Will It Snow Again This Year in Washington State

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AgWeatherNet 2019 Washington Weather Yr in Review

Craig Oswald, Field Meteorologist, 509-786-9256
Joe Zagrodnik, Postdoctoral Research Associate

Overview
This review will be a recap of Washington State'due south 2019 weather and provide a look at some of the boilerplate and farthermost atmospheric condition atmospheric condition experienced this year and how they compare to climatology. There volition besides be a brief agronomics report included at the end highlighting some of the ag related weather statistics and general agriculture statistics from the year.

2019 Weather
Temperature:
The following tables illustrate the boilerplate monthly high and low temperatures from various regions across the country. This information was compiled from AgWeatherNet stations about the regions listed. While this is absolutely an intimidating conglomeration of numbers, the usual seasonal pattern of gradually warming and then cooling temps, every bit well every bit warmer to the southward and cooler to the north mantra (warmer west of the Cascades in our case as well), tin can be readily seen. Merely in that location is one more affair that jumped out to united states besides. Statewide, the month of February was much libation than either Jan or March. Every bit many may recollect, a significant cold air intrusion occurred that calendar month and spilled into the beginning of March.

This intrusion was plenty to pull the monthly boilerplate minimum temperature for February down 8.3°F beneath normal as averaged statewide. And vi°F below the average minimum temperature for March as averaged statewide. Local climatology for monthly average minimum temperature can be found here, cheers to the NOAA Western Regional Climate Center.

The monthly boilerplate maximum temperature for February was down 10.9°F from normal as averaged statewide. And 4°F beneath the average maximum temperature for March every bit averaged statewide. Local climatology for monthly average maximum temperature can be establish here. This intrusion will exist touched upon further in a following section.

2019 Boilerplate Monthly Low Temperatures (°F)
Region	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	October	Nov	December
Wenatchee	28	18	26	41	51	57	61	62	52	34	27	29
Omak	26	17	27	forty	49	53	58	58	51	33	28	28
Tri-cities	32	xix	26	46	51	57	60	62	55	37	28	31
Walla Walla	32	22	29	44	49	54	58	60	53	36	31	31
Pullman	28	17	20	39	43	46	46	49	45	31	28	30
Spokane	27	eighteen	23	37	45	48	51	54	47	31	28	29
Moses Lake	28	17	26	40	47	50	55	58	49	34	28	28
Yakima	30	21	31	46	54	58	62	65	54	37	31	thirty
Mt. Vernon	34	26	33	42	47	50	54	54	52	40	35	37
Tacoma	33	27	31	41	46	49	54	55	52	37	35	37
Vancouver	34	31	32	42	48	51	56	56	53	37	35	36

2019 Average Monthly High Temperatures (°F)
Region	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	October	Nov	Dec
Wenatchee	39	31	l	65	77	82	87	90	74	59	48	37
Omak	36	29	49	63	75	81	86	88	72	56	45	34
Tri-cities	42	33	49	67	78	84	88	91	77	61	48	41
Walla Walla	43	35	46	63	74	81	87	90	75	59	48	41
Pullman	38	31	43	56	68	73	lxxx	83	69	52	46	39
Spokane	37	29	42	56	69	74	81	85	69	52	45	39
Moses Lake	38	30	46	62	74	79	83	86	73	56	45	36
Yakima	40	32	48	65	76	82	86	89	75	59	50	38
Mt. Vernon	50	twoscore	55	58	67	69	73	75	67	56	51	47
Tacoma	l	42	57	60	seventy	73	76	78	70	59	51	47
Vancouver	49	42	56	61	70	74	78	80	70	60	54	47

After examining the above tables, it is interesting to also make a full year test of boilerplate temperatures across the state. The map below is courtesy of NOAA's Western Regional Climate Center and illustrates the unabridged twelvemonth of 2019's average temperature departure from the 30 year, 1981-2010, average temperature. At a glance the map indicates a close to boilerplate year aside from two distinct pockets of cooler than average temperatures located over the Horse Heaven hills/eastern Yakima Valley and northern Stevens County regions. The heavy black dashed line placed upon the map roughly represents the central Cascades and the dissever between 'western' and 'eastern' Washington and will be carried through in subsequent maps. Shut examination reveals that western Washington experienced a slightly warmer yr in 2019, while eastern Washington experienced a slightly cooler year than climatology.

