2:20pm…
Well, the drive to work was a bit underwhelming from 1-2pm. Looking at the radar I was hoping to at least see some good snow in the air. But from Troutdale to Beaverton (east to west), I only saw a few light flurries and bare/dry ground the whole way, plus it was totally dry from downtown westward. Flurries did just drop a dusting out in eastern Multnomah/Clark Counties east of I-205, but I just missed it.
I think my 10:30am update was a bit of a overforecast, it looks like very few of us even saw a dusting. The one exception was the northwest part of Vancouver…take a look at the radar at around noon:
Notice the one yellow area (the only one that appeared today) was right over SR500 and Hazel Dell. That’s the spot that actually saw some decent accumulation. Here’s a closer view:
You had to be within a couple of miles of that spot or farther north into Clark County to see anything other than a dusting. Our SW Medical Center camera shows green grass and nothing even on the barkdust. There’s little or nothing south of SR500 on I-5 or anywhere along I-205 south of the I-5 split.
So yes, the worst of all possibilities has happened; it snowed at Steve Pierce’s house and almost nowhere else! Here’s the “neener, neener, it snowed and my house and it’s just too bad it didn’t at yours!” picture to prove it from Steve! The pic just shows a dusting, but I’ve seen reports of 1-2″ in the Salmon Creek area.
Well, maybe next time for everyone else.
On another note, PDX officially recorded -SN (light snow) at the Noon observation; that means that’ll go down as the “first snowflake” at the Airport for the AMS contest from the Winter Weather Meeting.
Chief Meteorologist Mark Nelsen
Snowstorm…….Late thursday friday morning. NEXT FRONT ARRIVES THURSDAY OR THURSDAY NIGHT. MODELS HAVE HIGH POPS
ON THE COAST AND RANGE UP TO LIKELY OVER INLAND AREAS. WILL PROBABLY
BOOST POPS FOR THIS SYSTEM. QPF IS NOT LIKELY TO AMOUNT TO MUCH.
WITH COLD SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND LITTLE WIND…THERE IS LIKELY TO
BE AT LEAST SOME LIGHT SNOW THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING. BURKE
It’s nice having snow on the ground and it not melting right away. Anywho, any updates on the models?
Thanks, Mark!
I was planning to ride from Gresham to Sandy via Lusted and Ten Eycke, but your snow ruined it.
Well, maybe not. Perhaps I’m just to wimpy to bike in the snow.
Occassional weather reporter… frequent lurker… thanks to all the posters who make this blog a must read just about daily… happy new year to all!
We had about a half inch of snow down the Gorge, but its been below freezing all day, and that little bit of snow is now packed ice. It’s making for slick driving, and a driver has gone thru the guard rail and into the Columbia river down by Moiser. Let’s hope everyone made it out http://www.flashalert.net/news.html?id=1002
I realize this may not post till tomorrow since i have never posted before, but i want you all to know i appreciate all of your input on weather. I have followed this blog since the epic 2008. I hope everyone stays safe and has a happy new year! A toast to snow in PDX.
Nope, I’m on duty tonight, so it went through!
You’re the man, Mark! Love when you post while you work.
You made it! Hello!
Good to hear from you!
I’ll drink to that! Hahaah!
We went to Seattle yesterday just for one night. 30′s and p. cloudy when we left. Coming back home to Portland on the train it began to snow significantly around Olympia or so. Absolutely scenic–I would estimate 1-3 inches. I was feeling optimistic but as the no snow for Portland weather gods would have it, it shut off like a curtain right at the edge of no. Vancouver. Really bizarre and frustrating. I swear I have no idea what it takes to get accumulating snow at sea level in Portland. A few flurries walking back from Union Station and 34′. I just hope–like all of us–that this is our year at SOME point!!!!!
It takes an act of Congress, and we’ve all seen how well they work together…
Anyone know what the ECMWF and GFS Ensembles showed as far as arctic potential
Well, from what I saw wasn’t great, but the 500mb Height Anomalies has a mean ridge axis positioned offshore in a good location, just need amplification nosing up into Alaska…
Hey, was just wondering what everyone was doing on this fine New Year’s Eve Wintery-weathered evening(yes, I realize I said evening twice(so sue me haha!))
