I should start by noting the return of much warmer than normal conditions after a few days of cooler conditions (see graph, with average highs and lows and observed temps). It is now certain that Seattle will beat its all time temperature record--we are now experiencing the warmest January in Seattle recorded history! Not a single day has had a mean...
Inversions and Inverse Barometers
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Well folks, there will not be any active weather for a long, long time. But there is always something meteorological that is interesting. Weather is like a fine wine...the subtleties are often the most rewarding. And a lot less expensive.Take today. A high pressure area has been overhead, with relatively clear skies aloft and light winds. This...
The January Record
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Will this month be the warmest January on record at Seattle Tacoma Airport? It is going to be a nail-biter but it appears we will make it.A recap. The warmest January month until now was January 2006, when the average monthly temperature was 46.55 F. Where are we right now? Averaging all the days this month, including today, gives 47.1. Still...
Lawsuit Against Seattle Public Schools
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On Tuesday, January 26th, at 8:30 AM, King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector will consider an appeal by a group of Seattle residents (including yours truly) regarding the selection by Seattle Public Schools of the Discovering Math series in their high schools. Although this issue is coming to a head in Seattle it influences all of you in...
Record Low Pressure
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As readers of this blog can attest, I enjoy talking about record-breaking weather...and during the past several days records have been broken in spades with one of the most unusual West Coast weather situations in years.I have talked about our torrid month here in the NW, with April temperatures in January. But even more amazing have been the extraordinary...
Warmest January in Seattle History?
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It could happen...Lets face it, the temperatures this month have been amazingly warm...we are experiencing April temperatures in mid January. Take a look at the plot of temperatures this month versus the daily average maxima and minima (plot).Many of our days have hit highs 5-13 F ABOVE NORMAL, and our minima have generally been higher than the normal...
Its 9 PM and Its Getting Warmer Out!
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Something very strange is going on right now (9 PM). It is getting warmer! I was just down in Kent and the temps felt nearly 60 (and there were modest winds from the east). As a drove through downtown Seattle it was 57F. Here is the temperature and wind trace (plus other goodies) at the UW. It has gotten warmer!The sun is down..why is it getting...
Summary From the NWS
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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA1100 AM PDT MON JAN 18 2009 ..THE FOLLOWING ARE MAXIMUM WIND SPEED REPORTS FROM AROUND WESTERN WASHINGTON SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING....OFFICIAL LOW LAND AIRPORT OBSERVATION SITES. SUSTAINED MAX WIND GUSTARLINGTON 37 MPH 51 MPHBELLINGHAM 36 MPH 61 MPHBOEING FIELD 25 MPH 45 MPHBREMERTON 23 MPH 38 MPHCHEHALIS 30 MPH 41 MPHEAST SOUND...
This is serious now
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The latest forecast models are in...and this looks worse and worse. Ground zero between midnight and 6 AM on the Washington coast. Here is the latest reports from buoy 46050 off of Newport....pressure falling rapidly and winds surging to 50 kts.Take a look at the latest WRF 12-km model sea level pressure forecasts for 10 PM and 4 AM...an intense...
The Storm
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A really interesting event is occurring--one the shows the strengths and weaknesses of weather prediction technology. Here is the latest infrared satellite image (for 5 PM) of the approaching storm. Can you see the swirl of clouds off of the Oregon coast? The low is closely associated with that swirl. However, there is some hint of a double center...
Coastal Winds
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The new high resolution forecasts (4km grid spacing, initialed 4 AM) are in and the potential for a significant coastal wind event remains. Here are two plots of sea level pressure and surface wind speed for 4PM, 10 PM, and 4 AM, starting on Sunday afternoon. A deep low center moves up the coast and sustained winds on the coast are 45-50 kts. Gusts...
The First Coastal Wind Event
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The latest model runs have come in and the first major coastal wind event looks like it will hit southern Oregon/N. CA during the middle to late afternoon on Sunday (see graphic below of sea level pressure and wind speed at 4 PM Sunday. These are sustained winds (averaged over roughly 10 minutes)...not gusts, which can be considerably higher. The...
A Major Coastal Wind Event?
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Friday Morning Update:A strong current of S and SW flow is now hitting our region, with high winds aloft: check out the winds at the Seattle profiler...50 kts sustained a few thousand feet above the surface. (graphic) The rain over the past 24 h is shown in the second figure.Intense rain is falling on and near the Olympics. Keep away from the Skokomish...
