Is this December 2004 or 2005?

[Cumulonimbus]

Looking at the 10 day ECMWF I can't tell the difference. Another busted December for precip in the Pacific Northwest. Glad we got some precip last month. Interesting how the pattern is "locked in" with a high over the west coast and a trough over the east coast for weeks on end in the month of December. Pattern looks almost identical to last winter at this time.

[f5]

difference between this year vs last is that California isn't getting pounded with storm after storm while the pacific northwest stays dry.entire west coast is dry thats the big difference

[LTHLBLU]

for sure...this time last year we had 3 huge snowstorms in Tahoe..only 1 puny one so far

[wxmann_91]

Oh where oh were did the rain go? Oh where oh where did you go?

If it doesn't start raining by next year I'll be officially declaring this season a bust. Since October 16 (I recall) S. Calif hasn't received a drop of rain.

[vbhoutex]

:cry: Oh where oh were did the rain go? Oh where oh where did you go?

If it doesn't start raining by next year I'll be officially declaring this season a bust. Since October 16 (I recall) S. Calif hasn't received a drop of rain.

That is very unusual for Cali. My GP's lived in Tracy and when I visited over Christmas long before many of you were born everything was green unlike the rest of the nation at this time of the year.

[AnthonyC]

Yeah, it's getting ridiculous here in the PNW.

Comparably speaking, this winter season has had more "winter" than all of last year. The ski resorts are in great shape (at least for now) and Seattle has seen a little snow. BTW...it's been brutally cold in Eastern WA.

We look locked in this pattern for at least another week, and unfortunately the idea of retrogression has all but gone down the drain. I still pray January and February are good months for us and not another repeat of last year.

Anthony

[Cumulonimbus]

The ECMWF certainly is the superior model of choice in the winter. It almost always stays consistant and if changes occur, it usually doesn't go crazy with wild swings like the GFS does. Tonight the GFS is falling right in line with the ECMWF. After forecasting westerlies to break through the west coast ridge the GFS is now maintaining a very strong west coast block keeping us high and dry. Glad I don't live in Hudsons Bay. Wonder how many places there won't see temps above freezing before next April if this keeps up. Wonder how much the water rates will rise in California due to no snowpack.
My bets are on the forecasts from the ECMWF for the winter. GFS is only good for about 48-72 hours. One word will sum up everywhere west of the Rockies...DRY!