Feels Like Spring Time!
Thursday, January 31, 2008NOWCAST - Temperatures made it to the mid 40's around much of the area this afternoon and compared to weeks past, it felt rather balmy despite brisk winds. Showers wind down by Friday as we are in between storms. Another biggie arrives Saturday and could be interesting although I think locally we will just see a cold rain. However, it depends where the low center makes landfall. North of that, some lowland locations could get a period of wet snow. So, tune in Friday and let's see if we know more than we do now. Lows tonight in 30's with rain/snow mix in heavier showers and snow down to 1,000 feet. Highs Friday mid 40's with clearing periods. Heavy snows continue in the mountains. More later.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 3:35 PM,
Winter Weather Continues
Tuesday, January 29, 2008NOWCAST - Rain/Snow showers continue this afternoon following yet another Pacific weather system. Snow levels are generally about 1,000 feet down to 500 feet and in heavier showers, right down to the deck where it is possible for some brief snow cover. The good sticking stuff is up above. This will continue today ending overnight before the next fast moving storm arrives later on Wednesday. I don't see any real snow producer at city levels but the mountains keep piling it up. Temperatures will range from 32 degrees overnight with any extended clearing to low 40's during the day time hours.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 1:37 PM,
Finally! Now May We Have Seconds?
Monday, January 28, 2008NOWCAST - Snow showers are over for us but still linger over Oregon and Puget Sound. Possible we could see a flurry but not much. Snowfall was spotty overnight but as predicted amounts were from a trace to two inches. Did you miss the snow falling during the night? Here is a link to a video Steve Pierce of Vancouver shot at 2 am. Next we focus on tonight's storm with warm air overrunning the cold air. Sounds like a recipe to me for some more snow, this time more widespread.Early model soundings for tonight and tomorrow seem cold enough for the precipitation to start out as all snow. (MM5, NAM, GFS). Latest ones now raise snow levels up above 500 feet for sticking snow.Windy at the coast and briefly inland. Precipitation turns to rain or mix before more cold instability showers move in behind the front later Tuesday with again low snow levels.
9 PM UPDATE - Looks like sticking snow will remain above our heads here at city levels anyway. I was just outside and a few flakes are mixed in with the light rain. Bellingham is in the arctic air at 23 degrees at 9pm and light snow. Northern Washington gets the rose again. Alas, winter is not over yet, computers models still show plenty of winter heading our way. If you want snow Tuesday, head for the hills.
Labels: .
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 11:24 AM,
Where Is The Snow?
Sunday, January 27, 2008NOWCAST - Never fear, the snow is near. The front that brought the heavy rains yesterday is stalled just to our east and the cold air aloft has moved in. This is resulting in good snows just to our east and south. Heavy snow in Eugene, snow in Salem and snow in Camas and points east. Unfortunately that doesn't help us here on the west side of town. The intense cold showers have hit the coast with moderate snow at this writing at Ocean Shores right down to the beach sand which is covered. Snow cover at Seaside this morning too. These cold showers will move in later today and we all will see some snow but remember these are SHOWERS, not widespread. The favored locations will get the best coverage. Temperatures will remain in the 30's today. The coldest air comes in tonight so it isn't over yet folks. I know, I get jealous looking at those web cams all around us covered in white. NO FAIR! Showers end Monday later on but still should be of snow what falls. Next Storm due in Tuesday and could start out as snow which would be widespread but of a shorter duration. Want to see it snowing at the U of O in Eugene? Live streaming web cam here
5PM UPDATE- Well we certainly got derailed on this snow event didn't we? The frontal band from down south stalled after moving back southeast last night while the cold air aloft came in. So, areas east and south of Portland got dumped on while Clark County, at least the western portions only flirted with flurries. There is a band of snow showers moving to the coast as I speak, but the main energy appears to be tracking to the southeast so Clark County will dodge yet another bullet. Not to say we won't get any snow showers overnight, but no biggie. This was the weirdest setup I have seen in years. I mean heavy snow even fell as far south as Brookings on the extreme southern Oregon coast. Where at 5pm it was COLDER than Vancouver! I guess one has to go to the beach to see snow.
The NWS still has a snow advisory for our area for tonight but mainly above 500 feet, my concern is how much moisture will we have come through??? Okay, what the heck, I'll go for a trace to two inches overnight. Why not? Another large storm is forecast to drop down tomorrow night and with cold air aloft over us, we could get a brief period of snow, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I'm ready for spring. Bring on the sun!
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 11:05 AM,
It's Not Over Yet
Saturday, January 26, 2008NOWCAST - Moisture moved up from the south but between a southerly flow aloft and warming ahead of a front from the north, we just had to settled for some freezing rain this morning. At 1130 am it is raining and a temperature of 31 degrees. Not a lot of icing because it is too close to freezing 32 degrees, really needs to be 30 or below. However, reports of slick driveways etc around the county. Ok, this blob of moisture from the south will join forces from the north and begin to settle back southward again by this evening. Colder air behind the front will lower snow levels to near the valley floors tomorrow. Cold arctic air will flow out over the ocean pick moisture and produce snow shower Sunday through Monday. Anyone at any location can get a quick snow cover. We'll see how the showers develop Sunday it is possible we could get another wave form and enhance the snow showers late Sunday night. Hang in there, I still think we will see snow. Meanwhile, endure the COLD rain.
130 PM UPDATE - Interesting to see temperatures hanging in at or below freezing and now SNOW mixing in with the freezing rain. Snow is reported at Olympia and Chehalis and some higher elevations in Clark County. I have wet snowflakes right here in Salmon Creek with the rain and still 32 degrees with small icicles on the shrubs and deck etc. It appears cold air is moving aloft as upper air temperatures are dropping. So, we may not see the rapid rise in temperatures some forecasters are hinting at. Although it is 46 degrees in Central Oregon with strong south winds right now. The cold low to our north continues its southward movement and is in fact speeding up. Ship reports off Vancouver Island are reporting snow right on the deck. So, stay tuned, we may be singing in the snow sooner than later.
NWS UPDATE -
Snow Advisory
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
202 PM PST SAT JAN 26 2008
ORZ003-006-WAZ022-039-270615-
/O.CAN.KPQR.ZR.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-080126T2200Z/
/O.NEW.KPQR.SN.Y.0009.080127T0600Z-080128T0000Z/
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-GREATER PORTLAND METRO AREA-I-
5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY-GREATER VANCOUVER AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VERNONIA...JEWELL...TRASK...HILLSBORO..
PORTLAND...OREGON CITY...GRESHAM...LONGVIEW...KELSO..
CASTLE ROCK...VANCOUVER...BATTLE GROUND...WASHOUGAL
202 PM PST SAT JAN 26 2008
...SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM PST
SUNDAY FOR THE COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON THE GREATER PORTLAND
METRO AREA THE I-5 CORRIDOR IN COWLITZ COUNTY AND THE GREATER VANCOUVER
AREA ...
...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IS CANCELLED..
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A SNOW
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM PST
SUNDAY. THE FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY HAS BEEN CANCELLED BUT SOME
POCKETS OF FREEZING RAIN CONTINUE ON HIGHWAY 26 INTO THE COAST
RANGE AND AROUND THE HILLSBORO AREA THIS AFTERNOON. POCKETS OF
FREEZING FREEZING RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL IN THE LOWER ROADWAYS
INTO THE THE NORTH OREGON COAST RANGE AND IN THE NORTHERN
WILLAMETTE VALLEY. SLICK CONDITIONS ARE STILL REPORTED AT HIGHWAY
26. SLOW WARMING UNDERWAY WITH MOST LOCATIONS ABOVE FREEZING NOW
AND THE COLD SPOTS ARE EXPECTED TO MODERATE OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR
TWO.
