By Rod Hill on 2010-12-22
Here are the headlines of our La Nina Fall 2010:
1. September, October, November & December all above normal rainfall. This becomes only the 3rd time since 1999, that PDX has had four consecutive months of above normal rainfall. The water year total, beginning Oct. 1st, is 16.34". The rain surplus to date is: +4.07".
2. Temperatures within a degree of climate average. An early Arctic front arrives Nov. 22nd and produces a scattered dusting of snow across the metro. PDX reports total snow of: .3".
3. Early ski season. Resorts open in October and later sustain consistent snowpack before Thanksgiving weekend.
4. The Aumsville EF-2 tornado strikes Dec. 14th. No serious injuries, 10 homes badly damaged.
5. Dec. 18th, strong east winds out of the gorge gust to 50 mph and higher. Tree damage and power outages reported.
6. What I think is the number one headline to date: No Big Storms Yet! The past days have seen an active jet stream produce flooding rains in California. It is the type of weather expected here this winter, not to our south. Lucky Us!
Monday Evening Sky Show, Winter Begins.