Now that we have an idea of what the Puget Sound area looked like from the air in the early 1940s, I thought it would be fun to share with you on-the-ground views from all around that area during this week's walloping snow. First, here are a few things to keep in mind ......
In February, the U.S. Census Bureau released the first set of 2010 Census figures for communities in Washington state. Seattle’s population count from the 2010 Census is 608,660, an increase of 45,286 persons or 8.0 percent in ten years. [Source: Seattle.gov]
. . normal average yearly precipitation for our area of the world is around 37 inches.
On average, it rains in Seattle at least 50% of the time, with the heaviest rain periods between January and May and between October and December. June, July and August are our dryest and warmest months.
In the winter, Seattle may see a handful of snow days per year: the last major snow event in Seattle was in 1997, when we were snowed in for a week with several inches. However, in the winter of 2006/2007, the Puget Sound area experienced a number of damaging winter storms, lowland snow, wind storms, and a weeks-long string of below-freezing days -- it remains to be seen whether this winter is an anomaly or part of a larger climatological shift caused by global warming. [Source: Seattle.gov]
My curiosity got the best of me, so I Googled: "How many snow plows does the City of Seattle have?"
Enjoy this snow-tour of the Puget Sound area! Source for all this fun in KING-TV-your news in Seattle.
My Friendly Neighborhood Eagle
by JoshHopp
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:30 PM
". . . I am a local Realtor and had the blessing to stay home today with my family. I took this picture from my back porch and thought it should be shared with Washington. It is a true statement of what our Nation stands for."
Perfect weather for horse-made snow angels
by gbigelis
Posted on January 15, 2012 at 4:38 PM
"Shadow loves the snow! I could see that she was getting excited so I started filming. The first 20 seconds of footage is slow, but if you watch long enough you'll see her do the horse version of snow angels, and a hop, skip, and jump!"
Beautiful winter day in Bellingham
by GregB
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:32 PM
"I was backing out of my driveway and saw this beautiful snowy scene in my neighborhood."
Surfing in the cold!
by jacksid
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 3:56 PM
Avid surfers, Brian & Matt Stanford brave the freezing temps to catch waves near Port Angeles, Wa.
Brian Stanford (pictured) and his brother Matt brave the cold weather for some surf!
The dog that loves to sled
by pennyjcoker
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:33 PM
by pennyjcoker
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 6:33 PM
"Our dog Dempsey was watching the kids and decided to join in, but she didn't need a sled."
Sunny Sequim Gets White Stuff
by normaherbold
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:15 AM
"Five miles west of Sequim, we woke to pretty white stuff, 4-5 inches deep. More is forecasted for tonight and tomorrow. Kids are happy...school is closed. Frig is full and no one at our house has to leave. But with another 3 to 5 inches forecasted for tonight...will it loose it's charm?"
{P.S. You'd never know that Sequim is pronounced "Squim" unless I told you! It doesn't even rate a mention in the old postcard photo, but is located to the left of Port Townsend --between Port Townsend and Port Angeles, which also is not shown in the old postcard...}
Snowed-in beluga whale in Marysville??
by julz1
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:39 PM
Just Another Beautiful Day At The Beach!
Driftwood in the snow
by islandkidd
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Let's close this OPW post with a youtube video that impressed a staff writer at AccuWeather.com, who posted it with commentary (beneath video):
Seattle Drivers, Unused to Snow, Do the Slip n' Slide
YouTube poster jadambrinson wrote "This is what happens to Seattle drivers in the snow. Filmed on First Hill/Capitol Hill at Boren Ave. and University St."
Some YouTube comments laughed at such trouble driving in a small amount of snow. A few YouTube users defended the drivers in slippery conditions.
"Alright listen," YouTube user siebert195 wrote. "I grew up in the Midwest, snow isn't amazing to me. But what people don't understand is Seattle is full of hills even if you don't think it's a steep hill it can cause you to stall. So everyone saying 'it's only two inches people are stupid' come out here and you'll see"
"There are 4 factors that make driving in Seattle different than other areas of the country" YouTube poster sarahr4888 wrote. "Hills, not enough equipment to _really_ handle the snow, lack of experience and/or education in plowing. And finally, the ground is never cold enough. So it always very quickly becomes black ice underneath. I don't blame people for getting freaked out. I once had an 8 hour commute home because of road conditions - compact ice all the way from Seattle. I hate snow in Seattle." [Source: AccuWeather.com]
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12 comments:
so firstly Puget Sound Area - it wouldn't look out of place on the record shelf alongside Jefferson Airplane and Bachman Turner Overdrive - would it? I wonder what kind of songs they would have done.
Snow songs evidently
I loved the idea of showing the wide view and then focussing in on a few select areas - especially the dog
Although the snow whale was a bit worrying :)
We've got a bit of snow in River City. It's the temperatures that are a bigger challenge. Say, -48°F. We who live here get accustomed to it. It's just another winter day.
My approach to that is simple. Dress up with about four layers of clothes (maybe five, or six) in order to go out. Or, stay inside, where it is nice and warm, and cuddle with my sweetie. I prefer the second option.
Thanks for all the good information and the neat pictures. You've been busy. Would you believe we still don't have snow in Halifax? (knock on wood) Today it was 50 and sunny - strange days.
Snow in Portland always meant the same situation as you describe in Seattle. I lived on the border of the OHSU campus so I was always expected to be at work even as everyone else stayed home. Except for the doctors - the doctors always came in.
Hah! Your imagination is on overdrive! Very clever.
My favorite was the horse, and I agree with you about the snow whale.
-48°F is a temp I truly cannot imagine. Seriously? I suppose so, because I don't think Bear would joke about such weather. Your second option definitely beats wearing five or six layers of clothing (another thing I cannot imagine)!
"You've been busy." That cracked me up, because I spent much more time on this post than I should have. There were so many interesting images and stories online about the snow in the Seattle area. Then, on Wednesday night, Portland local news had great coverage of the kind of storm you remember when you live there (interesting little aside about the doctors...). Portland has, once again, lost many big trees up in the hills; so sad.
And now......here comes the rain, and much preparation for flooding.
And your winter so far is (nicely) bizarre!
Lydia I live in Portland Or, we have about the same weather. Having said that I love the snow and what it does to this city...the hills become pinball machines for the local news and the mayor has press conferences telling people to stay home...haha I laugh and go for a drive in the snow!!!
I live in Silverton, Wander! You folks in Portland had snow while we had only one afternoon of it, and it didn't stick for long before the rain came. And it hasn't stopped raining for 24 hours (am sick of it and would much rather go for a drive in the snow).
I lived in Portland for one year in the 1980s during a big holiday ice storm that pretty much stopped the city in its tracks. I worked at PSU and the campus shut down. We lost power, I escaped to a home in the valley, and when I returned my Christmas tree was frozen solid in the living room!
Surfing? No way!
They're nuts, most definitely!
Xmas tree frozen solid in living room! Hard to top that one. Three years ago, visited PDX to make final decision to relocate. That's when we discovered small snow plow collection here. Startling for New Yorkers!
naomi dagen bloom~ (have never told you this but have thought many times how cool your three names are together) Seems amazing that it was three years ago that you were writing about your decision in your blog. I'm happy you are here in the Pacific NW, and hope someday to meet you in person. :)
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