February 2014 in the PNW

[snow_wizard]

Actually we are much closer to Wenatchee then you think.   We are 25 minutes from Wenatchee, max.  A very easy drive on highway 2 straight into downtown.

 

Yeah, it is hot in the summers.  It does help that it is dry, but it is still hot.  Air conditioning is a must here, and most houses have them.

 

We have had a lot of snow since January 29th.  I have not kept track of totals, but we have had probably 7-8 snows of 2-6'.  And some rain in the daytime, which has kept the snow totals still on the ground a bit lower then it otherwise could be.  Still plenty of snow though. 

 

I'm ready to move there.  I looked at housing prices today and there are some very good deals.  Looks like Peshastin may be even more reasonable. 

 

I was quite surprised when I looked at Leavenworth high temps vs Cle Elum high temps during the summer.  There appears to be a solid 5 to 6F difference with Leavenworth being warmer.  Average lows are actually a bit cooler than here though so that should make it more comfortable overall I would think.  It also appears Leavenworth is 1 to 2 degrees colder in the winter than Cle Elum.

 

Commute wise the traveling time wouldn't be much different than what my wife and I do now.  More distance, but much lighter traffic.  Now I just have a big list of things to take care of here before we can do it.  Just finally having made the decision makes me feel better.

[TT-SEA]

I'm ready to move there.  I looked at housing prices today and there are some very good deals.  Looks like Peshastin may be even more reasonable. 

 

I was quite surprised when I looked at Leavenworth high temps vs Cle Elum high temps during the summer.  There appears to be a solid 5 to 6F difference with Leavenworth being warmer.  Average lows are actually a bit cooler than here though so that should make it more comfortable overall I would think.  It also appears Leavenworth is 1 to 2 degrees colder in the winter than Cle Elum.

 

Commute wise the traveling time wouldn't be much different than what my wife and I do now.  More distance, but much lighter traffic.  Now I just have a big list of things to take care of here before we can do it.  Just finally having made the decision makes me feel better.

Commute to where?

[Brian_in_Leavenworth]

(in response go Jim's comment about Leavenworth)

 

I know you would enjoy it too.  More sunny days as well, with great views.

 

Peshastin is 5-6 miles east of here, that much closer to Wenatchee.  It makes Leavenworth look like a metropolis, and the views are not quite as nice.  I am guessing they get a bit less snow than we do, but certainly more than Cashmere and Wenatchee.   But probably cheaper to live there though. 

 

Places like Plain and Lake Wenatchee get even more snow than we do, since they are a bit west and have higher precip totals, and they can be just a bit cooler, so marginal snow here is all snow there.  Those places are probably 20 minutes from Leavenworth. 

 

You can get better real estate deals if you go out of town just a little bit.  If you are serious, PM me and I can give you the names of a couple of good real estate agents who really know the area.

[snow_wizard]

Commute to where?

 

Wenatchee.  That is why Leavenworth is much more desirable than Cle Elum in Wife's eyes.  A big city is much closer.  Prettier too. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

A couple more winters like this one and last up here and I might a start considering a move to a different climate. Spokane/CDA perhaps. Maybe Joseph or Prairie City if I could find employment there. Parkdale would be another great location in the upper Hood River Valley.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

When it comes to moving I am screwed. I would have to sell a family business and that alone would cause family issues. I will just ride it out and retire where I want. I will be able to retire at age 52. Ten years left.

[Snowman5678]

On the topic of moving...One more winter here and then I'm out of here...lots of places being considered, some of the locations:

Salt Lake City
Boulder CO
Oklahoma City
Topeka 

Madison WI

Ann Arbor

State College PA

Philadelphia

Albany
Edmonton Alberta

I think those are all the locations....Pretty much all are snowier than here.

[snow_wizard]

When it comes to moving I am screwed. I would have to sell a family business and that alone would cause family issues. I will just ride it out and retire where I want. I will be able to retire at age 52. Ten years left.

The math doesn't add up.

 

I know how it sucks to be trapped here.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

We are some real nuts when it comes to snow. Before I came to this forum I thought I was alone when it came to my passion with weather and snow. It started when I was 8 years old. I used to fall asleep to the weather radio every night. Lol

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

The math doesn't add up. :lol:I know how it sucks to be trapped here.

