Snow on the Valley floor next week?
The following thread was started by David D. in Vallejo on December 29, 2004 at 7:27 am PST
Thats weird but what valley? I'm in sonoma valley and its warm and sunny.
The above followup was added by Thomas on December 29, 2004 at 1:05 pm PST.
Here is the forecast
The above followup was added by Jeff on December 29, 2004 at 1:28 pm PST.
The NWS has a discussion page for each of its territories, and the Sacramento discussion last night mentioned that out in the very long range they were seeing an entrenched cold air pattern that could result in Valley floors snow.
The discussion changes 3-4 times per day. Current discussion no longer mentioned that far out, so, like I said, these things don't necessarily pan outr as we all know. But it was interesting to read anyways. Not every day that the NWS sticks its head out and even hints at snow in the (Sacramentoi) Valley floor.
Here's the URL for the Scto. area discussion page:
The above followup was added by David D. in Vallejo on December 29, 2004 at 2:07 pm PST.
Hope it works this time
The above followup was added by Dave D. on December 29, 2004 at 2:08 pm PST.
David D,
That is very interesting. Most meteorologists will tell you that any forecasts past about 5 to 7 days is nothing more than a guess... a stab in the dark.
( We have at least one meteorologist that monitors this board!)
That said, the NWS predicts snow in my area at least one or two times a year...
it never happens.... well almost never.
The last year that we got any measurable snow in the city of Modesto, Stockton or Fresno ... was 1975....
Thirty years ago! At that time, even the Bay area had 6 ".
That said... Redding, in the north part of the valley. ( 200 mi north ).. does see a little snow almost every winter.
It melts quickly.
Jeff
The above followup was added by Jeff on December 29, 2004 at 7:36 pm PST.
One thing that I might ad....
Redding is very unique. It is is the only place that I know of in the world that sees a little snow every year... and yet could grow citrus and avocados commercially. The record low is only about 18f.
Jeff
The above followup was added by Jeff on December 29, 2004 at 7:40 pm PST.
There would be several places in Victoria and NSW that you could add to your Citrus Avocado snow list Jeff, anywhere where there is a bit of a mountain
The above followup was added by Jason on December 29, 2004 at 9:37 pm PST.
I haven't seen many climate stats for AU... but based on low lying areas, my thoughts were... anywhere in AU that snowed would be really high in Elevation... to cold for citrus -cado growth.
How about the Capitol of AU...Canberra... does it get snow there? Whats the record cold spells like?
Jeff
The above followup was added by Jeff on December 29, 2004 at 10:42 pm PST.
Jeff,
It snowed on the beach at Sydney once. 1870-something I think, but it hapened. I think anywhere outside the true coastal subtropics can have a freak snowfall at times, and Australia does get some true continental climatic influence at times, it is nearly as big as continental USA after all. Snow falls on the Border Ranges National Park on the NSW/QLD border almost every year at highest elevations, sometimes dropping down to about 300m, my wifes grandfather told me about snow falling on his farm in the 70's. Snow falling on subtropical rainforest with banana plantations in every clearing would have been a strange sight.
Canberra gets very cold, as does everywhere on the Dividing Range. Theres a small town called Guyra at about 1000m at about lat 28S, gets down to -10C every year.
There's a lot to be said for a coastal climate influence!
The above followup was added by Ben on December 30, 2004 at 11:11 am PST.
I can't argue with your assessment of the value of long term forecasting. Heck anyone knows you're right, and I said as much in my original post, when I stated, "Of course it's long range so it'll proba be another false alarm" Still, it's like looking at a horoscope. Harmless amusement, and possibly interesting.
However, you are totally wrong about San Joaquin Valley snow not being recorded since 1975. I lived in Merced County from 1990 to about 2000 (with a brief absence in 1993-94). During the Arctic event of 1998-1999, it actually snowed in Fresno (areas north of the city got flurries, but the front suddenly strengthened as it approached Fresno). So much so, that that street that is famous for its Christmas light display (what's it called? I forget --- Christmas Tree Lane, I think?) actually got a real white Christmas and they showed it on TV! I think they actually had as much as 3 inches of snow on the ground.
How much the rest of Fresno got, I cannot tell you, but they definitely got a fair bit that day.
The above followup was added by Dave D. in Vallejo on December 30, 2004 at 2:21 pm PST.
Dave, I looked as hard as I could at my statement above... I couldn't find where I said
" San Joaquin Valley snow not being recorded since 1975 "
I said that in my area ( meaning Modesto, ) it almost never happens. The last time there was measurable snow here ( AP).. was in fact 1975.
I researched the NWS stats for Fresno and Stockton as well... Nadda... since 1975
( That includes the 1998 - 1999 winter )
Of course ths is only recorded at the airports. I'm sure the outlying areas may have seen a brief dusting since then.
Jeff
QUOTE " That said, the NWS predicts snow in my area at least one or two times a year...
it never happens.... well almost never.
Some of the out lying areas have seen a few flurries from time to time. Snow is snow and if it aint in messurable amounts on the ground... it aint recorded as such.
The last year that we got any measurable snow in the city of Modesto, Stockton or Fresno ... was 1975....
Thirty years ago! At that time, even the Bay area had 6 ". "QUOTE
The above followup was added by Jeff on December 30, 2004 at 5:29 pm PST.
I remember in1998 I think it showed it snowing in Sacremento. In Corte Madera it only snowed once when I was living there, but I wouldn't even call it snow since there was two or three slushy snowflakes that fell down from a small cloud, and it was not even close to freezing.
The above followup was added by kyle on December 30, 2004 at 5:44 pm PST.
Jeff, I'm not sure that Canberra gets snow every year, but it's not unusual at all. I've seen games of Rugby on TV being played on snow covered grounds in Canberra, it gets to -6 or -8c very often in Canberra, there are people growing White sapotes and Avocados in and around Canberra
Canberra stats
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070014.shtml
And here is a little town I stayed in, in the late Winter in a tent, it was quite cold : ), but you would grow Avocados there if you had a nice hill and some hardy Avocados
Mittagong
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_068044.shtml
And pictures of snow from the town
http://www.resetit.com.au/weather/snow6.asp
http://www.resetit.com.au/weather/snow7.asp
Anyway there are towns all the way along the mountain range, some warmer some colder that get snow all the time and heaps of them would be mild enough in Winter but have enough heat in Summer for Avocados. Anywhere with like 400 meters altitude would be ok. Probably where Paul and Sean live on the other side of Melbourne would also get snow once in a while
Jason
The above followup was added by Jason_au on December 30, 2004 at 9:10 pm PST.