To intermission this downward another step further, the start of the following ii maps illustrates the entire twelvemonth of 2019'south average minimum temperature deviation from the 30 year 1981-2010 boilerplate minimum temperature. The 2d map illustrates the aforementioned except that it represents the average maximum temperature (both also courtesy of NOAA's Western Regional Climate Heart). It can be seen from the minimum temperature map that much of the country was near the 30 year boilerplate. Nonetheless, an expanse of interest indicating where minimum temperatures, which are normally achieved just earlier sunrise each day, were cooler in 2019 is the Upper Chehalis Basin in western Lewis canton. It'due south surroundings, the Olympic Peninsula and greater Seattle expanse, indicate slightly warmer minimum temperatures. The western Yakima Valley and western function of the Basin likewise indicate a larger geographical area where minimum temperatures were slightly warmer than compared to climatology.

Examination of the second map (please note the calibration change compared to the first of these two maps) indicates libation than average maximum day time high temperatures over, near notably, the Horse Heaven Hills and eastern Yakima valley region. As noted in the total boilerplate temperature map, the cool anomaly hither looks to be attributed to cooler maximum temperatures during 2019. And eastern Washington in full general maintained a cooler than average loftier temperature. Nearly all of western Washington experienced warmer than boilerplate loftier temperatures with again a notable exception being the Upper Chehalis Basin which clung to slightly cooler high temperatures equally well.

A major reason for the warmer temperatures relative to average in western Washington compared with eastern Washington was anomalously warm offshore sea surface temperatures, especially during summertime and fall. During periods with onshore flow, surface air temperatures in regions west of the Cascades are influenced by the warmer bounding main temperatures. The mountains prevent this influence from reaching due east of the Cascades.

Both boilerplate minimum and average maximum temperature maps seem to indicate a rather variable year across much of north central/northeastern Washington. Perhaps due to the complex terrain features, valley areas may have maintained slightly cooler temperatures longer on average, specially during the cold air outbreak, as cold air pooled in these areas without much option for escape. While upland areas perhaps maintained slightly warmer temperatures than average due to the lower than average snow yr terminal wintertime (this is illustrated by the first figure in the adjacent section titled 'Precipitation', with Washington state outlined in the heavy black box. Courtesy NWS Pendleton). This would mostly result in an earlier snow cook in upland areas greatly decreasing surface albedo and assuasive bound time solar radiation to more readily warm these areas.

Precipitation:

The following graphic illustrates the seasonal precipitation from the previous winter season (2018-2019). Washington country is highlighted past the heavy black box. The main takeaway here is the lack of winter atmospheric precipitation, usually in the grade of snowfall, across northern Washington and the Cascades, as well as rain in western Washington. (image courtesy of NWS Pendleton). The lack of snow pack in general can take implications for low land bound run off and has been a big contributor to the drought observed through parts of Washington since May 2018 (Drought.gov).

The following tabular array displays the monthly atmospheric precipitation totals from various regions across the state with the twelvemonth full listed on the far right of the table. This data was again compiled from AgWeatherNet stations inside the regions listed. The map below the tabular array (courtesy of NOAA'due south Western Regional Climate Center) is a graphical display of 2019 yr total precipitation throughout the state. As expected, the Cascades and Olympics have the highest accumulations due to their orographic effects, with eastern Washington being significantly drier due to its residency within the rain shadow of the Cascades.

