Omak has everything you need and there are many nice places close. It only takes me a hr and 15 to get there and I am way out in the country.

 

She wants a major city nearby for various reasons.

[TT-SEA]

THE SUPER BOWL! Will the Seahawks make it or will they be bitten by the Panthers?!

 

 

They will beat the Panthers.  

 

Next week is going to be insane... regardless of the opponent.   

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I posted on here when I lived in Oklahoma.

[GHweatherChris]

They will beat the Panthers.  

 

Next week is going to be insane... regardless of the opponent.   

Insane how?

 

How much we beat them by?  

 

This Seattle defense is peaking perfectly right now and I think is overall better than last year now.

 

And BTW, Carolina is way better than their record indicates.

[Front Ranger]

I'm sure most weather enthusiasts on this forum would love the Minneasota climate for a couple years. I'm sure I'll hate it after my car rusts and have to wear long underwear everywhere.

 

The biggest thing for me is just having to bundle up like crazy every time you go outside. I also like running outside. Plus the heating bills.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I posted on here when I lived in Oklahoma.

 

Of course there wasn't much else to do. Well I went fishing a lot....Like every day.

[MossMan]

Many, many people would disagree with you about the winters there. Very cold and very long. PNW weenies long for more cold, but trust me, it can get old and for the vast majority of people, really old.

I have been in Minnesota in July and in October. It was perfect in October, July was awful. Upper 90's, high humidity, and a massive amount of bugs. Think I would enjoy the Falls and Winters there, though!!