Oh not much working on music…. that is about it. Yourself?
Musician, huh? What type of music? Oh, I’m hanging with a lady friend and family. Eating pizza, watching movies all that good stuff haha.
1 word Ben: Drinkin
Oh, your a composer Rob, what is your forte?
Haha nice. Drinking what in particular?
Electronic music specializing in the lower frequencies. If you’re into Car Audio/Subwoofers or like bass in your music, then you may like it.
My label describes me as this: Rob Grimes, an Oregon based electronic music producer who is creating a new Techno Bass style influenced by some of the classic sounds and creators of the genre.
I don’t only make that just one specific style, some is more a crunk/street sound, again focusing on the lower end of the frequency spectrum.
Rob will make the back window blow out of your car with his music..
It has been a really cool experience and to have fans all over the world as well as lots of YouTube videos of people playing my music on their systems is pretty neat.
Ya lol actually Aloha.
So you’re not only an expert in weather but also amazing with music?
Ordering pizza, watching network tv, drinking some beer.
Happy New Year to all! Be safe, everyone!
Working until 10:30pm, then straight home for a little drink with the kids (they only drink the sparkling cider stuff). A post-midnight hot tubbing under the cold January moon; should be out by then. I mean the one in the sky. Maybe around 25 at that time?
Lol, I’m glad to hear that you’re a good father haha! Haha hot tubbing in really cold temperatures is interesting did that last winter at Eaglecrest. Brr!
Just got back from the hot tub at black butte ranch. Had a nice snow shower as we soaked. Amazing!
Nice sounds amazing!
A weather expert? oh I dunno about that… I think there are some areas or fields in which I have a pretty decent grasp on things….
Mark, not much shocks the senses more than the contrast of hot tubbing with the water around 100-105 F and the freezing cold into the 20′s outside. It is really invigorating if you ask me.
At Newport listening to the surf and sea lions.
You have to swim in the pool at Timberline on a winter’s night.
THE BEST.
Extremely light snow and sleet falling in Milwaukie at the moment…
Take pictures, video, hand drawn sketches, make one of those action flip-books, draw graphic of it on MS Paint…. ummm
What, did you move the dome to Yev’s after all? I was gonna offer to pay shipping.
I tried Rob, but before I could get my camera out of my pocket and turn it on, it stopped sneeting, the sun came out and everything melted and evaporated away…
Oh well, better luck next time. Just wait 10 days, right?
Just a dusting in sandy at 1,100 ft.
y’all should come to Columbia County for the snow!!!!
Snowing STILL in north salmon creek area!!!! Nearly 2.5 inches on the ground, just measured. Going to be messy tomorrow AM with temps supposed to be 28 over night.
Nothing really sticking but it’s been snowing light-medium for going on 5+ hours now.
Was pretty to watch it come down. Would have been a lot prettier if it would have accumulated….33° currently.
Yeah, even if that’s all we get till ‘next year’ it was still enjoyable for me & the mutt this afternoon!
Snow just ended here in La Center maybe a half inch to 3/4 ill take it had fun with the kids!
Snowing VERY light in Woodland, have about 1/2 inch… sticking to my porch and grass.. sadly its melting.. ):
About an inch up here in Kelso but it had tapered off now.
Nothing in Milwaukie a few stray flakes but the dome is holding, it is almost time for vodka tonics our last New Years here. The warmer dryer Texas climate should be interesting, kids are looking forward to the move after they get out school this summer. In Ground Pool is required on the property.
Happy New Year All
got about an inch here, still snowing.
Getting a light snow shower in Beaverton now. I hope the heavier stuff from up north makes it down here! Or maybe we’ll get some wrap-around from the east too!
Started on Prune Hill just after 1 p.m., up to nearly 3/4″ at 3:30 p.m., and coming down as hard as it has in the past two hours. Can’t believe it hasn’t reached Corbett yet.
I think freezing temps are gonna be the real issue here. All the roads are getting wet with this faux snow, so its gonna be real slippery later!
2 inch total
Light flakes still falling
Currently 33.3 which is my high today.
