January 2024 Forecasts and Discussions

[Storm]

My furnace is working overtime today, hopefully doesn't go on strike for being underpaid.

[Forrest Gump]

Feels like Feb 1989 with the temps and wind chills!

No kidding, current temps might actually be a little colder, but outflow winds so far fairly tame compared to 89.

[Rubus_Leucodermis]

In Feb 1989, I was still in Victoria. It was cold enough, that we were able to walk on Goodacre lake in Beaconhill Park.

This one’s going to be too much of a quick-hitter to make that possible, but by Sunday I bet some small ponds will be skateable. Planning to head to Serpentine Fen then.

[AbbyJr]

Feels like Feb 1989 with the temps and wind chills!

Very similar. However, in February 1989 the outflow winds in the Fraser Valley were much stronger and longer duration. Gusts were near or at 100 km/h at YXX for several days. But even that one wasn't the most intense outflow event to hit the region. For example, on December 15, 1964, the temperature dropped down to -15C and the outflow winds gusted to 121 km/h in Abbotsford. I'd love to experience that.

[Storm]

ICON has snow written all over this. 850mb moderate slightly to -1°C and then crash back.

icon_mslp_pcpn_frzn_nwus_fh90-123.gif

An other system roll in with snow to rain and that's it, winter cancel.

prateptype_cat_icon-imp.us_nw.png

[AbbyJr]

ecmwf-ensemble-CYXX-indiv_snow_24-5082400.png

[wetcoast91]

ICON has snow written all over this. 850mb moderate slightly to -1°C and then crash back.
icon_mslp_pcpn_frzn_nwus_fh90-123.gif

An other system roll in with snow to rain and that's it, winter cancel.
prateptype_cat_icon-imp.us_nw.png

[AbbyJr]

But no Pineapple Express delivering 200+ mm of rain in 48 hours.

[Rubus_Leucodermis]

Down to -12.0ËšC after a max of -7.8 and a min of -13.4.

[Hound]

Feels like Feb 1989 with the temps and wind chills!

This is what came to my mind as well. This is really similar of that years arctic outbreak. It's been a long time!

[wetcoast91]

But no Pineapple Express delivering 200+ mm of rain in 48 hours.

[Storm]

Down to -12.0ËšC after a max of -7.8 and a min of -13.4.

Amazing! Running colder than forecasted.

gem_T850_nwus_fh0_trend.gif

[Typeing3]

In Feb 1989, I was still in Victoria. It was cold enough, that we were able to walk on Goodacre lake in Beaconhill Park.

Definitely helped that the cool water temps preceding the cold snap meant the lakes were primed to freeze as Jan 1989 was a chilly and wet/slushy, and at times snowy, month. Similar in December 2021 with a cool pattern prior to the arctic blast.

On the flip side, this winter has been extremely mild so water temps are running very warm. Despite the temps being comparable or even cooler than Feb '89 it will take longer for lakes to freeze up which remains to be seen. There's a chance as we will remain below freezing until Tuesday.

[Abby_wx]

It's -13.8C here after a high of -9.9C in a less than ideal location on my deck.

YXX had a high of -11.7C today.

[Typeing3]

January 1935!

During the later part of January, the lower Mainland and parts of Vancouver Island were hit by the worst blizzard in years, a fierce ice storm and then torrential rains. The worst time of snow and ice in the lower mainland's history began on January 19, a colder day than any on that date in 26 years. Next day, a raging blizzard dropped 2 ft. (60 cm) of snow in Vancouver and up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) in Surrey on its already frozen ground. Drifts 8 ft. (2.4 m) deep were plentiful. On January 20, cold temperatures and snowfalls immobilized Vancouver and most of southwestern British Columbia. Vancouver recorded 17.5 in. (44.5 cm) of snow on January 20.

The most intense (snowfall) in Vancouver's history paralyzed all traffic and caused schools, mills, and businesses to close. It caused the worst traffic tie-up since 1913. Traffic on the old Granville Street Bridge was interrupted for hours when the swing span froze while open. Following big storms on January 19 and 20, rail service on three railroads running into Vancouver was disrupted over 10 days. Floods and slides claimed the lives of at least 15 people with another three missing. The ice storm of 1935, described as the worst storm of the century, was far worse than previous silver thaws in 1912, 1917, and 1933.

According to records kept by F.B. Dill, a member of the University of British Columbia Buildings and Grounds, between January 11-18, 22 in. (55 cm) of snow fell. A snowfall of 5 in. (12.5 cm) on January 11, was the beginning of nine days of unusual cold snowy weather. On the morning of January 17, North Hatzic and Mission-Matsqui at the bridge over the Fraser River recorded temperatures of -5F (-20.6C) and –7F (-21.7C), respectively. On January 19, temperatures were recorded below 0F (-18C) in the New Westminster residential districts and in the city 3F (-16.1C). At 7:30 a.m. January 19, the temperature dropped to 2F (-16.7C). By the early morning of January 20, 18.5 in. (46.3 cm) of snow had fallen in 24 hours, breaking all records and bringing the measured total of snow since January 11 to over 40 in. (100 cm).

The cold weather was general throughout the province with temperatures in the Okanagan plunging well below 0F (-17.8C). The next day it reported the coldest weather in 26 years with a temperature of 4.3F (-15.4C) in Vancouver. According to E.B. Shearman, local Dominion meteorologist, the greatest accumulation of snow for a short period in 38 years, closed all streets to traffic. In the country, some snow piles
became solid ice.

Later on January 21, the heavy rain in Vancouver turned once more into sleet. In the Fraser Valley, silver thaw froze onto powerlines to a thickness of 10-in. (25 cm). By the afternoon, the crashing lines had isolated Chilliwack, already covered by 29 in. (72.5 cm) of snow. Both the CNR and CPR were unable to move and would not for nine days. No trains arrived at New Westminster since January 20.

Source: https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/public_sa ... south1.pdf (Page 90-91)