SNOWSTORM HITS NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAINS; MONTANA GETS BRUNT

Coeur d'Alene Press ^ | 9/29/19 | Associated Press

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Areas of the northern Rocky Mountains looked more like mid-winter rather than early fall on Sunday as a snowstorm dumped record amounts of wind-driven snow that caused hazardous travel conditions and scattered power outages.

Winter storm warnings were posted for parts of western Montana, northern Idaho and northeast Washington. Snow also was forecast for areas in Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Nevada and California.

The brunt of the storm hit Montana where up to 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow fell Saturday in the mountains and a record 14 inches (35.5 centimeters) fell in Great Falls with snow still falling Sunday.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock declared an emergency Sunday, allowing the state to mobilize resources to help affected areas.

"With an unprecedented winter storm throwing our state a surprise in September, state and local governments are working closely together to protect the health and safety of Montanans and our top priority is making sure that happens," Bullock said in a statement. "Montanans should heed all warnings from state and local officials, travel safely, and be cautious during this time."

Major interstates and highways remained open, but snow and ice covered many stretches of roadway in western Montana.

The storm was expected to wind down late Sunday and early Monday.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

More from the Coeur d'Alene Press' article today SPOTTING THE EARLY SIGNS OF WINTER:

A very rare September cold storm moved across the Pacific Northwest over the weekend. This was the fourth time in recorded history that snow was reported in September in North Idaho. As of late Sunday morning, Climatologist Cliff Herris measured 1.1 inches of snow in Coeur d’Alene, the most in September’s history. Some areas in the mountains received over a foot of snow.

The earliest snowfall to ever occur in Coeur d’Alene, based on Cliff’s records, happened on Sept. 23, 1926 when one inch of snow fell. On average, the first day of any kind of measurable snowfall in Coeur d’Alene is not until Oct. 22.

Cliff made a forecast over 3 years ago that Coeur d’Alene could receive up to 200 inches of snowfall either during the 2019-20 or 2020-21 season. His prediction was based upon extremely low sunspot activity and at least a moderate, cooler-than-normal La Nina sea-surface temperature event in the waters of the south-central Pacific Ocean.

As of now, we have one big ingredient, extremely low sunspot activity, which is very similar to 2007. Our sun is currently in a “solar minima” cycle, which produces very few sunspots, or solar storms approximately every 11 years. Since mid May, there have only been about 14 days when sunspots were observed on the sun, and they were minimal at best. The last time there were sunspots on the sun was on Sept. 2, and there were only 12 on that date, a very low number.

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Here is the view a few minutes ago from our patio of 5,000 foot mountains across the lake:

Sunspots vs CO₂...which has a bigger impact on weather?

Greta is very upset that we are all not going to die...unless it's from extreme cold and 200 inches of snowfall...

[combat_boots]

That’s your view?

My post should be green.

[Rurudyne]

Meanwhile in Dallas this morning they were running propaganda on the “news” on how climate change meant no snow on certain ski slopes.

[trisham]

It was in the low to middle 40s here in Massachusetts last night. That’s early.

Thank goodness we’re not yet getting snow. Those who are have my sympathy.

[woodbutcher1963]

Can anyone explain to me the correlation between sun spot numbers and resulting Earth temperatures.

I understand there is a correlation. I just do not know what it means.

Layman’s Terms PLEASE. My degree is NOT in astrophysics.

[Nuc 1.1]

Very pretty patio.

[jmacusa]

I've had more than I can stomach with this snarling little git. I'm deeply offended with her coming to my country to lecture We The People Of The United States. I'm beyond fed up with fascistic little brats like her and David Hogg telling us we have to stop owning firearms, stop driving cars, stop using fossil fuels, stop eating meat. Really, someone needs to horse whip this kid and tell her to shut up. And by the way, her parents a couple of Antifa tugs.

[RckyRaCoCo]

"It's snowing..."

"How dare you!"

[McGruff]

Isn't that like the 5th one this week?

[Kozy]

It’s real easy. Look at the sun, it is glowing yellow. It’s hot. Sun spots are eruptions on the sun’s surface. Those eruptions send burst of energy, radiation and heat to earth. The more sunspots the more energy, radiation and heat.

Look at the sun’s size and compare it to earth, to America to Missouri, to St.Louis, to one person. We can not influence the climate here in any way that the sun does.

Ask the question does the sun or a cow farting have more influence on our climate than a cow.

Can we be better stewards of the environment? Yes. So get China and India to keep up their mess. We have.

[neverevergiveup]

Beautiful! I love Montana.

[WKUHilltopper]

Its global warming. If you boil water long enough, it turns to ice. The science is settled.

[Godzilla]

more recent reports show the biggest impact in north central Montana with accumulations of 4+ feet of the white stuff. This was an ‘upslope’ storm where the moisture laden water hit the east side of the rockies and orographically dumped (versus the west side of the rockies getting it)

[woodbutcher1963]

thanks for your explanation

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I cheated a little bit. That’s the view through a good telephoto lens. ;>)

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Thanks. It really is a wonderful setting. Forest all around and a view of the lake and mountains.

We went straight from summer to winter with virtually zero fall this year!

[Magnum44]

No, really. :)

[jonascord]

If she was truly an Enviro, she’d walk home.

[mass55th]

I live in Central NY, and we’ve had snow storms in May, and in October. For several years in a row, we had snow storms on Halloween. They make it sound like these things have never happened before.

[Fightin Whitey]

5000 foot mountains

10,900' here.