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL LOWER SNOW LEVELS DOWN TO NEAR 500 FEET BY
LATE TONIGHT. SNOW SHOWERS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL KEEP SNOW
ACCUMULATING ON SUNDAY WITH SNOW DROPPING DOWN BELOW THE 500 FOOT
ELEVATION AT TIMES. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW ARE
POSSIBLE IN THE COAST RANGE LATER TONIGHT WITH ANOTHER 2 TO 5
INCHES ON SUNDAY. IN THE NORTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND THE LOWER
COLUMBIA ABOVE 500 FOOT ELEVATIONS COULD SEE AN INCH OR TWO OF
SNOW LATE TONIGHT AND AGAIN SUNDAY...AND ON SUNDAY SNOW LEVELS COULD
DROP BELOW 500 FEET AT TIMES.
A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND
LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 11:30 AM,
Sunny And Nice, Then Clouds And Ice?
Friday, January 25, 2008
NOWCAST - Mostly sunny skies today with increasing high clouds late. East winds continue with highs between 40-45 degrees and cooler near the gorge. The weekend will prove to be a mixed bag. See below.
OUTCAST - AS you can see with the satellite photo taken around 10 am today we have a rather complex weather situation. With cold and dry air over us and a low spinning to the south and a low dropping down the BC coast, everyone will want a piece of the action. Unfortunately, just one will rule. And that will be the low from the north. Good news, bad news. Good news is it will have very cold air aloft with low freezing levels, bad news is it cuts off the east winds and brings in air off the ocean with its circulation. Still, as colder air filters in BEHIND the front, showers will bring snow down to the valley floor at times but this will be an on again off again situation. Some areas get more snow, some get none. So, it now appears this won't be a general widespread snow event with inches and inches on the ground unless you live in the higher elevations, say 1,000 feet or so where you could pile up 8-10 inches or so in the next three days.This new low from the north will also drop southward toward California (heavy snows/rains/flooding there) and if it were to stay a tad further west we would have better chance of snow and a light drift of offshore winds. Only a possibility. Kind of like is the train going to stay on the track or derail? By early next week after this passes, we remain cool but not cold so returning to more seasonable temperatures and snow in the mountains. This is based on no further penetration of arctic air from Canada which one model holds it at the border with below zero temperatures so it will be close. But, as always stay tuned. Bottom line: I think everyone will see some snow at times. We could get a brief snow/sleet event early Saturday if that moisture shield from down south makes it up here in time, but then back to a cold rain, then snow/rain mix, then mostly snow showers Sunday and early Monday. It will be close and I wouldn't rule out anything at this point. We will get what we will get. This is a good time for YOU to look at things and make your own forecast. Might as well throw it in with the rest of us! Something could develop further that we can't see at this time. So, a definite, maybe! (Thanks Pete). Have a great weekend!
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 10:10 AM,
Which Way Is Up?
Thursday, January 24, 2008NOWCAST- Variable clouds today increasing late with only a chance of a flurry, highs 35-40 degrees. Cold again tonight in the 20's. East winds continue. Friday, mostly sunny and cool with highs around 40 degrees. Things get interesting on Saturday, read below.
OUTCAST - The weekend forecast is getting real weird but I will make an attempt at what I think will evolve. First the low today is moving due southward off the coast as expected and will bottom out over northern California and park itself...temporarily. That will have the effect of dislodging the current low parked down there bouncing some clouds and light moisture northward into Oregon, maybe to the Columbia River. Kind of like a trampoline, when one jumps down the other pops up. So this new low settles in to our south, bounces up a portion of the old low northward. Okay, no big deal out of this other than to add clouds to our otherwise clear skies. And day time temps will be a bit lower and the east winds continue. Friday clouds will part somewhat and we wait until Saturday. But don't count out the new low that has settled in over N. California. When it sees the new stronger low up in Alaska making its way southward, it springs forth as well and moves northward. Saturday will see clouds increase from the south and light snow will begin. Meanwhile the moisture from the northern low will approach and most likely merge and precipitation continues late Saturday into Sunday. However, winds may switch from the south due to pressure gradients and lift the snow level up to 500-1,000 feet. While all this is happening, colder air behind the new front will filter in aloft and lower snow levels and may even draw some more cold air in the lower levels from the east side. So, we could see all snow at times Sunday and Monday. Anyway, higher elevations will get dumped on and still a good possibility here at city levels or at least areas north of Mill Plain will get some snow over this weekend. We have two different model scenarios now down from 4 or 5 and as we get closer we should be able to nail this down by some time on Friday. Stay tuned, it will be very interesting to say the least.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 9:17 AM,
Sunny Days Are About Over
Wednesday, January 23, 2008NOWCAST - Another chilly night tonight then increasing clouds Thursday, I think any precipitation will remain to our west due to the upper wind flow and the easterly low level flow which would tend to evaporate moisture as it moves eastward. Not much of a push but I cannot rule out a snow flurry or two. Even some sleet as well. Beyond that the weekend still looks interesting with a good possibility of significant lowland snow and let's forgo the magic 500 foot level this time. The next system may be mix of snow/rain or one or another at times and may switch to rain below 1,000 feet but by Sunday colder maritime polar air will infiltrate the low and turn any mix to all snow and will continue for 36-48 hours off and on. This could be the big one . . .or not. Isn't that just like a weatherman? Always leaving an out, after all it is up to the weather gods who control the big weather machine out in the Pacific. So lows tonight in the low 20's wind sheltered areas and warmer in windy areas. East winds continue. Highs Thursday, cooler with more cloud cover 35-40 degrees.
OUTCAST - MY contact up in western Alaska at Sleetmute, Eskimo Louie, reports that temperatures are dropping rapidly and the leading edge of the cold Siberian air mass is filtering in. His barometric pressure was 1074 millibars (30.74 inches) inches this afternoon and still rising and stiff northwesterly winds. He tells me not to give up hope for snow as he is doing his best to shoot some cold our way. He does a hip snow dance I know! This is good because although the bulk of it will slide across the interior into the Yukon, part of it will get injected into the open ocean waters and into the air flow that will be feeding Saturday's weather systems. When we hear ship reports of snow at sea level, bingo. Stay tuned.
Here is a twist:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTWe were just a few degrees warmer is all. And Tuesday at 8 am, Pearson airfield was setting at 18 degrees while Calgary was 29 degrees. Gotta love it. Global warming anyone? While it is cold in Portland Oregon it is also frigid in Portland Maine. Below zero temperatures in that state as well.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1243 AM AST WED JAN 23 2008
...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 37 DEGREES WAS SET AT FAIRBANKS
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT YESTERDAY. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 37 SET
IN 1962. THE LAST TIME THE TEMPERATURE REACHED THE FREEZING MARK AT
THE AIRPORT IN FAIRBANKS WAS BACK ON NOVEMBER 23, 2007. THERE WERE
A TOTAL OF 59 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE REMAINED
BELOW FREEZING.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 2:20 PM,
Clear and Cool For Now, But Prepare For Snow And Cold This Weekend And Beyond
Tuesday, January 22, 2008NOWCAST - Clear and sunny today and Wednesday with chilly but not so cold overnight lows. Still down in the lower 20's wind sheltered areas and perhaps a teen reading in the colder locations. Highs in upper 30's to low 40's. Slight warming loft at 850mb and some downslope drift of east winds helping to warm the lower layers as well. Still, we have a large mass of cold and very dry air leftover from the surge of modified arctic air. Dewpoints are still in the teens and single digits. With weather systems going over the top of the ridge of high pressure, we will start to see some clouds late Wednesday and Thursday and a risk of some flurries Thursday although I believe the bulk of any moisture will remain to our west and not much inland penetration of moisture due to the upper wind flow and the very dry airmass. Still, a few flurries are possible.
