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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate-Watch, February 1999 Climatic Events of the Month
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National Climatic Data Center - March 11, 1999
"A Century Ago- February 1899" Ice Observed in the Gulf of Mexico
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Introduction
The February 1999 U.S. tornado count was a bit more in character for the season than had been January's total, with a preliminary count of only 6 tornadoes through mid month compared to the all-time January record last month of 169. Arctic chill maintained a grip on Alaska through the first third of the month and set some all-time minimum temperature records for the month of February. Details of the records are given in Selected U.S. City and State Extremes. The weather pattern across the lower 48 was influenced by a Pacific jet stream which kept most of the country above normal in terms of temperature. Globally, parts of the Alps and other mountainous areas in southeastern Europe are plagued with avalanches and cold weather. In contrast, flooding rains have hit parts of the Philippines and Indochina.
This month's report also focuses on the "Great Cold Wave of February 1899" which featured temperatures below zero as far south as the panhandle of Florida where Tallahassee recorded a low of -2 degrees F, on February 13th, 1899. This month actually featured two different cold waves, both of which set some all-time state records which exist to this day. (The first cold wave around the 10th of the month, set the all time Ohio state record low temperature of -39 at Milligan.) A quote from the Monthly Weather Review of February 1899 remarks on the Great Cold Wave, " These cold waves established many new landmarks for future reference - whether we consider the instrumental readings or the physical phenomena resulting from the cold. The most striking of the latter perhaps was the flow of ice down the Mississippi River on the 17th, past New Orleans and into the Gulf of Mexico, an event never before witnessed within the memory of man. Ice an inch thick formed at the mouth of the Mississippi in East and Garden Island bays, and the temperature fell to 10 degrees F. on the 13th. The loss of human life, from January 29th to February 13th, by freezing and avalanches (in Colorado) as near as can be ascertained was 105 persons".
NCDC is now archiving and keeping track of individual and historic events and will present a chronology of the major events each month in an updated WWW page that will highlight national and international extremes. The format of the WWW page will concentrate on "major" climatic events across the U.S. and the globe. Since this is an on-going effort, the data and information will be updated frequently during the month, so check back often for the latest updates. NCDC's scientists will also provide links to other relevant institutions and agencies dealing with natural hazards. As noted in the January 1999 report the data are preliminary and subject to change and furthur verification. A periodically this page will feature an expanded report on historical noteworthy climate events.
Major events discussed in this month's report so far include the Arctic chill in
Alaska and revisiting the Great Cold Wave of February 1899.
Special Summaries of Extreme Events During February 1999
Surface Weather Maps Feb 11-14, 1899
Figure 1 ( Click on image for larger view. )
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Feb 11, 1899 Figure 1 shows the surface maps at 8 am and 8 pm on Feb 11th, 1899. Notice the large area of high pressure centered north of Montana during the morning and see the position of the Arctic High in the evening over western South Dakota. The zero degree F. isotherm stretched from Maine, across portions of the Great Lakes, into Central Texas, then back northwestward across the Rocky Mountain states into Montana.
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Figure 2 ( Click on image for larger view. )
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Feb 12, 1899 Figure 2 shows the surface maps 24 hours later at 8 am and 8 pm on Feb 12, 1899. The Arctic High moves from the lower plains into north central Texas. Biting cold with zero degree temperatures reached from coastal Maine, through Pennsylvania, into the southern plains back northwestward into the Rocky Mountain states. Extremely cold temperatures pushed into the southeastern states with readings in the 20's in the pandhandle of Florida, while southeast Florida was still mild as an area of low pressure forms and tracks northeastward. The following state record low was set on February 12th: Nebraska with -47 degrees F at Camp Clark.
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Figure 3 ( Click on image for larger view. )
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Feb 13, 1899 Figure 3 shows another sequence of surface charts again at 8 am and 8 pm on Feb 13th, 1899. The Arctic high is in the western Gulf states and an area of low pressure moves northward along the Carolina Coast into southern New England. This storm was one of several storms that brought abundant snowfall to parts of the country. This mid month blizzard, sometimes called the "Great Eastern Blizzard," brought 25-30 inches of snow to the Washington D.C. area. A deep snow cover over portions of the country helped insulate plant and vegitation root systems and keep them from freezing during the month lessening the overall damage. The following state record low temperatures were set on February 13th: Florida with -2 degrees F at Tallahassee and Louisiana with -16 at Minden.
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Figure 4 ( Click on image for a larger view. )
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Feb 14, 1899 Figure 4 shows the last sequence of surface charts again at 8 am and 8 pm on Feb 14th, 1899. The east coast blizzard has pulled to northeast Canada and Arctic High pressure has moved eastward behind the storm to a position along the Carolina coast by 8 pm. Note temperatures on the 8 am chart were well below zero degree F in parts of the Carolinas. In contrast, temperatures in the evening hours were warmer across western Montana than in the panhandle of Florida.
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Additional Links/Resources
Selected U.S. City and State Extremes
The Selected U.S. City and State Extremes gives a listing of new records that were set chronologically across the U.S. during February 1999.
