Question: How cold is winter in Washington?

2018–19 North American winter



The 2018–19 North American winter is winter in North America as it is occurring across the continent from late 2018 through early 2019. While there is no well-agreed-upon date used to indicate the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, there are two definitions of winter which may be used. Based on the astronomical definition, winter begins at the winter solstice, which in 2018 occurred on December 21, 2018, and ends at the March equinox, which in 2019 will occur on March 20, 2019.[1] Based on the meteorological definition, the first day of winter is December 1 and the last day February 28.[2] Both definitions involve a period of approximately three months, with some variability. Winter is often defined by meteorologists to be the three calendar months with the lowest average temperatures. Since both definitions span the calendar year, it is possible to have a winter storm in two different years.
Seasonal forecasts

On October 18, 2018, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center released its U.S. Winter Outlook. The outlook noted a 70 to 75% chance of El Niño developing. CPC Deputy Director Mike Halpert specified that development was expected to occur by late fall to early winter. He added that while the El Niño was expected to be weak, it still had the potential to bring drier conditions to the northern United States and wetter conditions to the southern U.S. The outlook also noted the potential for the Arctic oscillation to bring colder-than-average conditions to the eastern U.S. and the possibility of the Madden-Julian oscillation contributing to heavy-precipitation events along the West Coast. The temperature outlook favored warmer-than-normal conditions across the northern and western U.S. with the highest probabilities from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Plains and in Alaska. Such conditions were also favored in Hawaii. The outlook also noted that the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, the Mid-Atlantic region, and the U.S. Southeast had equal chances of either above-, below-, or near-average temperatures. The outlook did not delineate any areas likely to experience below-average conditions. The precipitation outlook noted an elevated probability of wetter-than-average conditions across the southern tier of the United States and along the eastern U.S. up to the Mid-Atlantic. Drier conditions were favored in parts of the northern Rockies and northern Plains, northern Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes regions. The drought outlook mentioned a high likelihood for drought conditions to persist across parts of the southwestern U.S., southern California, the central Great Basin, the central Rockies, the northern Plains, and parts of the interior Pacific Northwest. Drought conditions were favored to improve in the central Plains, the coastal Pacific Northwest, southern portions of Colorado and Utah, and in various areas in both Arizona and New Mexico.[3]
Events
Early December winter storm
A significant winter storm brought snow and ice from Southern plains to the Southeast.[4][5] Early on December 8, 10.5 inches (27 centimetres) of snow fell in Lubbock, TX. Snow fell as south and east as Abilene, TX. This storm caused thousands of people to lose power and 60 car crashes were reported across the Lubbock area. This will be the third time Lubbock has had a double digit snowfall. Only 4 inches were predicted across Lubbock , the residents were shocked to wake up to almost a foot of snow. The storm moved east from Texas and Oklahoma to the Carolinas and Virginia. The storm caused icing across Tennessee and Arkansas, as well as some snowfall. Late on December 9, 1 foot (30 centimetres) of snow or more had fallen in parts of North Carolina and Virginia;[6] both states had declared states of emergency. 240,000 Duke Energy customers had lost power in North Carolina, along with 170,000 more in South Carolina. Appalachian Power had 20,000 without power in Virginia.[7] Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee also had power outages. Charlotte Douglas International Airport had over 1,000 cancellations.[6] Near Winston-Salem, over 14 inches of snow fell, and part of Greensboro, North Carolina received nearly a foot. Three people died in North Carolina.[8] Busick, North Carolina received 34 inches of snow.[9]
Mid-January winter storm
A state of emergency was declared in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as a large winter storm made its way to the Northeastern United States. Three people have already been killed in the Midwest.[10][11] As of January 21, over 4,800 flights had been cancelled and 3,000 delayed.[12] Interstate 55 in Missouri was blocked when snow caused 15 vehicles to crash. Snow totals in New York included 10-15 inches in the Albany area, 18-20 inches in the Adirondacks, and a foot of snow in Buffalo. Connecticut had nearly 28,000 lose power, as well as 3,000 in Ohio.[13]
Late January winter storms


A storm, resulting from a polar vortex from the north, was expected to bring blizzard conditions and between 6–12 inches of snow to the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region starting in the late evening hours of January 27, while a separate storm was expected to affect the Southeast.[14]  Midwestern cities, including Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago[15] and Milwaukee[16] are under wind chill advisories and severe wind chill warnings with wind chills approaching −55°F (−48°C) at night.[15]  Chicago area schools, universities, public transportation, and cultural attractions announced closures or reduced schedules during the weather emergency.[17][18] Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared states of emergency due to the record low windchill temperatures.[19][20] At least ten people reportedly died due to the storm, as of January 31, 2019.[21]


This article incorporates from websites or documents ofthe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.


 from the Weather Prediction Center