7* Degrees in McMinnville and Co. Snow next?

WOW! Just amazing really, 7* degrees for a low? If I remember correctly, the last time I remember ever seeing temperatures like that here in McMinnville was in 1998, and the low was 7. So by far this is the coldest arctic air intrusion since 1998 and for some places, 1972. Here's a bigger look at lows around the area, courtesy of AMS Executive Councilor Steve Pierce (stevejpierce@comcast.net) NEW RECORD SET AT PDX TODAY! TAKE YOUR PICK! I just looked over record temperature data and Portland's low temperature last night (as of 10am ASOS readings) of 12 degrees is a new record in several ways! Here are the details --- * Coldest Dec 9th in Portland history!!! Old record was 15 set in 1972 at PDX (records from 1941-2009) and 16 set in 1919 at Downtown Portland (records from 1871-2009). * Coldest night in almost 40 years (Dec 8th 1972 was 8 degrees), this early in cold season. * 10th Coldest December night in Portland Airport history, 1941-2009. * Coldest night (of any month) at PDX since December 1998 (11 years)! * 5th coldest December night since 1972 (almost 40 years)! Note - It was the 3rd coldest December night since 1972 if you just look at raw numbers and include the other 12 degree nights that tie today's low. PDX's coldest December nights (1941-2009) as measured at the Airport (PDX) --- 12/16/1964 6 12/17/1964 7 12/30/1968 8 12/8/1972 8 12/31/1968 9 12/18/1964 11 12/23/1998 11 12/23/1983 12 12/21/1990 12 12/9/2009 12 Here are some metro area lows today as of the 10am ASOS readings --- HIO: 7 PDX: 12 VUO: 10 TTD: 18 SLE: 10 EUG: 7 Steve Pierce Oregon AMS Now, this is where things get really really tricky. We have models on consensus with bringing in some moisture this weekend. This is what needs to happen, we need any low movement to move south of the area, keeping the warmer 850mb temps at bay, while creating some offshore flow and providing moisture. Now if the low was further north, this is how it would go: Snow, Freezing Rain, Then Rain and moderated temperatures. But if the first scenario falls through, it would be all snow, followed by another possible arctic wave for early next week. We should have a good idea Thursday Night/Friday Morning! I honestly think, speaking from experience, that this will be a snow event. But we'll see so stay tuned!