NOUS46 KPQR 222014 PNSPQR PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR 1215 PM PST MON DEC 22 2008 PLENTY OF SNOW HAS FALLEN ACROSS THE REGION THIS PAST WEEKEND... AS WELL AS LAST WEEK. FOLLOWING PUTS A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE SNOWFALL AT A FEW LOCATIONS. THIS IS THE BIGGEST DECEMBER SNOWSTORM SINCE THE DECEMBER 1968 STORM...WHICH LEFT 8 TO 14 INCHES OF SNOW ACROSS PORTLAND AND VANCOUVER AREAS. IT IS THE BIGGEST SNOWSTORM OF THE WINTER SEASON SINCE THE JANUARY 1980 STORM. HOWEVER...THIS SAID...THIS STORM WILL NOT RANK IN THE TOP 5 SNOWSTORMS FOR MANY LOCATIONS DUE TO BIGGER SNOW EVENTS BETWEEN THE LATE 1800S TO MID 1900S. LISTED ARE THE BIGGEST SNOWSTORMS (WITH MONTH IN WHICH IT OCCURRED) THE SNOWIEST DECEMBERS (TOTAL FOR MONTH) AND THE SNOWIEST MONTH DURING THE WINTER SEASON. A STORM IS DEFINED FROM THE ONSET OF STEADY PRECIPITATION UNTIL THE END OF THE SHOWERY PERIOD BEHIND THE STORM. OFTEN...THIS MAY BE A 1 TO 3 DAY PERIOD. THE 2008 STORM IS FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. ================================================================== PORTLAND DOWNTOWN (PERIOD OF RECORD: 1880-PRESENT).... 2008 STORM TOTAL 11-13 INCHES BIGGEST SNOWSTORMS 1893 JAN-FEB 31.8 INCHES 1916 JAN-FEB 27.9 INCHES 1884 DEC 22.3 INCHES 1943 JAN 19.2 INCHES 1919 DEC 17.5 INCHES 1937 JAN-FEB 16.8 INCHES 1980 JAN 16.3 INCHES 1950 JAN 16.1 INCHES 1890 JAN 13.2 INCHES 1956 JAN 13.0 INCHES 1950 JAN 12.8 INCHES 1887 JAN 12.0 INCHES 1964 DEC 11.8 INCHES SNOWIEST DECEMBERS 1884 34.1 INCHES 1892 29.0 INCHES 1919 17.5 INCHES 1964 13.4 INCHES 1909 10.3 INCHES 1968 10.1 INCHES SNOWIEST MONTHS (ALL WINTER) 1890 JAN 35.3 INCHES 1884 DEC 34.1 INCHES 1950 JAN 32.9 INCHES 1916 JAN 32.9 INCHES ==================================================================== PORTLAND AIRPORT (PERIOD OF RECORD: 1940-1996 SNOW DATA)..... AT THE AIRPORT... 2008 STORM SO FAR...7-8 INCHES AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (PERIOD OF RECORD: 1996 TO PRESENT) 2008 STORM SO FAR 12.0 INCHES (14.5 FOR DEC) BIGGEST SNOWSTORMS 1950 JAN 22.0 INCHES 1968-69 DEC-JAN 14.8 INCHES 1951 MAR 12.9 INCHES 1980 JAN 11.4 INCHES 1995 FEB 11.0 INCHES 1964 DEC 10.7 INCHES SNOWIEST DECEMBERS 1968 15.7 INCHES 1964 11.0 INCHES 1972 6.1 INCHES SNOWIEST MONTHS (ALL WINTER) 1950 41.0 INCHES 1969 18.3 INCHES 1968 15.7 INCHES 1951 12.9 INCHES 1980 12.4 INCHES 1964 11.0 INCHES ==================================================================== VANCOUVER (PERIOD OF RECORD: 1896-PRESENT)... 2008 STORM SO FAR...12-13 INCHES BIGGEST SNOWSTORM 1916 JAN-FEB 20.9 INCHES 1919 JAN-FEB 19.2 INCHES 1919 DEC 18.3 INCHES 1943 JAN 16.0 INCHES 1950 JAN 13.0 INCHES 1930 JAN 12.7 INCHES 1923 FEB 11.7 INCHES SNOWIEST DECEMBERS 1919 18.3 INCHES 1922 10.7 INCHES 1972 8.3 INCHES SNOWIEST MONTHS (ALL WINTER) 1950 JAN 35.3 INCHES 1916 JAN 22.1 INCHES 1930 JAN 18.5 INCHES 1919 DEC 18.3 INCHES 1909 JAN 18.0 INCHES 1943 JAN 16.0 INCHES 1937 FEB 15.7 INCHES 1901 JAN 15.2 INCHES ==================================================================== ASTORIA AIRPORT (PERIOD OF RECORD: 1892-PRESENT)... 2008 STORM SO FAR...4 TO 7 INCHES BIGGEST SNOWSTORM 1969 JAN 19.1 INCHES 1964 DEC 16.0 INCHES 1922 DEC 12.5 INCHES SEVERAL STORMS OF 6-8 INCHES SNOWIEST DECEMBERS 1964 19.0 INCHES 1922 12.5 INCHES SNOWIEST MONTHS (ALL WINTER) 1950 JAN 26.9 INCHES 1969 JAN 26.3 INCHES 1964 DEC 19.0 INCHES 1943 JAN 13.8 INCHES ===================================================================== NWS PORTLAND CLIMATE STAFF