OUTCAST - Okay, here is my thinking Tuesday afternoon: Looking ahead computer models are still not at complete agreement, are they ever? Anyways, a series of cold lows will be dropping down from the northwest and there is the matter of some very cold Siberian air (minus 60-70 degrees) that has to go someplace. A portion of this may get dragged into these weather systems and give a reinforcing shot of support for lowland snow. I believe we will have all snow later on Saturday through Tuesday of next week. Saturdays precipitation may start out as snow then a mix or even brief rain but turning to all snow by Sunday. It will be a snowy period with several inches possibly a foot of snow here before all is said and done. Naturally one can not say this with 100 percent confidence because it is just too far away to be sure and as you know, the ingredients for a good snow here at city levels has to be just right. So anything could happen from rain, a mix or a cold general snow. I go for the latter and give it a 70 percent projection. There, how is that for sticking my neck out? Perhaps I will have snow on my face - or not. Most forecasters will probably go the conservative route but with a possible cold air supply, low heights, upper wind flow and other insipid factors, that is my forecast and I'm sticking (as in "snow") to it.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 1:40 PM,
Prepare for Cold, Little Snow for Now
Friday, January 18, 2008
Special Weather Statement
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
212 PM PST FRI JAN 18 2008
...MUCH COLDER WEATHER ARRIVING THIS WEEKEND WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW
EXPECTED ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS..
A RATHER VIGOROUS AND COOL WEATHER SYSTEM WILL DROP SOUTH ACROSS
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON THIS WEEKEND...BRINGING
SNOW TO SOME RATHER LOW ELEVATIONS AT TIMES...AND ESPECIALLY TO
THE CASCADES...AND LIKELY BRINGING THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES OF THE
SEASON SO FAR TO MUCH OF THE AREA.
A FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE CASCADES ESPECIALLY
SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY SUNDAY AS THIS SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH.
WITH A COLD AIR MASS ALREADY IN PLACE...SOME SNOW MAY MIX IN AT
LOWER ELEVATIONS ESPECIALLY FROM ABOUT SALEM NORTH ON SATURDAY
MORNING BEFORE CHANGING ALL TO RAIN. THEN THE SNOW LEVEL WILL
LOWER DRAMATICALLY AGAIN ON SUNDAY MORNING AND SOME LIGHT SNOW MAY
AGAIN DEVELOP BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION ENDS.
MODIFIED ARCTIC AIR WILL THEN SPREAD INTO SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND
NORTHWEST OREGON LATER SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT AS EAST AND NORTHEAST
WINDS INCREASE THROUGH THE GORGE AND ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS. THIS
WILL LIKELY BE THE COLDEST AIR MASS OF THE SEASON SO FAR IN SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON. EARLY NEXT WEEK NIGHT TIME LOWS
COULD FALL INTO THE TEENS IN MANY LOCATIONS...AND AFTERNOON HIGHS
COULD STRUGGLE TO GET MUCH ABOVE FREEZING.
BE SURE TO TAKE ANY PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO PREPARE FOR THIS
CHANGE TO COLDER WEATHER.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 4:33 PM,
Quiet Winter Interlude
Wednesday, January 16, 2008NOWCAST - After last weeks active weather, not much on the horizon for us this week, cool temperatures especially at night, some fog, some clouds, chance of showers Saturday then back to cool and dry weather. So seasonal temperatures for January, great skiing in the mountains and a joyful calm. Enjoy!
OUTCAST - The rest of the Nation will be cold and those dreaded Santa Ana winds are back. Watch video here
I see stores have set out primroses with their pretty blooms to entice shoppers into the thoughts of spring time.
Here is the link to my Tuesday column about Chicken Creek and last Thursday's tornado
Busted Forecast? Gut feelings, NWS feelings, someone is always right. Read here.
Global Warming? It is because we say it is, that's it! Read Here.
And it is YOUR fault! Read Here
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 8:07 AM,
Drier, Cooler Weather Pattern Coming Up
Monday, January 14, 2008NOWCAST - Scattered snow showers will end overnight and skies will clear but it will be noticeably cooler than last week. Computer models are not in agreement beyond the end of the week whether we return to a westerly flow or a northerly flow with arctic air filtering in. Stay tuned. I lean towards much colder weather by this time next week and some snow next week. Plenty of cold air in Alaska and some of it is moving southward over the mid section of the US the next few days. Still a chance for us to get some sooner or later. Meanwhile, freezing at night with light N to E winds locally. With this flow will have to watch any organized bands of clouds moving down from the north.
OUTCAST - Check out my after thoughts about last weeks tornado in Tuesday's Columbian. Click Here.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 9:27 PM,
Final Tornado Report Issued By NWS
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Tornado lifts up for traffic as it travels over NE 78th St and I -5.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
540 PM PST FRI JAN 11 2008
...FINAL STORM REPORT FOR VANCOUVER/HAZEL DELL TORNADO ON JAN 10...
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MOVED THROUGH CLARK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON ON THURSDAY JANUARY 10 2008 AND SPAWNED A TORNADO. THE
TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 1215 PM NEAR VANCOUVER LAKE THEN
MOVED EAST INTO HAZEL DELL WA. THE TORNADO CONTINUED EASTWARD
TO HOCKINSON WA WITH MULTIPLE TOUCHDOWNS. THE TORNADO WAS
APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE WIDE WITH A PATH LENGTH OF NEARLY 10
MILES...WITH MULTIPLE TOUCHDOWNS. A POST STORM DAMAGE SURVEY
REVEALED THERE WAS A TOUCHDOWN OF THE TORNADO NEAR HOCKINSON
WA AROUND 1240 PM.
THE MAJORITY OF THE DAMAGE WAS FOUND NEAR THE BOAT LANDING ON THE
EAST SIDE OF VANCOUVER LAKE...WHICH CONTINUED EASTWARD INTO HAZEL
DELL ALONG SLUMAN ROAD. THE STORM ALSO PRODUCED QUITE A BIT OF HAIL
JUST NORTH OF THE PATH OF THE TORNADO. SOME REPORTS FROM TRAINED
WEATHER SPOTTERS INDICATE THAT THE HAIL WAS AS LARGE AS PENNY SIZED
OR ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER. REPORTS FROM THE
PRINT MEDIA ALSO INDICATED HAIL WAS SEVERAL INCHES DEEP IN THE
VICINITY OF 2800 BLOCK OF NW 93RD STREET IN HAZEL DELL.
AFTER A DAMAGE SURVEY ASSESSMENT BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
STAFF...THE TORNADO WAS RATED AS AN EF-1 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA
SCALE WITH ESTIMATED PEAK WIND SPEEDS OF 90 TO 110 MPH.
DAMAGE REPORTS ALONG THE PATH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
- 200 PLUS TREES DOWN....MOST OF THE TREES WERE 12 TO 24
INCHES IN DIAMETER THAT WERE SNAPPED OFF. APPROXIMATELY
6 TREES WERE IN EXCESS OF 36 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE LARGEST
TREE TOPPLED WAS 50 INCHES IN DIAMETER. SOME OF THE FALLEN
TREES RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO HOMES AND VEHICLES.