2019 Monthly Precip Totals (inches)
Region	Jan	February	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year Total
Wenatchee	i.2	1.2	0.iv	0.5	0.9	0.8	0	0.vi	one.6	0.7	0.two	1.three	11
Omak	1.i	0.2	0.6	0.6	2.iv	0.1	0.2	0.2	ii.3	0.two	0.3	0.9	ix.1
Tri-cities	one.ii	0.9	0.four	0.5	0.three	0.i	0	0.1	0.6	0.ii	0.1	0.3	4.7
Walla Walla	ii.three	2.vi	1.2	3	1.9	0.four	0	0.three	i.3	i.5	0.6	1.1	16.2
Pullman	one.4	1.4	0.iii	two.7	ane	0.7	0	0.3	0.vi	1.7	0.4	ane.4	11.9
Spokane	1.4	2.1	0.v	1.7	ane.eight	0.6	0.three	0.8	1.v	i.1	0.6	i.7	14.one
Moses Lake	1.1	0.4	0.3	1	0.2	0.3	0.6	0.ii	0.3	0.7	0.ii	0.7	6
Yakima	ane.ii	0.6	0.iv	0.4	0.6	0	0	0.4	0.4	0.v	0	0.v	5
Mt. Vernon	1.8	2.3	1.four	two.5	0.9	1.4	0.viii	0.ix	5.2	4.ii	ii.ane	three.five	27
Tacoma	3.1	4.8	1.4	3.1	0.8	0.six	1	1.2	3.iv	iii.6	1.8	half dozen.four	31.ii
Vancouver	3	4.6	1.4	3.3	1.six	0.half dozen	i	0.6	4.ane	1.8	ane.6	5	28.vi

Simply how does the 2019 yr total atmospheric precipitation compare to climatology? The map below, again courtesy of NOAA'due south Western Regional Climate Center, displays the 2019 departure every bit compared to the 30 year (1981-2010) boilerplate. Virtually the unabridged state was short of precipitation in 2019, helping to explicate the May 2019 drought conditions briefly mentioned earlier.

Fortunately, the summertime months were relatively cool and wet, especially in western Washington. After a brief spell of warm weather in mid-June, the balance of the summer was free of prolonged heat waves. Additionally, most of western Washington received several inches of rain in July and August which helped to suppress wildfires and prevent drought weather from worsening. Afterwards a dry out offset to the water year in October and Nov, dry weather condition in the Cascades and western Washington have recently abated co-ordinate to Drought.gov, no dubiousness at the manus of some of the record setting rainfall western Washington has received besides every bit the heavy snowfall totals through the Cascades.

The following map depicts regions in which drought was declared by the Washington state Department of Ecology last spring. A quick comparison with the previous map shows a stiff correlation between drought conditions and lack of precipitation as expected. Again, electric current drought conditions for Washington state can be plant here.

Notable Weather Events and Extremes:

The following table illustrates the extreme monthly loftier and low temperatures, 24 hour atmospheric precipitation (as measured midnight to midnight), and maximum current of air gust from various regions across the state. This information was again compiled from AgWeatherNet stations within the regions listed.

2019 Monthly Precip Totals (inches)
Region	Minimum Temp (°F)	Maximum Temp (°F)	24hr Precip (inches) (12:00AM-12:00AM)	Max wind Gust (mph)
Wenatchee	2 (four Mar)	103 (seven Aug)	0.84 (x Sept)	25 (9 Apr)
Omak	5 (7 Feb)	102 (7 Aug)	i.27 (16 May)	29 (8 Aug)
Tri-cities	0 (7 Feb)	103 (7 Aug)	0.33 (20 Jan)	37 (28 Oct)
Walla Walla	half-dozen (5 Mar)	103 (6 Aug)	0.95 (17 May)	28 (1 Jul)
Pullman	-12 (four March)	96 (7 Aug)	ane.08 (19 Oct)	42 (27 Apr)
Spokane	-four (7 Feb)	98 (7 Aug)	0.93 (17 May)	43 (23 Jul)
Moses Lake	7 (1 Mar)	100 (7 Aug)	0.54 (19 Oct)	41 (27 November)
Yakima	6 (7 Feb)	101 (seven Aug)	0.46 (18 January)	34 (25 Mar)
Mt. Vernon	nine (ten Feb)	85 (12 Jun)	2.01 (21 October)	35 (6 Jan)
Tacoma	12 (ten Feb)	92 (12 Jun)	1.77 (twenty Dec)	23 (half-dozen January & 11 Mar)
Vancouver	19 (half dozen & vii February)	96 (27 Aug)	i.49 (18 Sept)	36 (5 Jan)

