Pacific Northwest Weather

snow_wizzard · #3421 Postby **snow_wizzard** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 1:36 am

As for Dec 1990. I clearly remember that a surface low rapidly devloped off the central WA coast and spun moisture around the south end of the Olympics. As the low moved south, the pressure gradients turned northerly and created a convergence of sorts over the central Puget Sound area. The moisture coming up from the SW met the cold north wind. That was an atypical convergence zone. I remember it so clearly because I was keeping an eye on the satellite pix, and was telling everybody if that mess of clouds off the coast starts to spin up...WATCH OUT! It began to form a low and we got clobbered! Even at that, I did not get out of work before it was too late. It seems hard to believe we had internet then, but that must have been how we were viewing the sattelite pix. At any rate, I was able to drive about 6 blocks in an hour, so I parked the car in a lot and walked 7 miles home. No way in hell, I was going to spend that storm watching it at work!

As for this weekend. The Canadian model shows my worst fear. It has the low breaking out over the ocean way to the north of us which would leave us with nothing but cold rain. :cry:

On the other hand the GFS and ECMWF are staying the course on digging the trough right over us, so I will hold out hope for now. Assuming the GFS is right, the most likely places to get snow will be Whatcom County, the north coast, and the Cascade foothills. In that order. The trajectory of the moisture will favor the foothills south of Seattle having the greatest amounts. This is all subject to change, because it so uncertain how the surface pressure gradients will set up. There continues to be a chance of continental Arcitic air seeping into Whatcom County, which could result in significant amounts there. At any rate, somebody will get snow if the GFS is correct. Even if the Canadian is right, the mountains will fare very well.

R-Dub · #3422 Postby **R-Dub** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:25 am

3/16/05 LK Goodwin WA
5:23:42 AM CURRENT
Mostly Cloudy/Breezy
Temperature (ºF) 48.7
Humidity (%) 58.1
Wind (mph) S 15.1
Daily Rain (") 0.00
Pressure ("Hg) 29.75
Dew Point: 35.6 ºF

R-Dub · #3423 Postby **R-Dub** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:28 am

Yeah up here in my area we only recieved 4" on Dec 18th, it was the days after that we got clobbered up here including Christmas Day where we got an additional 12" on top of several inches we already had.
Will post that article later today, you could clearly tell by reading that, that they had far less knowledge of what was going on back then.

TT-SEA · #3424 Postby **TT-SEA** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:49 am

For what its worth... the 06Z runs of both the NAM (ETA) and the GFS trended further north with the weekend system as well.

This would still bring showers to the lowlands and snow to the mountains.

Also... the 06Z run of the GFS continues to show almost 2 weeks of perfectly zonal flow. A very wet pattern down here and snowy in the mountains.

andycottle · #3425 Postby **andycottle** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:28 am

Good morning all. Currently at 8:32a.m we have cloudy skies, temp of 48, humidity 49%, and a low baro of 29.44 and steady. We also are breezy winds at times. -- Andy

W13 · #3426 Postby **W13** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:41 am

Wow, what a sharp contrast in weather from Monday to today. I woke up this morning to the sound of gusty winds and wind chimes chiming. Was nice to hear so active weather for once.

Currently, we have a temperature of 46 F, and a strong SW breeze averaging around 12-15 mph, gusting to 30 mph. Rain is falling lightly, as expected.

Now this is what I call weather!

W13 · #3427 Postby **W13** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:42 am

To learn more about the windstorm of December 1990 (aka the "North Gale"), visit the link below:

http://oregonstate.edu/~readw/December1990.html

Very detailed information. 8-)

TT-SEA · #3428 Postby **TT-SEA** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 3:13 pm

Rain gauge already up to .50 at my house!!

And its snowing at Snoqualmie Pass.

Wow.

Now thats a change!!

AnthonyC · #3429 Postby **AnthonyC** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 3:50 pm

UNBELIEVABLE change the past 24 hours...it's currently 43F with strong winds. I actually put on my heater in the car for the first time since I can remember. Winds are probably gusting up to 35mph which is impressive for the middle of March.

As for this weekend, I don't think we'll see lowland snow...but I wouldn't be surprised if the snow level fell to 1500 feet which is awesome for the mountains!! Then after that, a perfect zonal flow for the next two weeks. I think we can say goodbye to the sunshine for awhile.

Anthony

AnthonyC · #3430 Postby **AnthonyC** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 3:58 pm

LOL...

Take a look at the webcam from Stevens Pass. They've probably received 6 inches so far. I wonder if they might reconsider opening next week if they can get enough snow.

Snoqualmie Pass has just changed over to snow...they have about 2 inches on the ground.

Before all is set and done, expect up to a foot of new snow which is awesome!!

Anthony

R-Dub · #3431 Postby **R-Dub** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 5:03 pm

WOW!!!! We do have weather in the Pac northwest :lol:

Almost forgot!

