November 2015 in the Pacific Northwest

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Yup, pretty easy to see why, too. Here's the 12z EPS mean geopotential height anomaly for days 11-15. That's ugly looking, and very reminiscent of December 2006.

 

Windstorm pattern for you guys?

 

image.png

Of course December 2006 had a pretty big windstorm...

[bainbridgekid]

Yup, pretty easy to see why, too. Here's the 12z EPS mean geopotential height anomaly for days 11-15. That's ugly looking, and very reminiscent of December 2006.

 

Windstorm pattern for you guys?

I'm gonna be in Chicago from December 19th to 31st and am just hoping for some reasonable Winter weather while I'm there.

 

Not really expecting much of anything here before then.

[Phil]

Here's December 2006. Pretty much a carbon copy of the EPS mean.

 

 

[bainbridgekid]

Of course December 2006 had a pretty big windstorm...

I'd take another one of those.

 

I left for Chicago the next day so I got to enjoy the storm without having to deal with the aftermath.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Quick question for those that may know. Can't trust the radar returns out here but they are weakening. Infared shows cold cloud tops similar to earlier today. Should snow continue? I can't tell if it will stop any time now or continue for an hour or two.

I would expect significant accumulations to begin ending soon as the low continues to pull away to the south. Upslope could keep some light snow going for a few hours.

[TT-SEA]

Yup, pretty easy to see why, too. Here's the 12z EPS mean geopotential height anomaly for days 11-15. That's ugly looking, and very reminiscent of December 2006.

 

Windstorm pattern for you guys?

 

image.png

 

 

Yes..   And the 00Z Canadian has a windstorm-looking pattern in a week.

 

http://img.meteocentre.com/models/gemglb_amer_00/GZ_D5_PN_168_0000.gif

[SilverFallsAndrew]

The big windstorm in December 2006 was actually followed by a pretty cold inversion in the Willamette valley. I think sle had one or two sub freezing highs.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Yes.. And the 00Z Canadian has a windstorm-looking pattern in a week.

 

http://img.meteocentre.com/models/gemglb_amer_00/GZ_D5_PN_168_0000.gif

That looks active!

[Jesse]

December 2006 definitely wasn't a complete torch in the PNW. A fairly cold airmass actually moved in on the wake of the Hanukkah Eve storm.

 

I remember taking a drive out the gorge and up around the Goldendale area the day after the windstorm and hitting scattered snow showers at relatively low elevations.

[Jesse]

The big windstorm in December 2006 was actually followed by a pretty cold inversion in the Willamette valley. I think sle had one or two sub freezing highs.

Yup, you beat me to it.

[FroYoBro]

Ashland might pick up a little snow tonight. 

[BLI snowman]

December 2006 definitely wasn't a complete torch in the PNW. A fairly cold airmass actually moved in on the wake of the Hanukkah Eve storm.

 

I remember taking a drive out the gorge and up around the Goldendale area the day after the windstorm and hitting scattered snow showers at relatively low elevations.

 

The Portland-Vancouver area had a thundersnow shower roll through on the day after the storm. Got about 1/3" of graupel and snow.

[Jesse]

The Portland-Vancouver area had a thundersnow shower roll through on the day after the storm. Got about 1/3" of graupel and snow.

That's right. I remember being irritated that I had missed it.

 

It was cold enough that some was still around when we got back, though.

[Deweydog]

The Portland-Vancouver area had a thundersnow shower roll through on the day after the storm. Got about 1/3" of graupel and snow.

I remember that. A car spun out in front of me on 205 at Mill Plain. I didn't stop.

[DareDuck]

I would expect significant accumulations to begin ending soon as the low continues to pull away to the south. Upslope could keep some light snow going for a few hours.

Thanks for the answer. We're up to a foot now so I'm more than satisfied.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

My Dad's place had almost an inch of hail and grapuel that day, it didn't melt for a few days

[Dave]

Thanks for the answer. We're up to a foot now so I'm more than satisfied.

My sister in Bend (Awbrey Butte) also confirms over a foot.  She also mentioned some nearby areas have up to two feet.  Quite an epic early snowstorm for central Oregon.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

My sister in Bend (Awbrey Butte) also confirms over a foot. She also mentioned some nearby areas have up to two feet. Quite an epic early snowstorm for central Oregon.

Was a great setup for them.

[richard mann]

Literally a small galaxy setting up shop in the GOA ....

 

.. Annoying.

 

— As in, not likely (?), most likely. (?)

 

http://www.fvalk.com/images/Day image/GOES-10-0600.jpg

[luvssnow_spokane]

Yes, It is a lonnnng ways out but possible windstorm setup around December 4th on the GFS... funny thing is this will probably verify... LOL! Seems like if it was showing an arctic outbreak it would very likely, not verify...  Well, it will be worth watching although it is in la-la-land right now. Note: ECMWF as of this morning was not showing it as the low tracks way north.

 

Honestly, looking at the larger scale patterns right now I will be surprised if we do not have an interesting event (not arctic) with the upcoming setup as it is a prime pattern and holds for a good 7 days or longer.  Nice thing is, we often get a little coolish weather after such events for mountain snow, which is a good thing.

[MossMan]

26 degrees currently. and wow what a bright moon it was last night! If we just had snow cover it would have been awesome.

[MossMan]

Officially hit 25 degrees. Beautiful morning!!

[luvssnow_spokane]

Got down to 26 last night

[stuffradio]

Got down to 24. Still no snow whatsoever.

[Timmy]

my wife's aunt said she had 12'' of snow in Bend as of midnight last night. has anyone heard official numbers?