As alluded to earlier, 1 of the most memorable weather events of 2019 was the cold air and snow outbreak of Feb/early March. This prolonged cold air intrusion was due mainly to a stratospheric warming event that allowed the polar vortex to become split, weaken the jet stream, and meander into more southerly latitudes. The brunt of the arctic air was felt throughout the upper Midwest, even so, this arctic intrusion also managed to impact parts of the western U.S. and Canada.

The more than noteworthy conditions phenomena associated during the roughly month-long cold air intrusion include substantial low land snowfall events throughout the state. The February 8-9 blizzard managed to shut downwardly many highways and pass routes throughout the state due to big accumulations and drifting snow. Air current gusts of upward to 80 mph were recorded at some locales. The Yakima Valley suffered a loss of approximately 1800 dairy cows killed by the tempest, a loss of about $3.2 million according to the Washington State Dairy Federation. The Hanford site recorded 25.3" of snowfall which is a record since record keeping began hither in 1945, surpassing the record of 22.7" for February fix in 1950 (NWS Pendleton). Spokane experienced its second snowiest February on tape at 29.8", with the top record beingness 39.6" measured in February 1893 (NWS Spokane).

No part of Washington escaped the wintery atmospheric condition, including lowland parts of western Washington that are unaccustomed to significant snowfall. Snow totals for the month of February show that Seattle recorded 20.2" of snow at Sea-Tac which makes it the snowiest Feb on record and 4th snowiest month recorded in the 75-twelvemonth record at Sea-Tac (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, National Climate Study – Annual 2019). Other areas around Puget Audio and the surrounding regions received 3-4+ feet of snow including the foothills near Sequim and Due north Bend. The heavy snow not simply disrupted travel merely also caused widespread power outages from falling tree branches.

Afterwards a quick temperature recovery through the residual of March, the remainder of the bound and summertime turned out near average weather condition wise. A stretch of hot weather at the starting time of Baronial is notable for eastern Washington, just this doesn't quite come up within range of tape-breaking high temperatures. Likewise, summertime thunderstorm action managed to create a few cases of localized flooding, but nothing on a large scale.

Fall was relatively beneficial for the almost role, simply one notable period for eastern Washington in particular was a stretch of pelting, snow showers, and unseasonably cold weather from late-September through mid-October that disrupted the fall harvest. Ane of the about unusual events from this menstruum was 3.3" of snow that fell in Spokane on September 28-29, making 2019 the snowiest September on record in Spokane and the first September snowfall recorded since 1926. A number of record cold temperatures were also set on September 29th at Pullman, Wenatchee, Spokane, and Omak. Otherwise, a drier than normal autumn was also observed throughout Washington with few major conditions events. Seattle only recorded 1.71" of rain in November, making information technology the driest November since 1976.

The next truly noteworthy conditions event that took place was the prolonged rainfall experienced on the western side of the state due to an atmospheric river. Bounding main-Tac recorded three.25" of pelting on December 20, making information technology the 5th wettest day on record, with five.02" received on Oct 20th 2003 holding the number one spot with records since 1945. The Chehalis, Skykomish, and the S Fork Stillaguamish rivers all had flood warnings issued with minor to moderate flooding forecasted. There were likewise several mudslides throughout the area, notably the Des Moines and Tacoma areas where a mudslide even covered an Amtrak line near Tacoma (NWS Seattle).

Agriculture Written report

Growing Degree Days:

The post-obit tables illustrate the number of base 50 growing degree days (GDD) accumulated through 2019. This data was over again compiled from AgWeatherNet stations within the regions listed and calculated via the AgWeatherNet webpage. Even with the common cold weather experienced in February and the beginning of March, growing caste days for the year 2019 savage very nigh average for base 50 GDD.

