Cheeznado Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Signs point to a possible very significant snow event for the Coastal NW. Classic setup with cold arctic air draining down from Canada and then a compact low coning in from the Pacific creating a very impressive WAA/overrunning situation. Wednesday could be the big day. Cliff Mass has the best NW weather blog and he is getting excited: http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huffwx Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 My Uncle Ray lives in Camano Island-- they were shut out yesterday. (As reported by his wife)They also get the bad precipt shadow at times as well--of course, he's visiting the EC at this time and supposed to be flying back in Wednesday. I'm not sure how they deal with snow there-- most flights around here could leave with 3-4 inches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlizzardWx Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 WSW's up for a good chunk of oregon/washington. Going to be pretty wild. My immediate family lives in Portland so I might end up with some pictures to share if it gets interesting there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathfinder Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 I always enjoy watching these events, one of my favorite areas of the country and if I can't get winter weather they might as well. This one will definitely be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Impressive storm for the lowlands of Washington predicted. Family and friends there have been filling me in on the wintry details. From the Seattle NWS Office: URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA 235 PM PST MON JAN 16 2012 .AN UPPER LEVEL WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS WESTERN WASHINGTON TODAY GIVING LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS TO THE AREA. COLD CONTINENTAL AIR DROPPING IN FROM THE NORTH WILL POSSIBLY HELP FOCUS SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. THE CHANCES FOR A MAJOR WINTER STORM MOVING INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY IS INCREASING. WAZ505-507-510-514-515-170800- /O.CON.KSEW.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-120117T0800Z/ /O.CON.KSEW.WS.A.0002.120117T0800Z-120118T0000Z/ /O.CON.KSEW.WS.A.0001.120118T0800Z-120119T0800Z/ EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-EVERETT AND VICINITY- ADMIRALTY INLET AREA-EASTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- WESTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 235 PM PST MON JAN 16 2012 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT... ...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON... ...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... * SOME AFFECTED LOCATIONS...EVERETT...MONROE...NORTH BEND AND ENUMCLAW. * TIMING...TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. * ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW SHOWERS WILL GIVE UP TO 3 INCHES OF NEW SNOW TONIGHT. ANOTHER 2 TO 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE TUESDAY. THE HEAVIEST ACCUMULATIONS ON TUESDAY...IF IT OCCURS...WOULD BE AROUND THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF SOUTH SNOHOMISH COUNTY AND NEAR THE CASCADES IN THE EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS. A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL LIKELY BRING ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WEDNESDAY STORM MAY BRING ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 14 INCHES. * MAIN IMPACT...EXPECT EXTREME WINTER TRAVEL CONDITIONS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WINTER WEATHER. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL IN THE WATCH AREA...CARRY AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...WATER...AND BLANKETS IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW IS ISSUED FOR THE LOWLANDS WHEN 1 TO 3 INCHES IS LIKELY TO FALL IN 12 HOURS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyhb Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Yup, we're in to get smoked over the next several days. Folks in the GL/OV are probably a little jealous... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
on_wx Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Yup, we're in to get smoked over the next several days. Folks in the GL/OV are probably a little jealous... Just a bit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksstormhunter Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Hey guys I am up here in Lacey, WA. Tracking the system pretty closely with the potential for some significant snow. Right now been seen on and off snow showers through the day, got abot 1.5" on the ground. Pushed out WA page for my model at http://smartwxmodel.net/WA.html I will also try to push some photo online of the event. Currently in and around my area of Olympia, tracking the heaviest snow from the 18/14Z to 19Z, with snowfall rates of greater than 1.3" per hour, with total snowfall accumulation of 17"+, still needs to be refined need a couple more model runs and some more sfc observtions to refine the product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Yup, we're in to get smoked over the next several days. Folks in the GL/OV are probably a little jealous... Haha, maybe just a bit! We have our own snows to enjoy this week too. Local meteorologist's here have been talking about your storm today. 6-14" predicted! That's a big deal around here too! I'm looking to continue my geology studies in the region next year. It's nice that it gets cold enough to snow, but not frigidly cold that it keeps everyone inside! Post some pictures after, during the storm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIC Airport Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Hey guys I am up here in Lacey, WA. Tracking the system pretty closely with the potential for some significant snow. Right now been seen on and off snow showers through the day, got abot 1.5" on the ground. Pushed out WA page for my model at http://smartwxmodel.net/WA.html I will also try to push some photo online of the event. Currently in and around my area of Olympia, tracking the heaviest snow from the 18/14Z to 19Z, with snowfall rates of greater than 1.3" per hour, with total snowfall accumulation of 17"+, still needs to be refined need a couple more model runs and some more sfc observtions to refine the product. I see you have Fort Lewis in your profile. I was stationed there from 2006-09 and also lived in Lacey during the big snows of December 2008. I think we got about 13" altogether from the big storm on the 21st-22nd. There were a couple 2-4 inch events and a solid 4-8 incher in the 10 or so days leading up to the big one. It was a whopper of a month when you consider the record cold and the number of days the snow remained on the ground. White Christmas, too! There was, however, a lot of controversy back then with the city of Seattle and their poor efforts in snow removal since they refused to use certain products for fear of contaminating the Puget Sound. Hopefully the process is much smoother this time around. I absolutely loved it there and it's certainly on top of my list of cities to move to after the military. Good luck and please do venture out and post us some pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksstormhunter Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 14Z Update for For Western WA areas. Currently looking at significant snow accumulations across the area. Looking for 12-15" across the Olympia, WA areas with the heaviest snowfall from 18/13Z-19/19Z with snowfall rates up to1.9" per hour, then looking for a switch to rain afterwards. Looking across the area general 8-10" through Tacoma to Seattle. Full output at http://smartwxmodel.net/WA.html'>http://smartwxmodel.net/WA.html also http://smartwxmodel.