February 2014 in the PNW

[snow_wizard]

I really like how you take time to explain what you know. Other folks on here have done similar at times. What do you think the precipitation and temperature are looking like tomorrow morning? I'm guessing I'll be above freezing by 10:00, but I really don't know. Temperatures up by Bellingham don't even look that cold.

 

Bellingham has insanely low dew point temperatures though.  If you pour some moisture through that it would plummet.

[snow_wizard]

Don't look now, but the models are hinting at a possible cold snap around the 20th.  A number of ensemble members drop -10 or below and the mean drops to -5 for Seattle.  I remember the current cold snap had humble beginnings in the models.  Even a minor cold snap would ice this to the be the coldest Feb of the century so far.

[snow_wizard]

Went up to 33F here in the Salem Area this afternoon and back down to 30F with everything in solid ice.  Can't open the trash cans.     Too bad we didn't have the 10F lows that were forecast for last Thursday.

 

 

 

 

This cold snap wasn't great at all for low temps due to wind and clouds, but some of the high temps were remarkably cold and the duration was impressive.  SEA had their latest below 30 high since Feb 1956 on Thursday.

[Tenochtitlan]

about 2.5" here (North Seattle). Such a good feeling to see something from this cold snap at last, even if it will melt tomorrow.

[KMartin]

I really like how you take time to explain what you know. Other folks on here have done similar at times. What do you think the precipitation and temperature are looking like tomorrow morning? I'm guessing I'll be above freezing by 10:00, but I really don't know. Temperatures up by Bellingham don't even look that cold.

Mainly below freezing till the evening into the overnight from Seattle northward ... then it's above freezing and the rain events start.

[luminen]

EUG reporting 30F and moderate snow. I'm not seeing anything falling out of my window though.

[epiceast]

8-10 inch storm reports around Yakima very impressive.

[Skagit Weather]

Well I had to drive to Marysville to get appreciable snow, but I found it. At home all it brought was a higher dew point, a temperature above freezing, and 0.0000 inches of snow. It would be nice if it snows tomorrow, but I am not holding my breath.

[epiceast]

00z was very warm

[Dan the Weatherman]

Well I had to drive to Marysville to get appreciable snow, but I found it. At home all it brought was a higher dew point, a temperature above freezing, and 0.0000 inches of snow. It would be nice if it snows tomorrow, but I am not holding my breath.

 

You must live in a "banana belt", a local microclimate that is a bit warmer than the surrounding areas, since it seems that your area is missing the recent snow events. Or, possibly, your area could also be shadowed when winds come out of a certain direction or maybe a bit of downsloping could be in play as well. I am not familiar with your region, since I don't live in the PNW, but I am just taking a wild guess why your area may be missing out because I have been noticing that over time reading this forum.

[JGardner_Gresham]

Gresham, OR.. It's gotten worse

-0.80" of ice on top of 6-7" of snow
-27.3 degrees
-Trees sagging nearly to the ground
-Power flickering, but outages are surprisingly minimal, only ~3000
-No warming coming during the day tomorrow E of I-205
-Possibly more ZR coming tomorrow

[seattleweatherguy]

i got 2 inches and counting

[WeatherWatcher]

This cold snap wasn't great at all for low temps due to wind and clouds, but some of the high temps were remarkably cold and the duration was impressive.  SEA had their latest below 30 high since Feb 1956 on Thursday.

 

The temps were pretty good over here. Lowest i had was -2*, my grandparents in Wapato had -7*.

 

Snow stopped here.12-13",11" in one day is good day, Imo.

 

These are from 10min ago.

 

Beautiul.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee87/JeepComanche88/DSCN2109600x800.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee87/JeepComanche88/DSCN2112800x600.jpg

[Shadow]

Do you actually live in the mountains like, over a thousand feet(Satus pass area) or in a town?

 

Do you actually live in the mountains like, over a thousand feet(Satus pass area) or in a town?

A little over 2500 feet, nearest town about 15 minutes away.

[Shadow]

I have taken several pictures, but do not know how to post them.  Currently 14 degrees and still snowing.

[WeatherWatcher]

I have taken several pictures, but do not know how to post them.  Currently 14 degrees and still snowing.

You can use Photobucket/Smugmug/Etc like I use, or you can select "more reply options" and attach photo's directly.

[MossMan]

Ended up with just over 1". I love waking up to a snowy scene! Currently 29 degrees.