Oregon-Washington Heavy Rainfall
Preliminary precipitation totals in Oregon and Washington for January-February 1999, 2-month totals, amounts listed in inches and hundredths for totals exceeding 15.00:
DAYS = Number of days of data for the 2-month period
-- Note that some stations did not report for all 59 days
ID = National Weather Service Station ID
STATION = Station name
COUNTY = County for the station
ST = State
ELEV = Elevation in feet
LAT/LON = Latitude and Longitude in degrees and hundredths
PRCP = Total reported rainfall (inches) and water
equivalent of snowfall for Jan-Feb 99
DAYS
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ID
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STATION
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COUNTY
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ST
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ELEV
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LAT
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LON
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PRCP
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56
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LAMO3
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VALSETZ
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POLK
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OR
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3589
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44.92N
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123.57W
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69.48
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55
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WYDW1
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GRISDALE
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GRAYS HARBOR
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WA
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810
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47.39N
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123.60W
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57.46
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50
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LEEO3
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LEES CAMP
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TILLAMOOK
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OR
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655
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45.60N
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123.52W
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56.40
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57
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GDRO3
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GRAND RONDE
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POLK
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OR
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395
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45.05N
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123.62W
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42.90
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57
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SKOW1
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HOODSPORT
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WA
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762
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47.52N
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123.33W
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42.02
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52
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FRAW1
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FRANCES
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PACIFIC
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WA
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231
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46.55N
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123.50W
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41.50
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58
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UIL
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QUILLAYUTE
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CLALLAM
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WA
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179
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47.93N
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124.56W
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40.65
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49
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MPLO3
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MAPLETON
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LANE
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OR
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41
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44.07N
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123.88W
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38.20
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58
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GOFW1
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DARRINGTON
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WA
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3400
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48.25N
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121.53W
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37.74
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58
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FLCO3
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FALLS CITY
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POLK
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OR
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420
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44.85N
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123.43W
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37.40
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56
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OHAW1
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PACKWOOD
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LEWIS
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WA
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1950
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46.73N
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121.57W
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35.70
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59
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SHN
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SHELTON
|
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WA
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47.23N
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123.15W
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34.70
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54
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JELO3
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JEWELL
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CLATSOP
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OR
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570
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45.93N
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123.53W
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34.60
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56
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SQPW1
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HYAK
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KING
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WA
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3020
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47.42N
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121.42W
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33.40
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47
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ABEW1
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ABERDEEN
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GRAYS HARBOR
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WA
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435
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47.27N
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123.70W
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32.70
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56
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VERW1
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VERLOT
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SNOHOMISH
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WA
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975
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48.10N
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121.78W
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31.70
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56
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SKYW1
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SKYKOMISH
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KING
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WA
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1030
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47.70N
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121.37W
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31.60
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56
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MNFO3
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MARION FORKS
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LINN
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OR
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2475
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44.60N
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121.95W
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30.56
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58
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SMIO3
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SUMMIT
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BENTON
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OR
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746
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44.63N
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123.58W
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30.30
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58
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HQM
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HOQUIAM
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GRAYS HARBOR
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WA
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12
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46.97N
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123.94W
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29.98
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51
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ILHO3
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AGNESS
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CURRY
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OR
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348
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42.63N
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124.05W
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29.90
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57
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UBKW1
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CONCRETE
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WHATCOM
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WA
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690
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48.65N
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121.68W
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29.70
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55
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KRBO3
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KERBY
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JOSEPHINE
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OR
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1210
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42.23N
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123.67W
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29.50
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56
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DIXO3
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SCAPPOOSE
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WASHINGTON
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OR
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1430
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45.70N
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122.93W
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29.40
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59
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NISW1
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ASHFORD
|
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WA
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1450
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46.75N
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122.08W
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28.34
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56
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BONO3
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BONNEVILLE
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MULTNOMAH
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OR
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67
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45.63N
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121.95W
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28.17
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56
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DARW1
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DARRINGTON
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SNOHOMISH
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WA
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550
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48.25N
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121.60W
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27.90
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54
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SMP
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STAMPEDE PASS
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KITTITAS
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WA
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3958
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47.28N
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121.33W
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27.36
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59
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OLM
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OLYMPIA
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THURSTON
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WA
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192
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46.97N
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122.90W
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26.94
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42
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PRWO3
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POWERS
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COOS
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OR
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230
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42.89N
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124.07W
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26.32
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53
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CGRO3
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BLUE RIVER
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LANE
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OR
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1236
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44.13N
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122.25W
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26.20
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57
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SCMO3
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SCOTTS MILLS
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CLACKAMAS
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OR
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2315
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44.95N
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122.53W
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25.90
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40
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TIKO3
