anyone live in the PacNW?

[nageov3t]

I lived in Portland, OR until I was, like, 10, but for the life of me, I can't remember what the winters were like... does the northwest get heavy snowfall / blizzards on a regular basis like the northeast (upper mid-atlantic / new england)?

 

[FoBoT]

no
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/snowfin/2003se-snfl.gif
make your own snowfall map
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/snow/historical.html

 

[Vic]

No, very little snow falls in the valleys. A few inches every other year usually. Otherwise the weather is a constant low-hanging overcast with a never-ending steady drizzle with highs of 38F and lows of 35F.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

I live about as Pac-NW as one can get, but you probably don't mean Alaska...

Our winters shame anything the NE can offer, however.

 

[Eos]

Portland gets more ice than cities just south of there because they are right on the gorge, which funnels cold eastern or Canadian air right down into the city. If you look at a topo map of OR/WA, you can see what I mean.

There was a snowstorm/freezing rain thing right after Christmas in 2003. 100 miles south in Eugene, we were iced in for about 3 days. IIRC, Portland was iced in for over a week. It never got warm enough to melt the ice. On a side note, right after that storm, Eugene City Council voted to allow salting of roads during major storms like that. The 'sanding' of the roads with small stones was not working well.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: eos
Portland gets more ice than cities just south of there because they are right on the gorge, which funnels cold eastern or Canadian air right down into the city. If you look at a topo map of OR/WA, you can see what I mean.

There was a snowstorm/freezing rain thing right after Christmas in 2003. 100 miles south in Eugene, we were iced in for about 3 days. IIRC, Portland was iced in for over a week. It never got warm enough to melt the ice. On a side note, right after that storm, Eugene City Council voted to allow salting of roads during major storms like that. The 'sanding' of the roads with small stones was not working well.

It's gotten worse up here since all the Californians started moving in. For some reason any trace of liquid or frozen precipitation causes them to drive into the nearest tree, ditch, or oncoming vehicle.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
I live about as Pac-NW as one can get, but you probably don't mean Alaska...

Our winters shame anything the NE can offer, however.

Hahaha... I was about to ask: How far north and west do you want answers from?

 

[jagec]

What is this "snow" you speak of?

Here in Seattle, we get snow for one day every few years. Everyone freaks, and the whole city shuts down. It's quite amusing really

Most days are cold and grey, cold and wet and grey, wet and grey and somewhat cold, and so on.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

Originally posted by: eos
Portland gets more ice than cities just south of there because they are right on the gorge, which funnels cold eastern or Canadian air right down into the city. If you look at a topo map of OR/WA, you can see what I mean.

There was a snowstorm/freezing rain thing right after Christmas in 2003. 100 miles south in Eugene, we were iced in for about 3 days. IIRC, Portland was iced in for over a week. It never got warm enough to melt the ice. On a side note, right after that storm, Eugene City Council voted to allow salting of roads during major storms like that. The 'sanding' of the roads with small stones was not working well.

It's gotten worse up here since all the Californians started moving in. For some reason any trace of liquid or frozen precipitation causes them to drive into the nearest tree, ditch, or oncoming vehicle.

Phew, that's a relief. I thought that only happened up here!

 

[Kalvin00]

Snows on average, once every couple years down here in my valley in Northern Cali. We're at about 650 feet elevation.

You don't have to drive far up in to the mountains to find snow in winter, though.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: jagec
Most days are cold and grey, cold and wet and grey, wet and grey and somewhat cold, and so on.

that's, like, my description of the perfect day now I just need to find a job in the Pac NW. lol.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: jagec
Most days are cold and grey, cold and wet and grey, wet and grey and somewhat cold, and so on.

And houses are a bargain at only $400K for a small one.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: jagec
Most days are cold and grey, cold and wet and grey, wet and grey and somewhat cold, and so on.

And houses are a bargain at only $400K for a small one.

thats not much different than the north east