[AnthonyC]

Was a little disappointed by final totals here in Issaquah.  I'd say about 1.5 inches.  I think the initial east winds really killed the precipitation intensity.  Oh well.  Everything is coated, including the roads.

 

Now it's time for it to melt.

[westcoastexpat]

It has been an interesting winter for my hometown: normal in terms of temperatures, below normal in terms of rain, well below normal in terms of snowfall. The big story has been the fog.

 

Clearly south of Olympia has been the big winner this winter with cold temperatures and snow.

 

Vancouver area looks to pick up 1-2" before the transition to rain tomorrow. A bit disappointing but their time will hopefully come later this winter. I'm hoping that next winter will be more active for the forum in terms of snowfall. Did Seattle end up with normal snowfall overall for the winter of 2010-2011? Vancouver hasn't hit near normal seasonal snowfall since '08-'09.

[Jesse]

This cold snap wasn't great at all for low temps due to wind and clouds, but some of the high temps were remarkably cold and the duration was impressive.  SEA had their latest below 30 high since Feb 1956 on Thursday.

 

There were some impressive lows east of the Cascades, and PDX broke a couple record lows.

 

I would say this cold snap was historic from both a cold and snow perspective, especially down here.

[AnthonyC]

I think the duration of this thing has been impressive, especially for February.  Most locations (esp. down in Oregon) are now on their fifth, consecutive day of arctic cold, snow/freezing rain, etc. 

 

The last time I remember anything this good/prolonged in the month of February was back in 2002.

[snow maniac]

well I only received 1 inch of snow last night, sure hope I can score again today.

[Jesse]

I think the duration of this thing has been impressive, especially for February.  Most locations (esp. down in Oregon) are now on their fifth, consecutive day of arctic cold, snow/freezing rain, etc. 

 

The last time I remember anything this good/prolonged in the month of February was back in 2002.

 

What? Not even close.

 

PDX didn't have a single high below 45 in February 2002:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPDX/2002/2/9/MonthlyHistory.html

 

SEA didn't even have a high below 40:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSEA/2002/2/9/MonthlyHistory.html

 

Not even Bellingham had anything close to the cold they have seen this month:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KBLI/2002/2/9/MonthlyHistory.html

 

Comparing this to February 2002, a month that virtually nothing happened, is ludicrous.

 

This was the biggest late season cold/snow event down this way in decades. Not even March 2002 (which you are probably thinking of) even came close to this event's historic nature and overall impact on the entire region. 

[Dadio]

We added another inch of snow last night. Now we have 5-7 inches of snow. It depends on the type of surface. It must of been above freezing when the snow started. It does look beautiful outside.

[TT-SEA]

What? Not even close.

 

PDX didn't have a single high below 45 in February 2002:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPDX/2002/2/9/MonthlyHistory.html

 

SEA didn't even have a high below 40:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSEA/2002/2/9/MonthlyHistory.html

 

Not even Bellingham had anything close to the cold they have seen this month:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KBLI/2002/2/9/MonthlyHistory.html

 

Comparing this to February 2002, a month that virtually nothing happened, is ludicrous.

 

This was the biggest late season cold/snow event down this way in decades. Not even March 2002 (which you are probably thinking of) even came close to this event's historic nature and overall impact on the entire region. 

 

 

I agree with all of this... this is a truly historic event down south.

[TT-SEA]

We added another inch of snow last night. Now we have 5-7 inches of snow. It depends on the type of surface. It must of been above freezing when the snow started. It does look beautiful outside.

 

 

Awesome!

 

Only an inch here.    My location was the biggest loser south of Everett for this entire event!   And I am just fine with that... my kids are mad... but not me.  

 

I know this is a rare event and climate normally favors my location heavily... its fun to be on the other side.    Side note... big fluffy flakes falling here again now.   

[luterra]

Waiting for the warm up still west of Philomath in the woods. Lost power at 6 last night in heavy freezing rain. Eerie to sit in the hot tub listening to mature Douglas firs crashing down every few minutes without a breath of wind. Still hearing the occasional crash this morning. Tree just missed our house and car, so far no property damage.

[TT-SEA]

Waiting for the warm up still west of Philomath in the woods. Lost power at 6 last night in heavy freezing rain. Eerie to sit in the hot tub listening to mature Douglas firs crashing down every few minutes without a breath of wind. Still hearing the occasional crash this morning. Tree just missed our house and car, so far no property damage.

 

Nature's pruning.    

[Radarwatcher]

Any guesses on snow totals for Vancouver BC tonight through tomorrow? Our changeover isn't supposed to happen until late Monday morning. Environment Canada thinks trace-3". I'm wondering about timing too.