Number of Base 50 GDD in 2019 vs x year Average (2009-2018)
Region	2019	Boilerplate
Wenatchee	3109	3052
Omak	2749	2756
Tri-cities	3420	3354
Walla Walla	2990	3021
Pullman	1645	1686
Spokane	1962	1989
Moses Lake	2460	2579
Yakima	3342	3470
Mt. Vernon	1732	1712
Tacoma	1984	2034
Vancouver	2217	2292

As seen in the example graph taken from the Tri-cities region (Pasco), base fifty GDD were arguably slightly below average through the calendar month of March, but equally seen, quickly recovered through April and May. This put the region 166 GDD ahead of the boilerplate by the middle of June. From mid-June and on, base of operations l GDD accumulated slightly slower and closer to the boilerplate rate with caste days floating either just above or simply below the average through the stop of the season in most cases.

The following map, courtesy of NOAA's Western Regional Climate Center, provides an overview of year 2019 accumulated base fifty GDD across Washington State.

The next tabular array presented represents the number of base 40 growing degree days (GDD) accumulated through 2019 within the regions indicated. Similar previous, this information was gathered and processed through the AgWeatherNet webpage. Compared to base fifty, base 40 growing caste days appear to be slightly less than average in all regions.

Number of Base 40 GDD in 2019 vs 10 year Average (2009-2018)
Region	2019	Average
Wenatchee	5242	5331
Omak	4810	4916
Tri-cities	5669	5890
Walla Walla	5248	5561
Pullman	3513	3681
Spokane	3828	3976
Moses Lake	4520	4809
Yakima	5618	5928
Mt. Vernon	4210	4342
Tacoma	4458	4679
Vancouver	4695	4924

The next table presented represents the number of base 40 growing degree days (GDD) accumulated through 2019 within the regions indicated. Like previous, this data was gathered and processed through the AgWeatherNet webpage. Compared to base fifty, base twoscore growing caste days appear to be slightly less than average in all regions.

The post-obit map, again courtesy of NOAA'southward Western Regional Climate Heart, provides an overview of base 40 GDD across Washington State.

If a general argument had to exist made, 1 might characterize the 2019 growing season as a little shorter than usual. The season got off to a tardily outset, followed past a quick recovery through late spring and tracking well-nigh average over the summer. And then a slightly earlier end of the season was credible through the offset of autumn.

Ag Totals:

Lastly, a table is presented summing the 2019 full production of some of the main agricultural products for the land of Washington. The information available at the time of this writing is marginal since nosotros are but beyond 2019, but worthwhile conclusions tin still be inferred where the data fix is not consummate. More information will be added to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service for the year 2019 in the coming months. This information can be constitute following the link here. Data pertaining to crops not presented in the brief tabular array below tin as well be found on the USDA site past following the previous link.

N2019 Washington Ag Summary
Product	Product	Price	Yield	Total Revenue
Apples	7,200,000,000/lbs	0.4 $/lb (Avg Jan-Jul)	N/A	$two.88 Billion
Milk	60,562,500/Cwt	eighteen.72 $/Cwt (Avg Jan-Nov)	N/A	$i.xiii Billion
Cattle	N/A	North/A	Northward/A	Due north/A
Potatoes	103,125,000/Cwt	N/A	625 Cwt/acre	Northward/A
Wheat (total)	142,735,000/BU	5.52 $/BU (Avg Jan-November)	64.7 BU/acre	$788 1000000
Wheat (winter)	119,000,000/BU	5.47 $/BU (Avg Jan-Nov)	70 BU/acre	$651 1000000
Grapes (total)	450,000/tons	Northward/A	N/A	N/A
Grapes (vino)	260,000/tons	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cherries (sweetness)	500,000,000/lbs	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cherries (tart)	23,500,000/lbs	N/A	Due north/A	N/A
Hay & Haylage (total)	2,694,000/tons (dry out basis)	N/A	4.02 tons/acre (dry out basis)	N/A
Hay & Haylage (Alfalfa)	1,619,000/tons (dry out ground)	N/A	iv.63 tons/acre (dry out basis)	Northward/A

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Source: https://weather.wsu.edu/?page=news20200211

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