- 30 TO 40 HOMES DAMAGED...PRIMARILY ROOF DAMAGE...THOUGH SOME
BROKEN WINDOWS WERE OBSERVED AS WELL AS SHINGLE DAMAGE.
- 19 POWER POLES WERE SNAPPED OFF.
- DAMAGED 2 HVAC SYSTEMS ON A LARGE RETAIL STORE
- 3 LIGHTLY CONSTRUCTED STRUCTURES WERE DESTROYED
- A SEMI TRAILER WAS TIPPED OVER.
- HAIL SEVERAL INCHES DEEP IN A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD IN HAZEL DELL
- STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO BOAT CLUB HOUSE NEAR VANCOUVER LAKE
- SEVERAL DOZEN SCULLING BOATS DAMAGED NEAR VANCOUVER LAKE
- DAMAGED AWNINGS AND SIDINGS TO OVER TWO DOZEN MOBILE HOMES
- DAMAGE TO FARM BUILDINGS NEAR HOCKINSON
- GARDEN/PATIO BUILDING DESTROYED NEAR HOCKINSON
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL STATEMENT FOR THIS EVENT.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 5:12 PM,
Tornado Touches Down in Hazel Dell
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Tree toppled on house along NW Sluman Road. Photo by Steve Pierce
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
513 PM PST THU JAN 10 2008
...PRELIMINARY STORM REPORT FOR VANCOUVER TORNADO...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVED THROUGH CLARK COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST
WASHINGTON EARLIER TODAY. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SHORTLY AFTER
NOON NEAR VANCOUVER LAKE THEN MOVED NORTHEAST INTO HAZEL DELL WA.
PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES PLACE THE STRENGTH OF THIS TORNADO AS AN EF-1
ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE WITH ESTIMATED PEAK WIND SPEEDS OF 90
TO 110 MPH. THE TORNADO WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE WIDE WITH AN
INITIAL PATH LENGTH OF TWO MILES. IT APPEARS THAT THE TORNADO
LIFTED UP AND TOUCHED DOWN MULTIPLE TIMES...WITH THE LAST REPORT OF
TOUCHDOWN NEAR HOCKINSON WA AROUND 1240 PM.
DAMAGE REPORTS FROM THE INITIAL PATH INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
- 200 TREES DOWN....MOST OF THE TREES WERE 12 TO 24 INCHES IN
DIAMETER WITH APPROXIMATELY 6 TREES IN EXCESS OF 30 INCHES IN
DIAMETER. THE LARGEST TREE TOPPLED WAS 50 INCHES IN DIAMETER. SOME
OF THE FALLEN TREES RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO HOMES AND VEHICLES.
- 12 HOMES WERE DAMAGED...PRIMARILY ROOF DAMAGE.
- 4 POWER POLES WERE SNAPPED OFF.
- A SEMI TRAILER WAS TIPPED OVER.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 8:51 PM,
Snowfall in Oregon
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
1107 AM PST WED JAN 9 2008
...ANOTHER STRONG AND COLD PACIFIC STORM BROUGHT PLENTY OF SNOW
TO THE WASHINGTON AND OREGON CASCADES INCLUDING THE COLUMBIA RIVER
GORGE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT.
A SUMMARY OF STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS ARE REPORTED BELOW.
LOCATION....................... NEW SNOW
OREGON CASCADES:
MT HOOD MEADOWS................ 30
MT HOOD TEST SITE.............. 29
BENNETT PASS................... 28
TIMBERLINE SKI AREA............ 26
GOVERNMENT CAMP................ 23
TOMBSTONE SUMMIT............... 23
BLUEBOX........................ 22
SANTIAM PASS................... 20
SANTIAM JUNCTION............... 16
WILLAMETTE PASS................ 14
WASHINGTON CASCADES:
JUNE LAKE...................... 21
SHEEP CANYON................... 21
SWIFT CREEK.................... 20
LONE PINE...................... 18
SPENCER MEADOWS................ 17
UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY:
PARKDALE....................... 19
WESTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE:
HOOD RIVER..................... 8
CASCADE LOCKS.................. 6
SKAMANIA....................... 5
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 10:00 PM,
December Rainfall
WASHINGTON PRECIPITATION SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
805 AM PST TUE JAN 8 2008
...WASHINGTON PRECIPITATION SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER...
RAINFALL IN WASHINGTON DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WAS NEAR NORMAL TO
MUCH ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE STATE.
FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON...THE PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL PRECIPITATION RANGED
FROM 107 FOR THE NORTHWEST INTERIOR TO 161 FOR THE PUGET SOUND
LOWLANDS. THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION RECORDED AT CLIMATE
STATIONS FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS...COASTS...AND INTERIOR
LOWLANDS WAS 20.64 INCHES AT BARING...22.05 INCHES AT NASELLE...AND
16.22 INCHES AT BREMERTON RESPECTIVELY.
FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON...THE PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL PRECIPITATION RANGED
FROM 90 FOR THE CENTRAL BASIN TO 157 FOR THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
CASCADES. THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF PRECIPITATION RECORDED AT CLIMATE
STATIONS FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS AND THE LOWLANDS WAS 11.85
INCHES AT MT. ADAMS AND 6.62 INCHES AT NEWPORT RESPECTIVELY.
THE OUTLOOK FOR JANUARY AND BEYOND...THE OUTLOOK FOR JANUARY IS FOR
GREATER CHANCES OF ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION. THE OUTLOOK FOR
JANUARY THROUGH MARCH IS FOR A GREATER CHANCES OF ABOVE NORMAL
PRECIPITATION.
THE TABLE BELOW GIVES PRECIPITATION FIGURES AS A PERCENT OF NORMAL FOR
REGIONS OF WASHINGTON. THE CURRENT WATER YEAR BEGAN 1 OCTOBER 2007
AND ENDS 30 SEPTEMBER 2008.
DEC WATER YEAR PAST 3 PAST 12
2007 TO DATE MONTHS MONTHS
WESTERN WASHINGTON
COAST 113 92 92 100
OLYMPICS 138 98 98 94
NORTHWEST INTERIOR 107 89 89 97
PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS 161 112 112 98
SOUTHWEST INTERIOR 144 106 106 98
WEST FOOTHILLS CASCADES 127 98 98 98
CASCADES 138 106 106 101
EASTERN WASHINGTON
EAST SLOPES CASCADES 157 115 115 88
OKANOGAN 91 77 77 67
CENTRAL BASIN 90 100 100 80
NORTHEAST 153 109 109 74
PALOUSE AND BLUE MOUNTAINS 138 121 121 90
THE TABLE BELOW EXPRESSES PRECIPITATION IN INCHES AND AS A PERCENT OF
NORMAL FOR A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS AROUND THE STATE. OCCASIONALLY
MISSING DATA AT A SITE ARE ESTIMATED USING OBSERVED DATA FROM
SURROUNDING STATIONS.