 

(Btw I've been lurking for months... Hello )

[AnthonyC]

What? Not even close.

 

PDX didn't have a single high below 45 in February 2002:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPDX/2002/2/9/MonthlyHistory.html

 

SEA didn't even have a high below 40:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSEA/2002/2/9/MonthlyHistory.html

 

Not even Bellingham had anything close to the cold they have seen this month:

 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KBLI/2002/2/9/MonthlyHistory.html

 

Comparing this to February 2002, a month that virtually nothing happened, is ludicrous.

 

This was the biggest late season cold/snow event down this way in decades. Not even March 2002 (which you are probably thinking of) even came close to this event's historic nature and overall impact on the entire region. 

 

I meant to say February 2001...my bad.  And thanks for gathering all that info for me...made my job much easier.

[AnthonyC]

Awesome!

 

Only an inch here.    My location was the biggest loser south of Everett for this entire event!   And I am just fine with that... my kids are mad... but not me.  

 

I know this is a rare event and climate normally favors my location heavily... its fun to be on the other side.    Side note... big fluffy flakes falling here again now.   

 

Yep, big flakes coming down here as well.  Very nice to look at.

[Dadio]

Waiting for the warm up still west of Philomath in the woods. Lost power at 6 last night in heavy freezing rain. Eerie to sit in the hot tub listening to mature Douglas firs crashing down every few minutes without a breath of wind. Still hearing the occasional crash this morning. Tree just missed our house and car, so far no property damage.

How is your hot tub heated if you lost power? It can be a mess with heavy ice.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I don't know about the Puget Sound area, but  nothing in February compares to this in terms of snow since at least 1993 in W. Oregon and for cold since February 1989. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

The cold/snow combo from EUG to PDX makes this probably a generational event for February.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Some records from Friday.

 

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OREGON
423 AM PST SAT FEB 08 2014

...ONE DAILY SNOWFALL RECORD SET FRIDAY...
...THREE LOW TEMPERATURE RECORDS SET FRIDAY...
...MULTIPLE COOLEST HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS SET FRIDAY...

A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 6.8 INCHES WAS SET AT EUGENE OR YESTERDAY. THIS
BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 2.3 INCHES SET IN 1949.

RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE RECORDS SET...
LOCATION NEW RECORD OLD RECORD
ASTORIA................. 20 22 SET IN 1989
PORTLAND AIRPORT........ 20 21 SET IN 1982
TROUTDALE............... 19 21 SET IN 1989

COOLEST HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS SET OR TIED...
LOCATION NEW RECORD OLD RECORD
ASTORIA................. 34 37 SET IN 1899
VANCOUVER............... 27 35 SET IN 1929
PORTLAND DOWNTOWN....... 26 28 SET IN 1887
PORTLAND AIRPORT........ 28 39 SET IN 1989
HILLSBORO............... 27 37 SET IN 1985
MCMINNVILLE............. 28 38 SET IN 1990
SALEM................... 28 36 SET IN 1989
EUGENE.................. 29 29 SET IN 1899


RECORDS FOR ASTORIA DATE BACK TO 1890.
RECORDS FOR VANCOUVER DATE BACK TO 1891.
RECORDS FOR PORTLAND DOWNTOWN DATE BACK TO 1874.
RECORDS FOR PORTLAND AIRPORT DATE BACK TO 1940.
RECORDS FOR TROUTDALE DATE BACK TO 1948.
RECORDS FOR HILLSBORO DATE BACK TO 1929.
RECORDS FOR MCMINNVILLE DATE BACK TO 1894.
RECORDS FOR SALEM DATE BACK TO 1892.
RECORDS FOR EUGENE DATE BACK TO 1892.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Not to flog a dead donkey, but PDX broke their record min max by 15 degrees on Thursday!!!

[MossMan]

Yep, big flakes coming down here as well.  Very nice to look at.

Possible PSCZ forming down your way? Currently cloudy, 30 degrees with a DP of 19. I feel very lucky with my 1"...looks like I was on the northern fringe of the snow line.

[HighlandExperience]

snowing pretty good here again.  I am a bit surprised. 

[snow_wizard]

Snowing pretty good right now.  I was hoping some kind of a surprise would pop up.

[snow_wizard]

snowing pretty good here again.  I am a bit surprised. 

 

Onshore flow at the 850mb level over-running a dome of cold air with weak offshore flow at the surface.