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizardMafia Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Took a look at the point forecast for my old house up in the foothills. Looking at 1 to 2ft on top of the 1 foot of snow already on the ground.. http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=45.354799144934695&lon=-121.97051525115967&site=pqr&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksstormhunter Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Took a look at the point forecast for my old house up in the foothills. Looking at 1 to 2ft on top of the 1 foot of snow already on the ground.. http://forecast.weat...n&FcstType=text That is crazy, we are getting wet heavy snow right now, few reports of downed power lines due to the heaviness of the snow. Post a couple of pics soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plokoon111 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Well you guys deserve it, even through the northeast is getting nothing; we had pretty crazy winters last two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Enjoy the snow! I had the opportunity to view the Cascade snowpack last March! Never seen so much snow in my life! Sounds like it will be historical! http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/seattle-biggest-snowstorm-in-d/60356 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCS Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Hope you a get a nice snowstorm! Enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic_Blast Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 There have been widespread snow showers, sometimes heavy, for the past couple of days in the PNW lowlands. The favored snow zones of the northwest interior part of Washington State have picked up 10-20" so far. Some of those areas include: Lake Samish, Sudden Valley / Lake Whatcom and Arlington. These areas will not be receiving a lot of snow with the storm rolling in this evening and tomorrow, but they will be much colder than Seattle and Portland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksstormhunter Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 02Z SmartCast update. Right now across the Olympia, WA region looking for snow to begin around 08Z through 19/10Z, with a brief period of switch over to Freezing Rain from 19/15 to 22Z. Heaviest snow is looking from 18/17Z to 19/00Z with snowfall rates up to 1.1" per hour. Looking at accumulations around 10-12" across this area. Across the areas of Seattle looking for snowfall amounts around 5-7" across this region. Full upload at http://smartwxmodel.net/WA.html'>http://smartwxmodel.net/WA.html or http://smartwxmodel.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastalWx Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Buried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericjcrash Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Buried. Not us. Maybe 1 storm in Seattle can out do NYC and BOS for the winter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Wood Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 CIMSS Microwave imagery loop of the Precipitable Water heading for the West Coast over the past few days is impressive: http://tropic.ssec.wisc.edu/real-time/mimic-tpw/epac/main.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksstormhunter Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 15Z SmartCast Update: Currently I have 8" here in Lacey, WA. Looking at Tacoma, Olympia areas with potential for additional 6" of snow from now til 23Z. Snowfall rates around 1" per hour and visibilities down to 1/4. Elsewhere, looking at 2-4" of additional snow around Seattle areas. Full upload at http://smartwxmodel.net/WA.html'>http://smartwxmodel.net/WA.html or http://smartwxmodel.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baroclinic_instability Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Check this loop out. Good stuff. http://www.drdale.com/cam/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksstormhunter Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Here are a couple of pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsross Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 Beautiful! Y'all enjoy! Wish I were there. Here's a fun little video posted on businessinsider.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick05 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 hey guys... so i was reading an article from Yahoo about the Seattle snow and i stumbled upon this statement... Cold air blowing south from Alaska — where snow records have fallen recently — has combined with a low-pressure system blowing all the way in from the Philippines to create eye-popping snowfall. -"Why Did Seattle Get All This Snow?" http://news.yahoo.com/why-did-seattle-snow-230903274.html is this even accurate?? i look at the W Pacific weather practically everyday and i don't remember any extra-tropical low that went as far south as 20N; most of them exited right off Japan IIRC... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Western Washington - Lowland snowfall tallies. Up to 17" fell in the lowlands. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?wfo=sew&sid=SEW&pil=PNS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OHweather Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Ice storm warning now for the lowlands including Seattle. Warning text says a total ice accumulation of 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch, and Seattle has been reporting freezing rain with temps below 30 for 8 hours strait as of this writing. My guess is this is having a significant impact and is historic for the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arizonasooner Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 All I know that it is a mess over here in the Tri-Cities. We've had 6-8 inches of snow and have had freezing rain most of the day today on top of that. It took me over an hour to go from the paper mill back to the hotel last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geos Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I've been following this story all day. Talked to one of my relatives on the east side earlier and said it's crazy out there! Last check 200,000 people are without power, trees are coming down, along with carports. From a meteorological standpoint it is interesting to watch the different precipitation types change over the day. The arctic air is really entrenched over the sound. The temperature has actually gone down and SeaTac is back to snow now! ... Just heard the entire town of Yelm has no power. Good coverage on the storm on King 5 news. http://www.king5.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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