We had winds over 40MPH, power was knocked out for about 2hrs, we had dust blowing all over the place, it was crazy!!! Then came the heavy rain at about 1:00PM!
THEN on the way home from work, rain mixed with snow was falling hard!! :eek:

Currently at 2:00PM its 39.2 degrees

R-Dub · #3432 Postby **R-Dub** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 5:35 pm

Here are a couple of pics I took today...............

That is not smoke by the trees, that is dust from the road and pavement down at the golf course maintance shop, this was about 11:00AM when the power was out, and the wind was blowing up to 40MPH in Gusts, rain had not begun yet, and things were bone dry!!
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/golfer96_ ... pg&.src=ph

Second was taken about 1:30PM of the heavy rain with even a little lumpy white stuff in the rain :wink:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/golfer96_ ... pg&.src=ph

The wind has picked up once again, and the power here at home is starting to blink!

Currently 39.4 degrees

AnthonyC · #3433 Postby **AnthonyC** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 5:41 pm

WOW!! Look at the web cam from Stevens Pass!!! Looks like a frickin' blizzard!!

I have to admit, this storm has gotten me excited about active weather. The next two weeks should be awesome!!

Anthony

W13 · #3434 Postby **W13** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:06 pm

Currently we have 43 F (after a high of 46 F, and a low of 40 F), with beezy and showery conditions. Now this is what I call active weather! :wink:

W13 · #3435 Postby **W13** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:14 pm

Latest NWS Forecast Discussion:

.DISCUSSION...LARGE AND STRONG CONVERGENCE ZONE JUST NORTH OF
SEATTLE AT THIS TIME AND MOVING SOUTH. GALE FORCE SOUTHERLIES SOUTH
OF IT...25 KT NORTHERLIES ON NORTH SIDE. THIS SEEMS LIKE ENOUGH
CONVERGENCE TO GET A FEW THUNDERSTORMS GOING. EXPECT THIS PSCZ TO
MOVE SOUTH TO KBFI AND POSSIBLY KSEA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
PSCZ RAIN/SHOWER PATTERN SHOULD PERSIST WELL INTO TONIGHT. THERE IS
CLEARING NORTH OF IT AND STILL RAINING SOUTH OF IT.

PSCZ SHOULD ENHANCE SNOWFALL IN CENTRAL CASCADES. WILL KEEP SNOW
ADVISORY GOING. IN OTHER SNOW NEWS MT. BAKER LIKELY TO GET A FOOT.

COUPLE OF IN-BETWEEN DAYS COMING UP THU AND FRI. LITTLE PCPN EXCEPT
PERHAPS LAST GASP OF PSCZ AND SHOWERS IN THE MOUNTAINS. THEN ON SAT
THE NEXT SYSTEM AFFECTS WASHINGTON WITH A WARM FRONT MOVING INTO THE
AREA FROM THE SOUTH...THEN COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH FROM THE WEST
ON SUN. BOTH DAYS WET AND SUNDAY COULD BE WINDY.

PATTERN NEVER REALLY DRIES OUT. TUE ALSO LOOKING WET WITH PERHAPS
SIGNIFICANT SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS. PATTERN HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED.
BURKE

W13 · #3436 Postby **W13** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:14 pm

Possible windstorm on Sunday! 8-)

TT-SEA · #3437 Postby **TT-SEA** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:12 pm

Anthony... are you admitting now that the pattern change was real?? When I get on board a pattern change you should believe!!

Awaiting the strong PSCZ here in North Bend but we have already gotten 1.10 inches at my house. It is SOOOOO nice to see the mountains around North Bend caked in snow again!!

andycottle · #3438 Postby **andycottle** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:30 pm

Hey Guys...first off...I passed my math quiz today and am now able to go up to math 075 now. Yeah for me!

And second....pouring down rain here. Heavy rain! Raining .20" an hour. A hefty PSCZ is definally over us! And looking at lightning map from Weather Tap...there have been some lightning strikes just NW, WNW of Victoria BC. over the last couple hours. Precip in my gage is now .28". Currently at 4:34pm we have a temp of 39 with humidity 100% and DP 39. The rain is really cominmg down!

TT-SEA · #3439 Postby **TT-SEA** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:47 pm

Not sure what Math 075 is... but good job!!

Starting to rain here in North Bend again. Hard.

It will certainly raising our total beyond the current 1+ inch we have received so far.

TT-SEA · #3440 Postby **TT-SEA** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:57 pm

All righty then...

Its SNOWING here now. Amazing.

Temperature dropped 7 degrees in 5 minutes when the PSCZ reached us and now its snowing hard and 37 degrees.

O.K... just checked again and it really sticking.

Even I am shocked at this development. If you have some spare time drive out to Borth Bend right now!!!!

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