Still nothing of any consequence in Downtown. I’m outta here in less than an hour. Once I get home, it can dump as much snow and ice as it wants! I’m hoping it wants to dump more than nothing… o_O
In the meantime, just in case last night’s link to my 12/21/2012 timelapse video didn’t work (Facebook) for some people, here’s a better link from my G+ page:
https://plus.google.com/photos/100884269675015162456/albums/posts/5828248502089976530
Enjoy!
East wind increasing as the low drops south about west of Newport or so. My dewpoint has abruptly crashed due to it back down to 27.
Now it’s onto the east wind storm as I suspect TTD-DLS exceeds 10mb… I’m thinking due to all of the snow cover east side/Columbia Basin that the high will be stronger than models show and thus a stronger gradient.. Perhaps peaking 12mb. I can tell you this too, the east wind out there currently is a lot colder than yesterdays.
Crashed down to 27 from 23 earlier? o.O?
It was up to 31-32 when it was snowing earlier. You obviously knew that.
Ive been reading your posts on the east wind storm possibility. What date and how do the winds look?
It will ramp up tonight – Wednesday night or so. Well, I’d guess gusts east of I-205(Gresham-Troutdale-Wood Village-Fairview) 45-55+mph. Western Gorge 55-65+. Corbett 65+. Crown Point 80-100+. Not sure much if any will reach west of I-205/I-5
THE 18Z GFS BRINGS BACK THE GOODIES. SNOWSTORM STARTING ON 1/9/13, THE EXACT DATE I GOT CIRCLED ON MY CALENDAR.
YAY! Just wait 10 days!!
If the ridge trends further west we could, but right now all the cold air slides just to the east. The Columbia Basin gets fairly cold, but no offshore flow to transport it westward to PDX.
bob lives!
Who exactly is Bob?
I circled your hypothesis on my weather calendar to see if your right and the 18z is in your favor right now!
I circled your hypothesis on my calendar to see if your correct on that! 18z looks to be in your favor!
BOB ARE YOU GOING BY A DIFFERN’T NAME?
Bob is a notorious troll in these parts who needs medication.
Nope, too soon. Maybe a week after that.
If we get as cold as advertised its gonna be an icy mess tonight on the roads!
The snow that’s falling at the top of Cooper Mountain/Sexton Mountain area resembles what was called “snizzle” that fell in Wilsonville where I work.
What is the difference exactly? Will this also be dubbed snizzle? My work place actually got a decent accumulation last year, more so then what I am hearing reported this event.
The moisture is no longer moving from West to East but more North to South now, so that which was falling in Vancouver is now here in Cornelius and its coming down hard.
I knew it would happen.
Mark says it’s over, so it takes off again!
Thanks Mark! Hahaah!
Thanks Mark! Your post actually helped the snow flurries to pick up in Aloha! We might get an hour of precip to make it at least festive.
Snowing heavily in Cornelius now.
Heaviest snow of the day falling in East Vancouver. Sticking to everything. I was thinking it would be too dry for us in the east metro to get anything. Been snowing for the last 3 hours.
According to the radar it looks like precipitation is about done in my area in Longview.
Better than nothing!
32° and still snowing in LA Center woo hoo But I think the moisture is just about done Here
Lightly Snowing in Aloha now
I am on 39th St and I-5 and I took a ruler out to my deck and we got 1/2 inch. Kids loved it.
This sure is light snow; but at least we are seeing snow
got a trace here between 282 & Powell valley at Gresham, OR elevation 450ft
I’m still sticking to my (semi-scientific) forecast of an arctic blast in the latter half of January. I’d rather have the snow come then and stay for at least a few days then get my snow during a “here and gone” event like today will be (for those who got snow).
I went out for lunch and it started snowing as we ate around 1 PM. It accumulated with a dusting from 181st Glisan to about Stark, but as I headed towards my house there wasn’t anything. Now it is snowing again with larger flakes. Kind of neat to see……
Just enough to cover the (untraveled) roads and the grass in Gresham so far.
Hahaha!
And I retract my previous statement about placing the Milwaukie dome on the West side over Yev’s house. I now know of a much more appropriate place to put it!
The Dome has actually been over Seattle this month. Even Milwaukie has seen flakes on more days than we have.
Actually, no. I’ve only seen 10 minutes of non-stick snowflakes in Milwaukie, whereas Seattle has already seen sticking snow this winter. At least many areas in and around Seattle did…