The bad word made a number 33. I am 41 so eleven years left in this sinkhole.

[snow_wizard]

On the topic of moving...One more winter here and then I'm out of here...lots of places being considered, some of the locations:

Salt Lake City

Boulder CO

Oklahoma City

Topeka 

Madison WI

Ann Arbor

State College PA

Philadelphia

Albany

Edmonton Alberta

 

I think those are all the locations....Pretty much all are snowier than here.

A lot of snowier places in this state than many of those. I know a lot of people like to live near major population centers though. In that regard Spokane is the main choice in this state. Apparently this winter rubbed a lot of people in the Puget Sound region the wrong way. The crushing blow for me was looking at the ENSO indicators yesterday and seeing the unmistakable signs of a major El Nino brewing. I have no idea how I will survive a loser 2014-15 winter. Little doubt it will be hideous if the Nino is strong.

[snow_wizard]

We are some real nuts when it comes to snow. Before I came to this forum I thought I was alone when it came to my passion with weather and snow. It started when I was 8 years old. I used to fall asleep to the weather radio every night. Lol

Pretty much the same story here except I was more like 6.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

On the topic of moving...One more winter here and then I'm out of here...lots of places being considered, some of the locations:

Salt Lake City

Boulder CO

Oklahoma City

Topeka 

Madison WI

Ann Arbor

State College PA

Philadelphia

Albany

Edmonton Alberta

 

I think those are all the locations....Pretty much all are snowier than here.

 

I'd mark Topeka and OKC off that list.

[snow_wizard]

The bad word made a number 33. I am 41 so eleven years left in this sinkhole.

Screwd comes up 33?

[westcoastexpat]

5-7" across Metro Vancouver away from the water at this hour.

 

Chalk another one up for the GEM. 

 

GFS should feel very, very ashamed.

[Snowman5678]

A lot of snowier places in this state than many of those. I know a lot of people like to live near major population centers though. In that regard Spokane is the main choice in this state. Apparently this winter rubbed a lot of people in the Puget Sound region the wrong way. The crushing blow for me was looking at the ENSO indicators yesterday and seeing the unmistakable signs of a major El Nino brewing. I have no idea how I will survive a loser 2014-15 winter. Little doubt it will be hideous if the Nino is strong.

 

Yes true but those are the only locations that i can go to, no locations in state i can be besides Seattle. There good snowy places, certainly better than Seattle. The only location that is about on par snow wise with Seattle is Oklahoma city, Oklahoma City sees less snow than i usually see out here though.

[Snowman5678]

I'd mark Topeka and OKC off that list.

Ya OKC is less snowy than my location currently and Topeka averages 18.7"  a year so its about on par with what i see out here...Still a more interesting climate than here but those aren't my ideal locations...would rather be further north but we'll see. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Ya OKC is less snowy than my location currently and Topeka averages 18.7"  a year so its about on par with what i see out here...Still a more interesting climate than here but those aren't my ideal locations...would rather be further north but we'll see. 

 

I lived about 2 1/2 hours from OKC for 3 years. The climate is much more interesting IMO in NE Oklahoma where i lived than in OKC, though OKC gets more severe storms. More overall t-storms in NE OK and colder/snowier in the winter. OKC is really a hole though, 

 

My wife grew up just outside Topeka, definitely snows a lot there and isn't as hot in the summer, but again, not really a few nice area.

[Snowman5678]

I lived about 2 1/2 hours from OKC for 3 years. The climate is much more interesting IMO in NE Oklahoma where i lived than in OKC, though OKC gets more severe storms. More overall t-storms in NE OK and colder/snowier in the winter. OKC is really a hole though, 

 

My wife grew up just outside Topeka, definitely snows a lot there and isn't as hot in the summer, but again, not really a few nice area.

Ya NE OK is more interesting...i wouldn't be in Topeka but in Lawrence between Topeka and KC.

[epiceast]

I lived about 2 1/2 hours from OKC for 3 years. The climate is much more interesting IMO in NE Oklahoma where i lived than in OKC, though OKC gets more severe storms. More overall t-storms in NE OK and colder/snowier in the winter. OKC is really a hole though, 

 

My wife grew up just outside Topeka, definitely snows a lot there and isn't as hot in the summer, but again, not really a few nice area.

