Quick November weather update (Pasco: car, woods, weekend)

[M3 Mitch]

This winter, so far, has been as unusually warm as the 16-17 one was unusually cold. Only had a couple of very light snow events, one last night, snow/sleet falling with air temperature around 35F, most all of it melted off by morning.


Seems to me this winter has been wetter than average as well.


Just impressions, not to be confused with data.

[pnwguy2]

Yeah, M3, we are on target for a warmer than normal winter. Rarely, does Tri-Cities turn dramatically cold after mid-January. We are seeing this pattern develop somewhat due to El Nino.

So far, November 2018 Avg Hi 57, above normal. December 2018, Avg Hi 46, above normal.

In January the inversion has cut down the temps in the first half, but looks mild and rainy for second half.

Oh, and I can't speak specifically for W. Richland, W. Benton Co., but in Richland (+Kennewick and Pasco), there has not been any accumulating snow this season so far. Just a trace here and there. I hope I don't jinx that, but I am confident that this winter ain't going to offer much snow.

[Botev1912]

The first half of January was the warmest in Seattle ever since records started in 1890.

[pnwguy2]

Yep, same El Nino pattern.

One thing that needs to be repeated here is the Northwest generally experiences winter earlier than areas east of the Rockies. By February, it begins to warm up (usually), and the flowers come out. My best guess is this is due to the Pacific Ocean influence and prevailing winds from the SW. (Which are not automatic, and if the flow changes can bring an occasional cold, snowy winter to the Puget Sound! Fortunately not very often.)

[M3 Mitch]

Classically, El Nino is warm and dry (while La Nina is cool and wet). At least that's what Wikipedia says.


But this winter, at least to me, seems warm and wet, compared to "normal". Comments on that?



My own impression is that the PNW does indeed have an early winter compared to say around Denver, or even around Idaho Falls. Some years we seem to have more cold and snow technically in late Fall - although that's just my impression from living here 27+years - I don't have any real data to support that.

[M3 Mitch]

Repeating myself to bump the thread, but, to me, it sure seems like we have had an unusually large amount of rain, particularly last week. An all-day rain like last Sunday, I can't remember when I saw that last.


Comments?

[Botev1912]

You got all the rain last weeekend for some reason while Seattle had some decent January weather.

[pnwguy2]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

You got all the rain last weeekend for some reason while Seattle had some decent January weather.

My best guess is the El Nino pattern is shooting storms up from California into Eastern WA, as opposed to the usual Western WA pattern. El Nino usually means more rain for California, and that has indeed been happening this season. We are seeing this NE turn and it has meant some good rain for South Central WA. My City of Richland utility bill is way down from the last couple of years. I'm OK with that.

[M3 Mitch]

That makes sense, maybe the wind has been more from the South than the West on average this year. It would make sense too if Seattle is drier than usual, since the usual Westerly wind is not bringing in the moisture.

[M3 Mitch]

Well, so much for not having a real winter this year. Damn, it has been cold, and out past Prosser we got damn near a foot of snow. I was snowed in all day Tuesday. Well it takes a while to shovel out a long driveway, particularly without help. I may have a plow truck lined up for Sunday or Monday if the predicted more snow does come to pass.