DEC 2007 WATER YEAR TO DATE PAST 12 MONTHS
INCHES PCT INCHES PCT INCHES PCT
QUILLAYUTE 17.36 120 39.99 102 110.66 109
HOQUIAM 11.84 113 22.54 84 64.65 94
BELLINGHAM 4.97 104 11.22 84 34.15 98
SEATTLE 9.80 174 16.83 114 39.67 107
OLYMPIA 11.71 148 20.63 102 48.77 96
LONGVIEW 11.20 132 21.00 107 50.82 103
CONCRETE 13.23 120 27.55 96 64.69 91
SNOQUALMIE FALLS 11.63 140 23.22 101 57.23 93
RANDLE* 11.51 127 22.76 96 59.70 98
DIABLO DAM 17.16 134 34.77 101 82.60 105
STAMPEDE PASS 18.40 133 36.67 111 88.46 105
PARADISE* 27.13 138 49.68 105 119.85 100
WINTHROP 3.96 152 6.18 112 11.07 74
STEHEKIN* 11.28 157 18.46 111 32.89 91
LEAVENWORTH 7.00 145 11.39 105 21.92 87
MOUNT ADAMS 11.85 161 23.62 133 38.07 88
WENATCHEE 1.81 119 3.26 97 7.09 78
YAKIMA 1.25 91 3.31 112 5.68 69
COULEE DAM 0.88 59 2.42 71 6.92 62
LIND* 1.19 90 3.45 101 7.94 80
REPUBLIC 3.07 170 5.19 118 12.02 71
SPOKANE 3.72 165 6.43 116 13.97 84
PULLMAN 4.32 155 8.82 124 18.45 88
DAYTON* 3.41 138 7.17 108 16.82 87
* ESTIMATED
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 9:58 PM,
2007 Western Washington in Review by NWS
Saturday, January 05, 2008
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
...2007 WESTERN WASHINGTON WEATHER YEAR IN REVIEW...
THE YEAR WAS PUNCTUATED BY THE SECOND MAJOR DECEMBER STORM EVENT
IN TWO YEARS. THE DECEMBER 1-3 STORM OFFERED NEARLY EVERY WINTER
SEASON HAZARD...SNOW...STRONG WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL...MAJOR
FLOODING...LANDSLIDES...AVALANCHES AND HIGH COASTAL SURF AND
COASTAL FLOODING. THIS STORM RESULTED IN FIVE DEATHS...FIVE
REPORTED INJURIES AND FIVE STILL MISSING.
OVERALL...ADVERSE WEATHER DURING THE YEAR RESULTED IN SEVEN
DEATHS...18 INJURIES AND SIX MISSING. THE FATALITIES OCCURRED IN TWO
AVALANCHE INCIDENTS...THE OCTOBER 18 WIND STORM ALONG WITH THE EARLY
DECEMBER STORM. WEATHER RELATED PROPERTY DAMAGES TOTALED ABOUT $10.5
MILLION THROUGH OCTOBER. THE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER TOTALS WERE NOT
YET AVAILABLE AND WILL LIKELY BE QUITE SUBSTANTIAL ONCE ALL THE
DAMAGES ARE ACCESSED.
THE YEAR BEGAN WITH A VARIETY OF WINTER WEATHER. A WIND STORM STRUCK
PARTS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON ON JANUARY 5 AND 6...KNOCKING POWER OUT
TO OVER 100000 CUSTOMERS IN THE NORTH SOUND. JUST DAYS LATER...A
COLD SNAP RESULTED IN LOWLAND SNOW FOR SOME AREAS WITH UP TO 10
INCHES OF SNOW...HIGHLIGHTED BY A MASSIVE MULTIPLE VEHICLE PILE-UP
ON I-90 WEST OF SNOQUALMIE PASS. OLYMPIA REPORTED ITS COLDEST DAYS
OF THE YEAR WITH LOWS OF 12 DEGREES ON BOTH JANUARY 11 AND 12.
THE SUMMER OFFERED A WIDE VARIETY OF WEATHER AS WELL. JULY 11TH
WAS THE WARMEST DAY OF THE YEAR WITH SEATAC AIRPORT HITTING 98
DEGREES...OLYMPIA 99 DEGREES AND HOQUIAM REACHING AN ALL-TIME RECORD
HIGH OF 99. THEN JUST A WEEK LATER...MOISTURE FROM A FORMER TROPICAL
STORM DRENCHED WESTERN WASHINGTON PRODUCING CLOSE TO 200 PERCENT OF
NORMAL RAINFALL FOR JULY. DESPITE THE APPEARANCE SUMMER WAS COOL. IT
TURNED OUT TO BE AN AVERAGE SUMMER FOR TEMPERATURES. FOR
INSTANCE...SEATTLE AVERAGES 25 DAYS A YEAR WITH READINGS OF 80
DEGREES OR MORE AND THE SUMMER OF 2007 HAD 26 DAYS. IN
ADDITION...SUMMER ENDED ABRUPTLY WITH THE LAST 70 DEGREE DAY ON
SEPTEMBER 13...THE SECOND EARLIEST THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. THE
SUMMER OF 2007 WAS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE BEST SUMMER SINCE
1967...THE SUMMER OF 2006.
THE ANTICIPATED LA NINA WINTER GOT OFF TO A WINDY START ON OCTOBER
18TH WITH THE SEASONS FIRST WIND STORM...KNOCKING DOWN HUNDREDS OF
TREES AND POWER OUTAGES TO ABOUT 300000 CUSTOMERS. A WIND SURFER
DROWNED IN LAKE WASHINGTON NEAR SAND POINT DURING THE STORM.
ANOTHER WIND STORM STRUCK THE REGION ON NOVEMBER 12TH...AGAIN
DOWNING A NUMBER OF TREES AND KNOCKING OUT POWER TO ABOUT 250000
CUSTOMERS.
THEN THE EARLY DECEMBER STORM HIT. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW...STRONG
WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL...FLOODING AND LANDSLIDES RESULTED IN A
PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTER. THREE RIVERS REACHED ALL-TIME
FLOOD RECORDS...THE CHEHALIS...ELWHA AND SKOKOMISH. RISING WATER
FROM THE CHEHALIS FLOODED MUCH OF THE CENTRAL CHEHALIS VALLEY
INCLUDING A 20-MILE STRETCH OF INTERSTATE-5...AND HUNDREDS OF HOMES
AND BUSINESSES. STRONG PERSISTENT WINDS ALONG THE COAST LEFT 100000
CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER. LANDSLIDES CLOSED MANY ROADS AND HIGHWAYS
IN THE REGION. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES SHOW THAT PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS
WERE NEAR 100-YEAR RAIN FREQUENCY LEVELS ACCORDING TO THE STATE
CLIMATOLOGIST. BREMERTON SET A NEW ALL-TIME DAILY RECORD WITH 7.5
INCHES OF RAIN ON DECEMBER 3.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2002...THERE WERE NO TORNADOES IN WESTERN
WASHINGTON ALTHOUGH THERE WERE TWO FUNNEL CLOUDS REPORTED AS WELL
AS A WATERSPOUT OVER PUGET SOUND. WASHINGTON AVERAGES BETWEEN ONE
AND TWO TORNADOES PER YEAR.
WITH THE STREAKS OF WARM AND COOL WEATHER...TEMPERATURES WERE CLOSE
TO AVERAGE IN WESTERN WASHINGTON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. PRECIPITATION
VARIED ACROSS THE REGION. FOR INSTANCE...FORKS WAS OVER EIGHT INCHES
ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE YEAR WHILE OLYMPIA WAS CLOSE TO THREE INCHES
BELOW NORMAL. SEATTLE FINISHED CLOSE TO AVERAGE.
A LIST OF SIGNIFICANT 2007 EVENTS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON IS GIVEN
BELOW...AS WELL AS RECORD TEMPERATURES FOR SELECTED LOCATIONS.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
TORNADOES/WATERSPOUTS/FUNNEL CLOUDS
FEB 21 NEAR ORTING - PIERCE COUNTY
A FUNNEL CLOUD THAT LASTED LESS THAN A MINUTE WAS SPOTTED NEAR
ORTING.
APR 24 5 WEST OF EVERETT - SNOHOMISH COUNTY
A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED OVER PUGET SOUND WEST OF EVERETT FOR 3
MINUTES.
JUN 24 OFF MCNEIL ISLAND - PIERCE COUNTY
A WATERSPOUT DEVELOPED OFF MCNEIL ISLAND AND LASTED FOR ABOUT 5
MINUTES.
LIGHTNING
APR 18 KITSAP COUNTY
LIGHTNING STRIKES STARTED TWO SEPARATE HOUSE FIRES AS REPORTED BY
KITSAP COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. TOTAL DAMAGES WERE ESTIMATED
AT $80000.
JUN 24 SEDRO WOOLLEY - SKAGIT COUNTY
THUNDERSTORMS DROPPED UP TO 1/2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND PRODUCED
LIGHTNING. LIGHTNING STRUCK A TREE NEAR SEDRO WOOLLEY AND THE
CURRENT HIT PEOPLE SHELTERING UNDER A GAZEBO NEXT TO THE TREE.
ALL FIVE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.
JUL 13 KIRKLAND - KING COUNTY
LIGHTNING STRUCK A HOME IN KIRKLAND CAUSING ABOUT $5000 DAMAGE.
HAIL
OCT 19 NEAR MT RAINIER - PIERCE COUNTY
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS NEAR AND OVER THE CASCADES BRIEFLY
PRODUCED LARGE HAIL. A TRAINED NWS SPOTTER REPORTED NICKEL SIZED
HAIL (0.88 INCH DIAMETER).
HIGH WINDS
JAN 2 NORTH INTERIOR AND CENTRAL PUGET SOUND AREA STRONG WINDS
WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH KNOCKED POWER OUT TO ABOUT 25000 CUSTOMERS
FROM THE CENTRAL PUGET AREA NORTH TO THE CANADIAN BORDER AND CAUSED
ABOUT $100000 IN DAMAGE.
JAN 5-6 ISLAND AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES
A STRONG PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM PRODUCED DAMAGING WEST WINDS OF
25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 IN ISLAND AND SNOHOMISH COUNTY
BLOWING DOWN DOZENS OF TREES ONTO ROADWAYS AND HOMES AND KNOCKING
POWER OUT TO AT LEAST 100000 CUSTOMERS AREAS. DAMAGE WAS CLOSE TO
$1.65 MILLION.
JAN 9 NORTH INTERIOR
STRONG WINDS OF UP TO 54 MPH KNOCKED POWER TO ABOUT 40000
CUSTOMERS AS A PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM MOVED THROUGH THE REGION.
DAMAGE WAS CLOSE TO $100000.
MAR 11 AREAS NEAR EAST ENTRANCE TO THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA
STRONG WEST WINDS WITH GUST TO 54 MPH BLEW THROUGH THE REGION NEAR
THE EAST ENTRANCE TO THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA. THE WIND KNOCKED
OVER A TREE THAT DAMAGED TWO HOMES NEAR OAK HARBOR AND ANOTHER TREE
FELL ON A SHED NEAR STANWOOD. ABOUT 1100 HOMES LOST POWER ON WHIDBEY
ISLAND AND NEARLY 3000 CUSTOMERS LOST POWER IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
TOTAL DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT $7000.
OCT 18 MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
A DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PRODUCED STRONG WINDS WITH GUSTS UP TO
80 MPH THROUGHOUT MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON KNOCKING DOWN
HUNDREDS OF TREES AND POWER OUT TO ABOUT 300000 CUSTOMERS. ONE
MAN DIED WHILE KITE SURFING NEAR SAND POINT IN SEATTLE DURING THE
WIND STORM. A WOMAN WAS INJURED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A FALLEN
TREE. A NUMBER OF HOMES WERE DAMAGED BY FALLING TREES. DAMAGES
WERE ESTIMATED AT $2.5 MILLION.
NOV 12 MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PRODUCED DAMAGING WINDS THROUGHOUT
MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON KNOCKING DOWN DOZENS OF TREES AND
POWER OUT TO NEARLY 250000 CUSTOMERS. TOTAL DAMAGE ESTIMATES ARE
NOT YET AVAILABLE.
DEC 2-3 WASHINGTON COAST AND OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS
AN INTENSE PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM PRODUCED STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS
WITH GUSTS UP TO 93 MPH KNOCKED DOWN HUNDREDS OF TREES AND POWER
OUT TO ABOUT 100000 CUSTOMERS PRIMARILY ALONG THE COAST. AN
ELDERLY MAN NEAR MONTESANO DIED WHEN HIS OXYGEN POWER SUPPLY WAS
CUT OFF. ANOTHER ABERDEEN MAN WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A FALLING
TREE. FOUR UTILITY WORKERS WERE HURT DURING THE STORM.
TOTAL DAMAGES ESTIMATES WERE NOT AVAILABLEGRAYS HARBOR COUNTY
PUD REPORTED AT LEAST $15 MILLION IN DAMAGES TO THEIR POWER
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WINTER STORMS
JAN 10-11 PUGET SOUND AREA NORTHWARD
A MODIFIED ARCTIC FRONT MOVED SOUTH FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA THROUGH
WESTERN WASHINGTON BRINGING HEAVY SNOW TO MANY LOWLAND AREAS FROM
THE PUGET SOUND AREA NORTHWARD. SNOW AMOUNTS VARIED FROM A FEW
INCHES UP TO 10 INCHES IN WHATCOM COUNTY. THE LATE AFTERNOON
COMMUTE ON THE 10TH WAS VERY SLOWSOME PEOPLE ENDED UP WALKING
INSTEAD. MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE CLOSED ON THE 11TH. DAMAGE
TOTALS WERE CLOSE TO $55000.
FEB 28 PUGET SOUND AREA NORTHWARD AND THE CASCADES
A VERY COLD UPPER LEVEL LOW BROUGHT AREAS OF HEAVY SNOW TO PARTS
OF WESTERN WASHINGTON LOWLANDS AND INTO THE CASCADES. A PUGET
SOUND CONVERGENCE ZONE ENHANCED SNOWFALL AND MOST OF THE HEAVY
SNOW FELL IN THE EVERETT AND VICINITY ZONE FORECAST AREA UP TO 8
INCHES. SEVERAL SCHOOLS HAD THEIR TRANSPORTATION ADVERSELY
IMPACTED. AS MANY AS 60 VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN A PILE UP WEST
OF SNOQUALMIE PASS WITH 7 PEOPLE HURT SERIOUSLY. THE PASS WAS
CLOSED FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS. DAMAGE TOTALS WERE ESTIMATED AT $108000.
DEC 1-2 MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
WARM MOIST AIR SPREAD OVER AN EXISTING COOL AIR MASS RESIDING IN
WESTERN WASHINGTON PRODUCING SNOW ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION. SNOW
AMOUNTS WERE GENERALLY A TRACE TO 3 INCHES EXCEPT FROM 5 TO 8
INCHES IN PARTS OF THE HOOD CANAL AND KITSAP PENINSULA REGION AND
UP TO A FOOT IN PARTS OF THE PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS NEAR THE
CASCADE WEST SLOPES.
