PNW greatest weather memories.
Dec 1990: A wee lad at the time, but what stands out was going into our 3rd grade Christmas program with nothing notable, seeing snow blowing sideways outside through the windows as we performed everything, and then two hours later coming out to a winter wonderland with a few inches of snow on the ground and icy temps. And then a Christmas break full of sledding and playing in the snow with neighborhood kids.
Jan 1996: Now an adolescent, a forecast bust that week where Portland got snow and we got zilch, Super Bowl Sunday arrived and the snow started shortly before the game and continued into the evening, with 6" total.
Dec 1996: I remember Christmas night watching the evening news and the weather forecast suddenly was showing winter storm warnings for 6-12"! I'd never seen this before. The next day proved to be a bit of letdown, with heavy snow turning to freezing rain after only 3-4" had accumulated. But that night I'll never forget, as we lost power for two days straight and the cracking of giant fir branches continued through the night.
Jan 2004: Unexpected snow on New Years Day during traditional mud football game with college friends. Then the arctic front with a couple inches more a few days later, followed by the big snow to ice storm on the 6th.
Speaking of first freeze. The 1930s has yet another jaw dropping stat for Seattle. In the winter of 1933-34 they only had one freezing min and it was 32 on the button.