Omegaraptor Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 When we talk about cold on this forum, we almost always talk about continental Arctic air masses, as those are the ones that deliver the coldest temperatures and the most snow when Pacific systems collide with them. But what about maritime polar airmasses - those with little or no continental influence? Surely there has to be some very strong and memorable maritime polar airmasses in memory, both in early-mid winter and in late winter. Which ones were the coldest, and which ones delivered the most snow to PDX and SEA? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted March 20, 2021 Report Share Posted March 20, 2021 March 1951. 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hole Posted March 21, 2021 Report Share Posted March 21, 2021 Nov 2010 was arctic source but it traveled south over the ocean a ways. The arctic air arrived with onshore flow. That doesn't happen too often. 1 Quote Winter 23-24: Total Snow (3.2") Total Ice (0.2") Coldest Low: 1F Coldest High: 5F Snow Events: 0.1" Jan 5th, 0.2" Jan 9th, 1.6" Jan 14, 0.2" (ice) Jan 22, 1.3" Feb 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow_wizard Posted March 21, 2021 Report Share Posted March 21, 2021 Part of January 1969 was maritime polar for the Seattle area and snow fell pretty much every day during the week or so that the setup lasted. After that it went more continental. Jan 31, 1989 had an amazingly cold maritime polar airmass before the wicked Arctic blast hit. I had icicles forming at my house in the afternoon during the maritime polar phase of that. Little question that Jesse's suggestion of March 1951 is correct. Some parts of that got a bit continental, but part of it was probably maritime. I think the winter of 1955-56 had a lot of that. Quote Death To Warm Anomalies! Winter 2023-24 stats Total Snowfall = 1.0" Day with 1" or more snow depth = 1 Total Hail = 0.0 Total Ice = 0.2 Coldest Low = 13 Lows 32 or below = 45 Highs 32 or below = 3 Lows 20 or below = 3 Highs 40 or below = 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverFallsAndrew Posted March 22, 2021 Report Share Posted March 22, 2021 January 1971 wasn't bad. Quote Snowfall Precip 2022-23: 95.0" 2022-23: 17.39" 2021-22: 52.6" 2021-22: 91.46" 2020-21: 12.0" 2020-21: 71.59" 2019-20: 23.5" 2019-20: 58.54" 2018-19: 63.5" 2018-19: 66.33" 2017-18: 30.3" 2017-18: 59.83" 2016-17: 49.2" 2016-17: 97.58" 2015-16: 11.75" 2015-16: 68.67" 2014-15: 3.5" 2013-14: 11.75" 2013-14: 62.30 2012-13: 16.75" 2012-13: 78.45 2011-12: 98.5" 2011-12: 92.67" It's always sunny at Winters Hill! Fighting the good fight against weather evil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLI snowman Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 On 3/22/2021 at 11:01 AM, SilverFallsAndrew said: January 1971 wasn't bad. And late February. The end of December 1964 was legit, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLI snowman Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 Speaking of late February.... 1917. Also the mid February 1990 event was essentially maritime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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