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TILLAMOOK
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TILLAMOOK
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OR
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10
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45.45N
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123.87W
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25.81
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40
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FRCO3
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FLORENCE
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LANE
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OR
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12
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43.96N
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124.11W
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25.69
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59
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GARW1
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NORTH BEND
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WA
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1448
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47.42N
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121.58W
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25.04
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56
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RLGW1
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LONGMIRE
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PIERCE
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WA
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2762
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46.75N
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121.82W
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24.90
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47
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AST
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ASTORIA
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CLATSOP
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OR
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8
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46.16N
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123.88W
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24.54
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56
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MARW1
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MARBLEMOUNT
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SKAGIT
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WA
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348
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48.53N
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121.45W
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24.30
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52
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PWT
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BREMERTON
|
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WA
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47.49N
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122.76W
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23.96
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58
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HURW1
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PORT ANGELES
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CLALLAM
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WA
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5300
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47.97N
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123.63W
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23.40
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57
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LBHW1
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LONG BEACH
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PACIFIC
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WA
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25
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46.37N
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124.03W
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22.55
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44
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4BK
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BROOKINGS
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CURRY
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OR
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46
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42.03N
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124.25W
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21.73
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44
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SCOO3
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GASTON
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WASHINGTON
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OR
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157
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45.48N
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123.20W
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21.54
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59
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CRLO3
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CRATER LAKE
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KLAMATH
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OR
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6475
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42.90N
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122.13W
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21.37
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42
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JNW
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NEWPORT
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LINCOLN
|
OR
|
122
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44.63N
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124.05W
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21.32
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55
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BLBO3
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COTTAGE GROVE
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LANE
|
OR
|
970
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43.60N
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123.08W
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21.00
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48
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TLYO3
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THREE LYNX
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CLACKAMAS
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OR
|
1120
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45.12N
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122.07W
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21.00
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57
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SQLW1
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SNOQUALMIE FALLS
|
KING
|
WA
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440
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47.55N
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121.85W
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20.40
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56
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CENW1
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CENTRALIA
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LEWIS
|
WA
|
100
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46.72N
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122.98W
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20.30
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59
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ELEW1
|
ORTING
|
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WA
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1640
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46.90N
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122.03W
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20.28
|
53
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COQO3
|
COQUILLE
|
COOS
|
OR
|
23
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43.18N
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124.20W
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20.22
|
56
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CINW1
|
CINEBAR
|
LEWIS
|
WA
|
1040
|
46.60N
|
122.48W
|
20.00
|
38
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SSDO3
|
SEASIDE
|
CLATSOP
|
OR
|
10
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45.98N
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123.92W
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19.72
|
54
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COTO3
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COTTAGE GROVE
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LANE
|
OR
|
711
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43.72N
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123.05W
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18.60
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53
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SRSO3
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STEAMBOAT
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DOUGLAS
|
OR
|
1200
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43.35N
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122.73W
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18.10
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56
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TKFO3
|
TOKETEE FALLS
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DOUGLAS
|
OR
|
2060
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43.28N
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122.45W
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17.89
|
55
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PRSO3
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PROSPECT
|
JACKSON
|
OR
|
2482
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42.73N
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122.52W
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17.86
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41
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GLBO3
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GOLD BEACH
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CURRY
|
OR
|
50
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42.40N
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124.42W
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17.62
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58
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FFXW1
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CARBONADO
|
|
WA
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1213
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47.03N
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122.03W
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17.55
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58
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GRMO3
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GRESHAM
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MULTNOMAH
|
OR
|
310
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45.50N
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122.43W
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17.40
|
47
|
OTH
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NORTH BEND
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COOS
|
OR
|
6
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43.42N
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124.25W
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17.22
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57
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RDLO3
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RIDDLE
|
DOUGLAS
|
OR
|
723
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42.92N
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123.43W
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17.20
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57
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TIW
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TACOMA
|
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WA
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47.27N
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122.58W
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16.95
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59
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LWNW1
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LEAVENWORTH
|
CHELAN
|
WA
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2005
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47.83N
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120.80W
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16.70
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58
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WLMO3
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WILLIAMS
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JOSEPHINE
|
OR
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1450
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42.23N
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123.28W
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16.60
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57
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MTAW1
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TROUT LAKE
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KLICKITAT
|
WA
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1960
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46.00N
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121.54W
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16.20
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51
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TDO
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TOLEDO
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LEWIS
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WA
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325
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46.48N
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122.81W
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15.81
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55
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GPSO3
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GRANTS PASS
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JOSEPHINE
|
OR
|
925
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42.43N
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123.35W
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15.68
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56
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GLAW1
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GLACIER
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WHATCOM
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WA
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935
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48.88N
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121.95W
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15.60
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40
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DRNO3
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DRAIN
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DOUGLAS
|
OR
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292
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43.67N
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123.32W
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15.14
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57
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TCM
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TACOMA
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WA
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47.25N
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122.50W
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15.08
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34
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GDNO3
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GARDINER
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DOUGLAS
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OR
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30
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43.75N
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124.12W
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15.00
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For further information, contact:
Tom Ross NOAA/National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 phone:828-271-4994 ext 181 fax: 828-271-4800 email: tom.ross@noaa.gov
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