Why does Portland keep getting slammed by snowstorms and we get nothing? (Seattle: credit, house)

[destroycreate]

It's SO annoying. I want to see a white winter wonderland but we've been getting absolutely nothing. We're further north, you'd think we'd be the ones who get it first.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by destroycreate

It's SO annoying. I want to see a white winter wonderland but we've been getting absolutely nothing. We're further north, you'd think we'd be the ones who get it first.

IDK, a friend of mine in West Seattle said there was snow there last week. But Portland is inland, away from the modulating effects of the ocean, while Seattle is right on the Sound. Winter weather has always been harsher in the Portland area and south, in the Willamette Valley.

[homesinseattle]

The powerful developers and construction companies who are rapidly building the Seattle skyline have conspired to alter weather patterns by secretive cloud seeding on Adak Island in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Read about it. Did you believe me, even briefly? Come on, that was fun.

[MondoTime]

Originally Posted by destroycreate

Why does Portland keep getting slammed by snowstorms and we get nothing?

Because we have significant mountains protecting us to the west AND because Portland has a 'pipeline' to frigid eastern cold air in the way of the Columbia Gorge.

There's a reason why Forks, WA is the rainiest place in the 'lower 48' (and thus was the setting for "Twilight" movies)

Ever heard of "Mist Mountain"?? (I am guessing not, for most readers)

I will give'em credit - it IS misty there!

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by destroycreate

It's SO annoying. I want to see a white winter wonderland but we've been getting absolutely nothing. We're further north, you'd think we'd be the ones who get it first.

Where do you live, go up higher? We got 2" in Sammamish that lasted a week, and only melted last Sunday when it rained.

[franklin42]

3 inches in Burien on NYE/NYD evening. It just finally melted away. There have bee 2 "significant" snow "storms" since mid December. Way more than I thought we'd get!

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by MondoTime

Because we have significant mountains protecting us to the west AND because Portland has a 'pipeline' to frigid eastern cold air in the way of the Columbia Gorge.

There's a reason why Forks, WA is the rainiest place in the 'lower 48' (and thus was the setting for "Twilight" movies)

Ever heard of "Mist Mountain"?? (I am guessing not, for most readers)

I will give'em credit - it IS misty there!

MondoTime is exactly correct. When Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon get an outbreak of bitter cold air the only release valve westward is through the Columbia Gorge. This explains why Portland can get significant snow events. Portland also gets more ice storms than Seattle for the same reason. BTW the Eastern WA/OR cold air will last through the weekend, so the snow in Portland is likely not going anywhere for awhile.

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l...+WA+99336:4:US

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

The powerful developers and construction companies who are rapidly building the Seattle skyline have conspired to alter weather patterns by secretive cloud seeding on Adak Island in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Read about it. Did you believe me, even briefly? Come on, that was fun.

I know you were being facetious, but there is some truth in your post. As Seattle becomes denser, the "heat island" effect gets stronger. I truly believe this is why those 4-5 foot storms of 100+ years ago were frequent, there was no real city to keep the temperature above the point at which snow would have been prevalent.

This link looks at the summer phenomenon of heat islands, but I assume the same happens during the cold season.

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/u...s-health-17919

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

MondoTime is exactly correct. When Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon get an outbreak of bitter cold air the only release valve westward is through the Columbia Gorge. This explains why Portland can get significant snow events. ...

WA resident here... at the 'vortex of the Columbia River Gorge (Cape Horn, WA)

About as wild weather as Cape Horn SA...ALL the cold air from Eastern WA and OR + parts of MT, ID need to exit via our narrow canyon.

80 MPH winds for days on end; (@14 - 22F = -10F wind chill)
Transition of Cold (dry) front to Warm (WET) front = 3" of snow, topped by 2" of Ice, and as of this AM, covered with 3" of snow (5ft of snow on leeward side of house).

Entire house is encapsulated in ice (but at least that makes it WARM (inside), but... need to be submarine quality, as ANY little leaks will cause waterfall down INSIDE wall or windows.

Very nice place for weather watching. (sorry, no new neighbors allowed...protected... NSA) Management Plan | Columbia River Gorge Commission
We are often between the clouds... upper moisture laden clouds heading east, drier cold clouds fleeing the east.

https://www.google.com/search?q=colu...w=1287&bih=650

SWEET place to live if you can handle the weather, the 'friends of the gorge' (Greenies who are enemies to Gorge residents), no internet access (no cell towers, dishes allowed) and $44/ day property taxes (up from $3 / day)

[treuphax]

QUOTE=destroycreate;46790938]It's SO annoying. I want to see a white winter wonderland but we've been getting absolutely nothing. We're further north, you'd think we'd be the ones who get it first.[/quote]

SHHH

This guy, Father Frost, might hear you....




...and consider it a challenge and unleash unholy icy terror on us...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaksWCnHaDM