How Snowy? How cold?

The National Weather Service released some interesting snow statistics yesterday....this winter was the snowiest since 1971-72 and the 8th snow-filled on record.

TOP TEN SNOW YEARS AT SEA-TAC (OCTOBER 15 - APRIL 15)

SNOWFALL SNOW YEAR
67.5 1968-9
63.6 1949-50
27.4 1950-1
26.9 1971-2
24.2 1955-6
23.3 1953-4
22.9 1965-6
22.8 2008-9 (35 DAYS REMAINING)
21.4 1948-9
20.3 1985-6

As of 11 March, 2008-2009 now ranks as the 4th snowiest year in
Spokane with 88.9 inches of snowfall. Only 4.6 inches more snowfall is
needed to become the snowiest year on record, but normal snowfall for
the remainder of the season appears to be about 2 inches, so we are
fast running out of time. Last year (2007-2008) was the 2nd snowiest
on record with 89.5 inches, so 2nd place is easily within reach.

and what about cold records?

Mark Albright noted to me that Meacham OR recorded unusually cold minimum temperatures of -11 F and -12 F the past two mornings (11-12 March 2009). Coop records were maintained at the Meacham airport from 1948 to 1976. During that 29 year period the latest subzero reading was -4 F on 5 March 1955.

Spokane yesterday(11 March 2009) reported a low temperature of 2 deg F! The only comparable temperatures in the historical record are the 3 deg on 13 March 1897 and 2 deg on 6 March 1891, over 118 years ago.

Deer Park (KDEW), 30 miles north of Spokane, reported a low temperature of -12 deg F yesterday, with 10 consecutive hours below zero! The Deer Park 2E coop site which ran from 1911-1977 never reported a temperature this cold so late into March. The coldest this late into March had been -8 deg F recorded in 1943 and 1950.

Other subzero cold spots yesterday were the Freestone Inn at Mazama with -1 F , and in the next valley north, Princeton BC in the Similkameen Valley reported -13 F the day before yesterday and -9 F yesterday. The Mazama coop site, where records extend back to 1950, has never experienced subzero cold this late into March.

But please! No comments about all this disproving global warming! One year means nothing.


PS: I will be on the road this weekend giving some talks"

Sunday, 3 PM, Bainbridge Island, Eagle Harbor Books
Monday, Olympia:

noon, Olympia, General Administration Building, sponsored by Olympia State Capitol Museum, NW Weather and Climate lecture and signing
South Puget Sound Community College, Olympia, reception 5 PM, lecture 7 PM, Kenneth J. Minnaert Center Fine Arts Auditorium, small suggested contribution