WeatherWatcher: 10 year anniversary of a snowy December

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Shoreline, Washington on December 21, 2008
Photo by Carl Dinse

With famous nicknames as Snowpocalypse, or Snowmageddon, this was a time identified as the Seattle area's snowiest period since December 1990. Starting the evening of December 13 temperatures cooled and snow begin falling, bringing us our first taste of winter. We got close to 2 inches of snow overnight into December 14. It remained frozen until we thawed out the following weekend just barely on December 17.

Starting December 18 a more serious arctic air started spilling into the region bringing with it some renewed light snow accumulations. Low temperatures at the Shoreline station dipped to 16°F on December 19, and 13°F on December 20th.

December 20, 2008
Photo by Carl Dinse

A much stronger storm system moved in the evening of December 21st, bringing significant snowfall overnight and more cold air as well. Sea-Tac reported 6 inches of new snow overnight, but I believe we had closer to 8-9 inches in Shoreline from that storm. We had another storm system move through on Christmas Eve bringing us another fresh couple of inches of snow to insure a rare white Christmas.

Looking south from NE 198th St, on 7th Ave NE, Shoreline December 22, 2008.
Photo by Carl Dinse

Most of my photos during this time were taken after dark due to the short days and long work schedule I had. This was also a time before LED street lights, so we have the pink/orange glow in the sky from the sodium vapor street lighting.

I-5 From 195th St Pedestrian overpass, December 22, 2008
Photo by Carl Dinse

Can anyone else remember the last time they saw I-5 covered in compact snow and ice?

195th St Pedestrian I-5 overpass, December 22, 2008
Photo by Carl Dinse

After having nearly a solid two weeks of sub-freezing temperatures, there was close to 13" inches of snow on the ground in Shoreline. We started to warm up December 26th, and most of the snow was melted by New Years Day. This was not the last we saw of winter weather in the 2008-2009 winter season.


For current weather visit www.shorelineweather.com



1 comments:

Unknown December 22, 2018 at 11:19 PM  

I gave birth to my oldest son on 12-22-2008 and had to get from Arlington to Everett in all of that snow. The doctor at the hospital was concerned with my blood pressure because of my stress from the ride to the hospital. I'll never forget that winter!

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