[crf450ish]

Guys- I remember the Hanukkah Eve Storm of 2006 very vividly! It was something I have never seen before and I was around during the inauguration day storm of 1993, I remember standing at the bus stop and a fellow neighbor kid who was a high schooler grabbing the hood of my coat to keep me from blowing down the street! How about the massive ice storm in December of 1996? The Hanukkah Eve Storm of 06' was extremely devastating where I was at. Downed trees that looked like spilt toothpicks on the floor. Power was out for 18 days and the freezing (and I mean real cold) temps that killed many. 

 

Wasn't 2006 a Strong Nino(ish) year? I haven't researched it. 

 

BTW its 26 here and still have an inch of snow on the ground. 

[luvssnow_spokane]

my wife's aunt said she had 12'' of snow in Bend as of midnight last night. has anyone heard official numbers?

A number of people have posted that same amount on here so I am getting a feeling that is a pretty accurate number. Amazing!! I could only dream of 12 inches of snow.

[bainbridgekid]

Bainbridge Island Schools are closed today because of all the roads closed.

 

I went to school over there for 6 years and never once had a day off because of wind. Just a different world over there right now. Heading back there in a few hours.

[MossMan]

A number of people have posted that same amount on here so I am getting a feeling that is a pretty accurate number. Amazing!! I could only dream of 12 inches of snow.

I can almost remember the days that it snowed a foot here no problem. 1985, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012...but since then I have been lucky to get 2".

[TT-SEA]

I can almost remember the days that it snowed a foot here no problem. 1985, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012...but since then I have been lucky to get 2".

 

1998 to 2006 is a long wait.   

 

Before that you were also waiting 5 to 6 years between events.

 

And then 3 events between 2008 - 2012 seems to indicate a longer wait is in order.  Its only been 3 years so far.  

[TT-SEA]

Beautiful morning now that the fog is finally clearing... still not even a hint of wind here.   And yes the neighbors' dog was barking at me taking pictures.  

 

 

[MossMan]

1998 to 2006 is a long wait.

 

Before that you were also waiting 5 to 6 years between events.

 

And then 3 events between 2008 - 2012 seems to indicate a longer wait is in order. Its only been 3 years so far.

We did have many nice events in between those years over 2" just not as much as a foot!

[luvssnow_spokane]

I can almost remember the days that it snowed a foot here no problem. 1985, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012...but since then I have been lucky to get 2".

The only time I ever saw close to a foot was 2008.. Biggest snow at once was about 9 inches (awesome).. Over the whole 2008 event I got a total of around a foot but with compression it was never that deep. BY far the most epic event I have seen since the 1985 November event which was 2 weeks of snow, and cold with multiple storms and highs below freezing for days. What made that event even better is it was not forecasted... That morning when it all started they said it was going to be a snow to rain event and nothing more. We all know how that turned out. Truly epic!!!! 2008 was the second best I have ever seen.... Sadly, I honestly feel it will not happen again for a very long time.

[DareDuck]

my wife's aunt said she had 12'' of snow in Bend as of midnight last night. has anyone heard official numbers?

We're in northeast Bend and we got 12" too.

[stuffradio]

I had between 3 and 4 feet on the ground in 2008. I used to be able to get 2-3' of snow much more easily in the 90's. The last snow event I had, which also happened to give me over a foot, was in Jan 2012. Before that 2010 or 2011 gave me a couple inches. Maybe in total I got close to 6" in 2011 or so. i got an inch last year. 2009 was pretty bad.

[luvssnow_spokane]

I had between 3 and 4 feet on the ground in 2008. I used to be able to get 2-3' of snow much more easily in the 90's. The last snow event I had, which also happened to give me over a foot, was in Jan 2012. Before that 2010 or 2011 gave me a couple inches. Maybe in total I got close to 6" in 2011 or so. i got an inch last year. 2009 was pretty bad.

I got a less than an inch that melted quick... I was excited when I moved to this area, as it was known historically for getting snow when others did not. That has not been the case since I moved here in 2007. It seems we get less or screwed completely.

 

I was talking to a resident who has lived here for over 20 years and they were sharing how this area used to get a lot more snow. They said that just is not the case anymore. Not sure why, but I have seen few times based on how the low tracks and pulls in east winds it really squeezes moisture out and limits snow totals in this location. I have seen this a number of times now. Area's 10 miles away get hammered and we get barely anything. 

[MossMan]

The only time I ever saw close to a foot was 2008.. Biggest snow at once was about 9 inches (awesome).. Over the whole 2008 event I got a total of around a foot but with compression it was never that deep. BY far the most epic event I have seen since the 1985 November event which was 2 weeks of snow, and cold with multiple storms and highs below freezing for days. What made that event even better is it was not forecasted... That morning when it all started they said it was going to be a snow to rain event and nothing more. We all know how that turned out. Truly epic!!!! 2008 was the second best I have ever seen.... Sadly I honestly feel it will not happen again for a very long time.

Wow I thought you had gotten more in 2008. I ended up measuring 32" Christmas morning. Was insane!

[Jesse]

I can almost remember the days that it snowed a foot here no problem. 1985, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012...but since then I have been lucky to get 2".

Lots of warm summers/long warm seasons lately, though!

[Jesse]

Beautful, frosty morning here.

[luvssnow_spokane]

Wow I thought you had gotten more in 2008. I ended up measuring 32" Christmas morning. Was insane!

No... But It was still awesome!!! I would take what I got again any day!   The northern area's got a lot more during that event due to convergence...