He's considering college towns. Here's another Canadian one - Kelowna home to UBC Okanognan. Not a lot of snow(20-30" IIRC) but some of the milder weather east of the mountains. Also they get a lot of thunderstorms.

[snow_wizard]

Ya OKC is less snowy than my location currently and Topeka averages 18.7"  a year so its about on par with what i see out here...Still a more interesting climate than here but those aren't my ideal locations...would rather be further north but we'll see.

I would definitely choose the northern third of the country no matter where I moved. Much cooler summers for the most part. I love Western summers so that's important too.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Ya NE OK is more interesting...i wouldn't be in Topeka but in Lawrence between Topeka and KC.

 

So Norman and Lawrence specifically.

 

Personally I'd take Lawrence over Norman.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Had to share this view looking south from Timberline on Mt. Hood this morning.

 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Its a cool day with a nice N breeze. Sunny and 39 at the moment. The dogs are loving the sunshine.

 

Looking at the radar it looks like some rain is on the way in a few hours though.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Looks like SLE hit 28 this morning. 

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

38 here with rain snow mix. I can look up and see the snow flakes in the cloud deck. Snow level here is about 1200 ft.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Bellingham reporting 31 with moderate snow at noon. What an event for them.

 

Sea-Tac is at 45.

[Snowman5678]

He's considering college towns. Here's another Canadian one - Kelowna home to UBC Okanognan. Not a lot of snow(20-30" IIRC) but some of the milder weather east of the mountains. Also they get a lot of thunderstorms.

 

Ding ding ding, college! from what i have heard UBC's atmospheric sciences department is only in Vancouver.

[Snowman5678]

So Norman and Lawrence specifically.

 

Personally I'd take Lawrence over Norman.

 

Ya, Location wise i would choose Lawrence but OU's met program is really good....Right now the locations that i like the most are Albany, State College, and Salt Lake City.

[MR.SNOWMIZER]

Wow there is a 16 inch snow report near maple falls! !!. Nws.

[Snowman5678]

Snow reports from Western Whatcom.

 

http://i62.tinypic.com/2hmzllj.png

[catnip]

5-7" across Metro Vancouver away from the water at this hour.

 

Chalk another one up for the GEM. 

 

GFS should feel very, very ashamed.

I am up to 8" here.

[westcoastexpat]

I am up to 8" here.

 

Yep. Most seem to be in the 6-9" now.

[Phil]

On the topic of moving...One more winter here and then I'm out of here...lots of places being considered, some of the locations:

Salt Lake City

Boulder CO

Oklahoma City

Topeka

Madison WI

Ann Arbor

State College PA

Philadelphia

Albany

Edmonton Alberta

 

I think those are all the locations....Pretty much all are snowier than here.

I think if you want severe weather too, you've gotta move east of the Rockies..but the trade-off for that is miserable summer heat & humidity. So, pick your poison I guess.

[Weather101]

Yep. Most seem to be in the 6-9" now.

How much longer is the snow going too fall here?

[Snowman5678]

I think if you want severe weather, you've gotta move east of the Rockies..but the trade-off for that is miserable summer heat & humidity.

I dont mind the heat and humidity...loved the muggy summers out east. 

[westcoastexpat]

How much longer is the snow going too fall here?

 

An hour or so before midnight tonight.

 

The biggest snow will end this evening around suppertime. 

[Weather101]

An hour or so before midnight tonight.

Ok thanks! No chance it lasts till the morning like NWS suggests?

[westcoastexpat]

Ok thanks! No chance it lasts till the morning like NWS suggests?

 

Not much moisture to work with. Maybe flurries but you're talking 1" of accumulations overnight if the snow does persist. The heavy stuff will all be gone by the evening.

[Phil]

I dont mind the heat and humidity...loved the muggy summers out east.

Seriously?

 

In that case, try Penn State or UMD if you want a legit A.S education..big name schools tend to = big jobs nowadays...plus you 'll have all kinds of weather to track.

 

I chose UMD for mine. Funny part was the first night in I stayed in my dorm we had a severe t-storm blow through with 70mph winds. I then knew I was in the right place..haha.