AVALANCHE
FEB 24 MT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
A SKIER WAS BURIED AND KILLED JUST WEST OF CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN.
DEC 2 NEAR ALPENTAL SNOQUALMIE PASS
THREE HIKERS WERE CAUGHT IN A SNOW SLIDE. ONE MAN WAS PARTIALLY
BURIED AND INJURED WHILE ANOTHER MAN AND WOMAN WERE BURIED AND
DIED.
DEC 2 NEAR CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN
THREE SNOWBOARDERS WERE MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD IN AN AVALANCHE
JUST OUTSIDE THE CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN SKI AREA BOUNDARY.
DEC 19 MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
A HIKER DISAPPEARED IN AN AVALANCHE WHILE RETURNING FROM A HIKE
TO CAMP MUIR. AT THE TIME OF THIS PUBLICATIONHE WAS MISSING.
FLOODS/HEAVY RAIN/MUDSLIDES
JAN 2-3 PARTS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
THE STILLAGUAMISH...BOGACHIEL...SKOKOMISH...TOLT AND SOUTH FORK
OF THE NOOKSACK RIVERS FLOODED AS A RESULT OF HEAVY RAINFALL.
JAN 7-8 PARTS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
HEAVY RAINFALL PRODUCED FLOODING ON THE SKOOKUMCHUCK...
CHEHALIS...DESCHUTES AND SKOKOMISH RIVERS. THE RAINFALL ALSO
PRODUCED WIDESPREAD URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IN
JEFFERSON...KITSAP...MASON...KING...LEWIS...PIERCE AND GRAYS
HARBOR COUNTIES.
MAR 12-13 MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
MUCH ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION LED TO FLOODING ON THE BOGACHIEL...
SKOKOMISH...NISQUALLY...NOOKSACK...SKAGIT...STILLAGUAMISH...
SKYKOMISH...SNOQUALMIE AND WHITE RIVERS.
MAR 24-25 PARTS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
CONTINUED MUCH ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL PRODUCED FLOODING ON THE
NISQUALLY...NOOKSACK...SKAGIT...STILLAGUAMISH...SKYKOMISH...
SNOHOMISH...TOLT...SNOQUALMIE AND PUYALLUP RIVERS.
JUL 20-22 PARTS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
A STORM IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY HELPED PRODUCE MONTHLY RAINFALL
AMOUNTS THAT WERE CLOSE TO 200 PERCENT ABOVE NORMAL IN PARTS OF
WESTERN WASHINGTON...PRIMARILY ALONG THE COAST...THE OLYMPIC
PENINSULA AND PUGET SOUND REGION. EVEN THE SKOKOMISH RIVER GOT
QUITE CLOSE TO FLOOD STAGE ON JUL 22.
DEC 2-3 MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON
A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAINFALL IN THE REGION PRODUCED FLOODING ON 17
RIVERS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON...THREE THAT REACHED RECORD FLOOD
LEVELS...THE CHEHALIS...SKOKOMISH AND ELWHA RIVERS. PRECIPITATION
RANGED FROM 10 TO 15 INCHES IN THE WILLAPA HILLS AND PARTS OF THE
OLYMPICS AND KITSAP PENINSULAS AND BETWEEN 3 AND 6 INCHES OF
RAINFALL ELSEWHERE. MANY SMALL STREAMS ALSO FLOODED. A 20-MILE
STRETCH OF INTERSTATE 5 IN LEWIS COUNTY WENT UNDER WATER AS THE
CHEHALIS ROSE TO ITS ALL-TIME RECORD LEVEL. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
LANDSLIDES AND SINKHOLES THAT CLOSED ROADS AND HIGHWAYS SUCH AS US
HWY 101 IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS AND SR 92 NEAR MILL CREEK. A MAN NEAR
HOODSPORT WAS BURIED AND KILLED IN HIS HOME BY A LANDSLIDE. AN
ELDERLY MAN NEAR WINLOCK WAS MISSING AFTER A LANDSLIDE NEAR HIS
HOME. ANOTHER MAN REMAINED MISSING NEAR THE TAHUYA RIVER IN MASON
COUNTY. THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE REGION
AND THE PRESIDENT DECLARED SEVERAL COUNTIES A DISASTER AREA. TOTAL
DAMAGE ESTIMATES WERE NOT AVAILABLE...BUT LEWIS COUNTY REPORTED AT
LEAST $165 MILLION IN FLOOD DAMAGE ALONE.
HEAT
JUL 11 WESTERN WASHINGTON
A HEAT WAVE OCCURRED IN WESTERN WASHINGTON...PUSHING TEMPERATURES
WELL INTO THE 90S. SEATAC AIRPORT REACHED 98 DEGREES AND OLYMPIA HIT
99...BOTH RECORD HIGHS FOR THE DATE.
RECORD TEMPERATURES AND PRECIPITATION SET IN 2007
SEA-TAC AIRPORT
HIGHS LOWS PRECIPITATION
01/02 56(T) NONE 01/02 1.77
03/06 68 01/03 1.01(TIED-1963)
04/06 78 05/20 0.56
05/15 85 07/18 0.29
05/30 87(TIED 87-1956) 07/20 0.45
07/11 98 07/21 0.29
09/10 85(TIED 85-1946) 08/20 0.16
09/11 84 10/02 0.80
11/15 1.09
12/03 3.77
OLYMPIA AIRPORT
HIGHS LOWS PRECIPITATION
01/23 56(T) 01/15 15 03/24 1.31
02/17 62 04/03 25 05/20 0.42
03/06 70 07/17 0.61
04/06 79 07/19 0.36
05/15 85 07/20 0.29
07/11 99 10/02 1.06
09/11 87 10/19 1.26
12/04 56(T) 12/02 2.12
12/03 3.19
QUILLAYUTE AIRPORT (NEAR FORKS)
HIGHS LOWS PRECIPITATION
01/27 55 01/12 17 01/05 2.60
03/04 61 04/03 26 03/10 1.96
04/05 68 05/14 33 03/11 3.05
04/06 69 10/05 32(T) 03/23 3.52
05/29 78 03/24 2.78
07/09 85 04/24 0.91
07/10 93 07/18 0.49
07/11 86(T) 07/20 0.73
10/23 72 07/21 1.60
07/22 0.42
07/23 0.26
09/03 1.27
10/02 0.98
HOQUIAM AIRPORT
HIGHS LOWS PRECIPITATION
04/05 75 01/14 25 03/23 1.62
05/29 87 10/05 37(T) 03/24 1.91
07/10 99 05/20 0.88
08/14 81 07/21 0.99
08/29 84 07/22 0.79
09/10 88 09/30 1.22
10/23 73 12/02 2.63
12/05 55
BELLINGHAM AIRPORT
HIGHS LOWS PRECIPITATION
03/06 68 01/13 15 03/11 1.49
04/06 74 01/14 10 03/24 0.58
07/10 86 05/22 39 09/30 0.73
07/11 94 05/29 39
10/23 69(T)
12/03 59(T)
STAMPEDE PASS
HIGHS LOWS PRECIPITATION
01/01 44 NONE 01/05 3.29
01/02 50 01/07 7.81
01/09 45 01/08 4.71
02/04 49 03/24 2.32
02/06 49 08/20 0.39
06/01 75
06/02 78
07/10 85(T)
07/11 89
07/12 86
12/03 47
NWS SEATTLE SAND POINT
HIGHS LOWS PRECIPITATION
01/27 55 01/12 20 01/02 0.89
02/17 62 01/13 25 04/18 0.19
03/05 60 01/14 22 05/20 0.52
03/06 71 01/15 26(T) 05/21 0.42
03/16 66 03/21 32 06/25 0.02
04/05 74 04/03 34 07/18 0.30
04/06 80 04/20 37 07/20 0.44
05/15 84 05/12 41(T) 07/21 0.22
05/30 83 05/14 42 07/22 0.44
06/02 79 05/27 45 07/23 0.07
06/03 86 05/28 45 08/08 0.13
07/03 82(T) 06/25 50 08/19 0.42
07/05 79(T) 06/26 50 09/30 0.79
07/06 77(T) 07/01 53(T) 10/07 0.24
07/11 95 08/11 53(T) 10/19 0.65
08/01 83(T) 10/25 38 12/02 1.48
08/02 84 10/26 35 12/03 4.15
09/11 83 12/08 27
11/03 60(T) 12/09 27
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 11:01 PM,
Latest Wind Reports
Friday, January 04, 2008
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
700 PM PST FRI JAN 4 2008
UPDATED WIND REPORTS...
...ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG WINDS ALONG THE COAST AND INLAND...
A STRONG FRONT MOVED ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING...WHILE DEEP LOW
PRESSURE SITS JUST OFFSHORE. STRONG SOUTH WINDS BEGAN EARLY THIS
MORNING ON THE COAST...AND HAVE CONTINUED AT TIMES. GUSTY SOUTH
WINDS DEVELOPED IN THE INTERIOR DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY
AFTERNOON.
FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE WIND REPORTS AS OF 7 PM THIS EVENING.
LOCATION STRONGEST GUST TIME REMARKS
...WASHINGTON COAST AND WILLAPA HILLS...
ABERNATHY MTN (EL. 2000 FT) 63 MPH 501 PM
LONG BEACH................. 48 MPH 536 PM
...NORTH OREGON COAST...
CAPE MEARES (HIGH BIAS SPOT) 85 MPH 335 PM (SUSTAINED 40-45 MPH)
ROCKAWAY BEACH............. 65 MPH 419 PM
CLATSOP SPIT............... 61 MPH 635 PM (SUSTAINED 40-45 MPH)
ASTORIA (AIRPORT).......... 54 MPH 505 PM
GARIBALDI.................. 53 MPH 600 PM (SUSTAINED 28-31 MPH)
WARRENTON.................. 45 MPH 443 PM
TILLAMOOK AIRPORT.......... 44 MPH 630 PM
...CENTRAL OREGON COAST...
NEWPORT (YAQUINA US 101 BRIDGE) 93 MPH 522 PM (SUSTAINED 45-60 MPH)
SEA LION CAVES............. 86 MPH 640 PM (SUSTAINED 45-60 MPH)
CAPE FOULWEATHER........... 82 MPH 245 PM
YACHATS.................... 80 MPH 321 PM
FLORENCE (SIUSLAW JETTY)... 68 MPH 400 PM (SUSTAINED 45-50 MPH)
NEWPORT JETTY.............. 67 MPH 500 PM (SUSTAINED 45-50 MPH)
LINCOLN CITY............... 66 MPH 545 PM
DUNES...................... 55 MPH 400 PM
NEWPORT AIRPORT............ 61 MPH 330 PM
NEWPORT (HATFIELD SCI CTNR) 51 MPH 232 PM
SOUTH BEACH (NEAR NEWPORT). 51 MPH 330 PM
...COAST RANGE...
MT. HEBO................... 79 MPH 500 PM (SUSTAINED 35-40 MPH)
ROCKHOUSE RAWS............. 62 MPH 700 AM
SWISSHOME (NEAR MAPLETON).. 60 MPH 400 PM
ROCKHOUSE RAWS............. 54 MPH 630 PM
CEDAR MTN RAWS............. 50 MPH 510 AM
SOUTH FORK RAWS............ 37 MPH 1215 PM
...INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SW WASHINGTON...
RIDGEFIELD................. 55 MPH 600 PM
KELSO...................... 48 MPH 430 PM
VANCOUVER (EAST)........... 46 MPH 400 PM
KALAMA..................... 44 MPH 330 PM
RIDGEFIELD................. 40 MPH 400 PM
VANCOUVER (AIRPORT)........ 40 MPH 435 PM
CASTLE ROCK................ 28 MPH 400 PM
...INTERIOR VALLEYS OF NW OREGON...
MCMINNVILLE (AIRPORT)...... 55 MPH 200 PM
ALOHA...................... 55 MPH 449 PM
HILLSBORO (AIRPORT)........ 52 MPH 438 PM
FOREST GROVE............... 52 MPH 400 PM
SALEM (AIRPORT)............ 49 MPH 300 PM
PORTLAND (AIRPORT)......... 48 MPH 400 PM
AURORA (AIRPORT)........... 48 MPH 411 PM
EUGENE (AIRPORT)........... 48 MPH 425 PM
SCAPPOOSE (AIRPORT)........ 44 MPH 513 PM
SWEETHOME.................. 43 MPH 430 PM
CORVALLIS (AIRPORT)........ 39 MPH 200 PM
TROUTDALE (AIRPORT)........ 38 MPH 400 PM
STAYTON.................... 34 MPH 300 PM
BEAVERTON.................. 32 MPH 300 PM
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 10:23 PM,
Batten Down The Hatches!
Thursday, January 03, 2008
NOWCAST - Strong storm scheduled to slam into our area Friday and Saturday. Winds to 50 mph locally and 100 mph along the coast. then scattered rain/snow showers over weekend and into Monday. Some sticking snow at times even in lowest elevations. Stay tuned to the latest forecasts and warnings. The barometer will drop very low, below 29 inches perhaps surpassing 28.85 inches recorded here in the Columbus Day wind storm of 1962.
OUTCAST - Let's review some rainfall reports from your friends and neighbors around the region for December 2007. I recorded 9.53 inches here in north Salmon Creek; Pearson Field, Vancouver, 8.70 inches, 2.32 inches above normal and the only month in 2007 with above average rainfall; Gary Collins, Brush Prairie, 11.52 inches; Claudia Chiasson, Carson, 22.32 inches; Judy Darke, Felida, 9.98 inches;
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 5:47 PM,
Stormy Weather Ahead
Wednesday, January 02, 2008NOWCAST - First off, Happy New Year! Plenty of rain now through Sunday with 2-4 inches here in Clark County. Freezing levels are high, some 5,000 feet until Friday late when they slowly trend downwards. Some lowland snow down to at least 500 feet by later Sunday if things develop as I think they will. And, maybe to city levels by Monday. As far as wind goes, breezy Thursday gusts to 30 mph but gusts to 45 mph on Friday possibly higher. The coast will get winds in the 50-80 mph range Friday and early Saturday. The winds will not last as long as the early December storms and the strongest winds will remain off the coast or along the headlands at this point that is my thinking. But as always that can change one way or the other. I think the main low will remain off the coast and spiral northward into the Gulf. A wet and wild 4-5 days of weather a head of us. With heavy rains, lowland snow melt the rivers and streams will be rising with possible flooding in some areas. And with all the rain and strong winds, coastal areas will be vulnerable to widespread damage due to the weakness of many trees from last month's storms. Also, many power lines are just patched together and subject to failure. Let's hope for the best!
OUTCAST - I will report local rainfall amounts for December 2007 in a day or two. It was the first month with above average rainfall for many.
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 7:44 PM,
