Do you feel the pressure? Is it like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? There may be a reason: right now we are experiencing some of the highest atmospheric pressures in years and probably decades.Take a look at the National Weather Service sea level pressure analysis at 7 PM (below).A very strong high pressure area is...
Climatologically, The Worst of Winter is Over!
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Yes, you read that right.The last week or two of November is climatologically the worst period of the year by many measures. For example, consider the average precipitation per day at Sea-Tac Airport (below). It peaks in last November and most of December is a drier.Or how about extreme daily precipitation at the same location?Big...
Why is Northwest Washington So Windy?
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It seems like it occurs during nearly every storm. Before a front or low center hits our region, one area gets winds first--and they are often very strong and from the southeast . We are talking gusts about 50 mph and higher in the stronger events. And then after the storm moves by, they get hit by powerful winds from west.What is...
Weather Gifts
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Today is Black Friday when many people are thinking about getting that perfect gift for friends, loved ones, and even for yourself!Why hit the malls for a sweater or electronic luxury when you can get a weather-related present? A weather gift is great for that budding young meteorologist or to determine the weather at one's home or business. ...
An Extraordinary Storm
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This is turning out to be a major winter storm, with serious rainfall, flooding, and winds. And it is not over yet...some of the biggest action is yet to come. This event is also spotlighting a lot of new technology: coastal radars, super-hi resolution modeling, and others.A lot of the rain is still yet to come, but consider the rainfall...
Major Storm: Heavy Rain, Flooding and Very Strong Winds Along the Coast
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A VERY serious storm is going to hit the Northwest during the next two days--one that will cause flooding and coastal wind damage. And the urban areas are doing to experience a deluge.Here is the forecast precipitation over the next 48h over the region and over western Washington.The Olympics, the north Cascades, and the mountains of southwest...
Northwest Flood Myths and A Major Flood Threat
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As we gird ourselves for a period of heavy precipitation and probable flooding on some local rivers, it is probably a good time to talk about some "myths" regarding Northwest flooding events. Some of these I have discussed previously in this blog, but recently I read a very nice summary of these misconceptions prepared for the USGS by Joseph...
Snow Update
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It is is looking increasingly unlikely there will be any significant snow over the lowlands tonight north and west of Olympia. Just a few scattered snow showers, particularly over higher hills and in a dying convergence zone near Everett and extending east. The latest model runs show far less precipitation and a much more amorphous low...
Lowland Snow?
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Snow Update on KPLU (88.5 in the Puget Sound area) at 9 AM Friday--Available on the Their WebsiteYes, there has been lots of talk about lowland snow--enough to give local mayors insomnia. And some local TV stations are claiming that they have reports of snow on a few local hills. I bet Jim Forman of KING TV is getting his famous parka...
