OR-AMS Meeting Summary

“Winter 2008/2009 Recap”

KPTV-12 hosted our meeting. This was our largest (non-OMSI) monthly AMS meeting in many years, with 48 people attending.

Oregon AMS Executive Councilor Steve Pierce recapped the 2008/2009 winter season in Oregon and SW Washington. Steve went into great detail about the record breaking December arctic outbreak and snowstorms that left Portland and many other communities under almost two feet of snow when it was all said and done. Mark Nelsen, Chief Meteorologist for KPTV Channel 12, recapped the mid-January Columbia River Gorge east wind event that brought damage to parts of Multnomah, Clark, Clackamas, and Washington counties.

Winter 2008/2009 highlights are as follows:

Record Snowfall

Most snowfall in a single December since records have been kept at PDX (1941-2009).

Portland's 5th highest seasonal snowfall total in 100 years.

Snowiest "White Christmas" with 6-12 inches of snow on the ground.

Eleven consecutive days of snowfall in December, a new record for Portland.

Portland's 15th highest seasonal snowfall of all time - 23.6 inches.

Near record high pressure reading of 30.74 in January!

All-time January record is 30.78"

East Wind Event

Six days with gusts of 40 mph or higher at TTD (Troutdale) in mid-January.

Crown Point hand held anemometer recorded a gust of 105 and 92 mph respectively.

Don't forget, nominations are currently open for the upcoming annual AMS elections that will be held in April. Return your nominations today!

Note-taker: Bobby Corser, 2008-2009 OR-AMS President