Most Recent Blog Posts
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Morning Wind and Rain Friday
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
November 12, 2009
...ACTIVE WEATHER DAY EXPECTED FRIDAY...
A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT WILL PASS SOUTHEAST ACROSS WESTERN
WASHINGTON FRIDAY MORNING...BRINGING RAIN...MOUNTAIN SNOWS...LOCALLY
WINDY CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLY SNOW SHOWERS TO PARTS OF THE
LOWLANDS.
SOUTH WINDS IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT WILL INCREASE LATE TONIGHT
INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...MAINLY ALONG THE COAST AND PARTS OF
THE NORTHWEST INTERIOR INCLUDING THE ADMIRALTY INLET REGION. WIND
SPEEDS IN THOSE AREAS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH A
FEW GUSTS TO 45 MPH...MAINLY IN AND AROUND THE ISLAND COUNTY AREA.
AFTER THE FRONT PASSES...WINDS WILL BECOME WEST TO SOUTHWEST DOWN
THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA AND ACROSS THE NORTHWEST INTERIOR
BEFORE DIMINISHING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WHILE BELOW WIND
ADVISORY CRITERIA...WIND OF THIS STRENGTH COULD BLOW DOWN A FEW
TREE LIMBS HERE AND THERE WITH ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES.
COLDER AIR WILL SURGE IN BEHIND THE FRONT AND LOWER ALREADY LOW
SNOW LEVELS ACROSS THE REGION. DURING THE MORNING HOURS AHEAD OF
THE FRONT THE SNOW LEVEL WILL BE AROUND 1500 TO 2000 FEET. THE
SNOW LEVEL WILL THEN GRADUALLY DROP THROUGH THE DAY TO AROUND 500
FEET BY EVENING. THIS MEANS SOME OF THE HIGHEST HILLS AROUND THE
REGION COULD SEE A FEW SNOW SHOWERS LATE FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY
EVENING. HOWEVER...OUTSIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS OR THE IMMEDIATE
CASCADE FOOTHILLS...LITTLE TO NO SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED.
DRY AND TRANQUIL WEATHER WILL RETURN TO THE REGION LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. - Blog post
- 1 week ago
- Views: 166
- Not yet rated
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Strong Wind, Heavy Rain It's N
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
November 4, 2009 ...WINDY CONDITIONS FOR THE MOUNTAINS...COAST...AND NORTHERN
INTERIOR THURSDAY...
A STRONG PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL IMPACT WESTERN WASHINGTON ON
THURSDAY. BREEZY SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT WILL
BECOME SOUTH-SOUTHWEST ON THURSDAY FOR THE NORTH INTERIOR AND
COAST INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUST AS HIGH AS 50 MPH.
WINDS JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE WILL BE VERY STRONG ON THURSDAY.
RIDGETOP WINDS FOR THE OLYMPICS AND LOWER SOUTH FACING SLOPES WILL
RANGE FROM 45 TO 65 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS POSSIBLE. RIDGETOP WINDS
ALONG THE SOUTHERN SLOPES OF THE CASCADES WILL ALSO BE
WINDY...WITH SUSTAINED WINDS UP TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE. THE STRONG
WINDS WILL ALSO BE ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAINS...COMBINING FOR
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS.
STAY TUNED FOR THE LATEST FORECAST UPDATESTHE FORECAST CALLS FOR HEAVY RAIN ON THURSDAY IN
THE OLYMPICS AND NORTH CASCADES...WITH MODERATE RAIN IN THE
CENTRAL CASCADES. AT THIS TIME THE HEAVIEST RAIN IN FORECAST
MODELS IS CONCENTRATED IN THE SOUTHERN OLYMPICS AND IN THE
NORTHERNMOST CASCADES. THE SKOKOMISH RIVER IN MASON COUNTY AND THE
NOOKSACK RIVER IN WHATCOM COUNTY ARE THE RIVERS MOST LIKELY TO
FLOOD IN THIS SCENARIO...AND A FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR
THOSE COUNTIES.
WITH THE RAIN STILL UP TO 48 HOURS AWAY...THE FOCUS OF HEAVY RAIN
COULD CHANGE. THERE IS SOME CONCERN FOR RIVERS ON THE REST OF THE
OLYMPIC PENINSULA AND FOR THE SKAGIT AND STILLAGUAMISH RIVERS IN
THE NORTH CASCADES...BUT THE LEVEL OF CONCERN DOES NOT WARRANT A
FLOOD WATCH FOR THOSE RIVERS AT THIS TIME.
FLOODING IS NOT A CONCERN ON THE GREEN RIVER IN KING COUNTY AT
THIS TIME.
WAC045-073-041345-
/O.COR.KSEW.FA.A.0005.091106T0000Z-091107T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MASON-WHATCOM-
449 PM PST TUE NOV 3 2009
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON...INCLUDING THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...WHATCOM...MASON.
* FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
* HEAVY RAIN IN THE OLYMPICS AND NORTH CASCADES ON THURSDAY COULD
DRIVE A FEW RIVERS TO FLOOD ON FRIDAY. THE SKOKOMISH RIVER IN
MASON COUNTY IS THE RIVER MOST LIKELY TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE.
RIVER MODELS CURRENTLY SHOW THAT THE SKOKOMISH RIVER COULD
REACH FLOOD STAGE THURSDAY NIGHT AND CREST BETWEEN 16.2 AND 16.7
FT ON FRIDAY.
* THE NOOKSACK RIVER IN WHATCOM COUNTY WILL ALSO RISE SHARPLY ON
FRIDAY. CURRENTLY RIVER MODELS SHOW THE NOOKSACK RIVER EXCEEDING
BANK FULL STAGE ON FRIDAY...BUT NOT QUITE REACHING FLOOD STAGE.
THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS COMMON ON THE NOOKSACK...BUT A FLOOD
WATCH IS WARRANTED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IF YOU LIVE IN MASON OR WHATCOM COUNTIES OR PLAN TO TRAVEL THERE...
MONITOR WEATHER AND RIVER FORECASTS CAREFULLY. THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE WILL ISSUE FURTHER BULLETINS ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AS
CONDITIONS DEVELOP.
- Blog post
- 2 weeks ago
- Views: 299
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Tracking A Storm For Thursday
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
November 3, 2009
...MINOR FLOODING FOR RIVERS LEADING OFF OF THE SOUTHERN OLYMPICS
POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...
A STRONG FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL BRING A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN THURSDAY
AND THURSDAY NIGHT. STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE UPSLOPE
ENHANCEMENT OF PRECIPITATION TO BE HEAVIEST ALONG THE SOUTHERN
SLOPES OF THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS. AT THE ONSET OF PRECIPITATION SNOW LEVELS
WILL BE HIGH...ABOVE 8000 FEET. 3 TO 4+ INCHES OF RAIN ARE
FORECAST OVER 24 HOURS FOR THE SOUTHERN OLYMPIC PENINSULA. UNDER
THIS SCENARIO THE SKOKOMISH RIVER IS MOST AT RISK FOR MINOR FLOODING
THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY...ALTHOUGH ALL AREA RIVERS WILL BE
MONITORED CLOSELY. RAIN WILL TURN TO SHOWERS ON FRIDAY...WITH SNOW
LEVELS LOWERING DURING THE DAY.
- Blog post
- 2 weeks ago
- Views: 179
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Flood Watch Cancelled
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
October 28, 2009 The Flood Watch for western Washington was cancelled today. Computer modeling of the atmosphere can show a significant amount of variability with storms that entrain subtropical moisture. For the last seven days or so, models were indicating a storm track that pointed directly into western Washington and carried an extremely wet and warm storm system inland.
Forecasts were made to alert the public that the potential for flooding was developing for the period of Thursday through Friday. For two days in a row, Tuesday and Wednesday the modeling began taking the storm track and focusing it into British Columbia. The track of heavy rain went well north of western Washington, therefore the flood watch has been dropped for the end of this last week of October.
We will still get rain in western Washington, but it will not be as heavy or as prolonged as orignially expected. Even better news...the evening of October 31st is going to be drier than expected for Trick or Treaters.
Rebecca
- Blog post
- 3 weeks ago
- Views: 208
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First Big Mountain Snow of Sea
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
October 27,2009 ...FIRST SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON OVER THE MOUNTAINS
MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...
.MOIST NORTHWESTERLY FLOW BEHIND A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BRING HEAVY SNOW
TO THE MOUNTAINS INTO TUESDAY. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT
SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON.
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT TUESDAY.
THE FORECAST CALLS FOR 6 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW THROUGH TUESDAY
MORNING...WITH HEAVIER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE NORTH OF SNOQUALMIE PASS
AS A PUGET SOUND CONVERGENCE ZONE DEVELOPS. THE SNOW WILL BE
SHOWERY IN NATURE...IN OTHER WORDS OFF AND ON...WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF IN THE VICINITY OF THE CONVERGENCE ZONE WHERE THE SNOW WILL BE
STEADIER. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A NARROW BAND OF NORTHWEST
WINDS ALOFT FLOWING UNIMPEDED DOWN THE STRAIT OF GEORGIA WILL
CROSS THE CASCADES NEAR OR RIGHT OVER STEVENS PASS CAUSING
LOCALIZED ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 18 INCHES.
THE SNOW LEVEL WILL DROP TO AROUND 2500 FEET THIS
EVENING...BRINGING ACCUMULATING SNOW TO ALL THE PASSES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TRAVEL IN OR THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS...CHECK
THE WEATHER FORECAST BEFORE YOU GO. FOR THE LATEST ROAD
CONDITIONS...CALL 511 OR 800-695-ROAD...OR VISIT THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WEB SITE AT WWW.WSDOT.WA.GOV. - Blog post
- 3 weeks ago
- Views: 203
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Mountain Snow Ahead
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
October 24, 2009...SIGNIFICANT MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE MONDAY...
THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON COULD OCCUR
ON MONDAY. THE SNOW LEVEL WILL DROP TO AROUND 4000 FEET...WHICH
MEANS STEVENS PASS...WHITE PASS...AND WASHINGTON PASS COULD GET
SNOW. AT THIS POINT 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE.
AFTER A STORM BRINGS RAIN SUNDAY NIGHT...SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP TO
ABOUT 4000 FEET ON MONDAY. MOIST NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL
KEEP PRECIPITATION FALLING IN THE MOUNTAINS...AND MUCH OF THIS
WILL BE IN THE FORM OF SNOW.
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TRAVEL IN OR THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS EARLY NEXT
WEEK...CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST BEFORE YOU GO.
- Blog post
- 4 weeks ago
- Views: 212
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Two Storms And Flood Potential
- From: KIRO7Weather
-
Description:
October 23, 2009 MINOR FLOODING ON A FEW RIVERS IS POSSIBLE AGAIN THIS WEEKEND...
RIVERS WILL RISE THIS WEEKEND IN RESPONSE TO TWO PERIODS OF
HYDROLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL. THE SKOKOMISH RIVER IN MASON
COUNTY IS MOST LIKELY TO REACH FLOOD STAGE...THOUGH ANY FLOODING
IS LIKELY TO BE MINOR. OTHER RIVERS WILL RISE TO BANKFULL BUT ARE
NOT LIKELY TO REACH FLOOD STAGE.
THE RAINFALL FORECAST FOR THE 24-HOUR PERIOD FROM FRIDAY NIGHT
THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT ARE GENERALLY FOR AMOUNTS OF 1-2 INCHES IN
THE MOUNTAINS. SOME AREAS OVER THE SOUTHERN OLYMPICS AND THE
CASCADES...FROM ABOUT THE SNOQUALMIE DRAINAGE NORTH...COULD GET
AROUND 3 INCHES. THESE AMOUNTS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE WIDESPREAD
FLOODING.
THE NEXT EVENT IS SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. THIS ONE HAS SIMILAR
24-HOUR AMOUNTS IN THE MOUNTAINS...MOSTLY 1-2 INCHES WITH A COUPLE
OF 3 INCH BULLSEYES IN THE NORTH CASCADES. AGAIN THIS SHOULD NOT
BE ENOUGH TO CAUSE WIDESPREAD FLOODING.
AS FAR AS RIVERS GO...THE AMOUNTS OF RAIN FROM THE TWO STORMS ARE
SIMILAR TO LAST WEEKEND...AND THE SNOW LEVEL WILL BE AS HIGH. ONE
DIFFERENCE IS THERE IS A DISTINCT GAP BETWEEN THE TWO STORMS...
PERHAPS AS LONG AS 36 HOURS. THIS WILL ALLOW RIVERS TO RECEDE
BETWEEN RAINFALL EVENTS AND WILL TEND TO KEEP RIVERS FROM RISING
TOO HIGH. ANOTHER DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE GROUND HAS BEEN WELL
WETTED BY NOW...AND RUNOFF SHOULD BE ENHANCED AS A RESULT. THE
BEST GUESS IS THAT...LIKE LAST WEEKEND...A FEW RIVERS MAY APPROACH
FLOOD STAGE...WITH THE SKOKOMISH BEING THE MOST LIKELY. NOTE THAT
THE GREEN RIVER...LIKE MOST RIVERS FLOWING OFF THE CENTRAL
CASCADES... WILL NOT BE SEEING LARGE AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL IN ITS
BASIN. THEREFORE IT DOES NOT APPEAR THERE IS A THREAT OF FLOODING
ON THE GREEN RIVER.
- Blog post
- 4 weeks ago
- Views: 195
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Time For Winter Weather Awaren
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
October 22, 2009.WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN WASHINGTON...
...SNOW...ICE...AVALANCHE...BLIZZARDS...THE MOST COMMON OF WINTERS
MANY HAZARDS...
WINTER STORMS ARE A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE ACROSS THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. MANY OF THESE STORMS BRING SNOW AMOUNTS THAT CAUSE ROAD
CLOSURES...ESPECIALLY THROUGH MOUNTAIN PASSES. WIND...IN
COMBINATION WITH SNOW...CAN CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITIES AND DEEP SNOW
DRIFTS. ALONG WITH THE HEAVY SNOW COMES AVALANCHE THREATS IN AREAS
OF STEEP TERRAIN.
IN VALLEY LOCATIONS...TEMPERATURES MAY BE NEAR FREEZING DURING THE
DAY BUT AFTER THE STORM PASSES...TEMPERATURES PLUMMET CAUSING WET
ROADWAYS TO BECOME ICY. IN SOME VALLEYS...COOL AIR TRAPPED NEAR THE
SURFACE REMAINS BELOW FREEZING WHILE WARM AIR ALOFT DROPS RAIN
THROUGH THE SUB FREEZING AIR...CAUSING FREEZING RAIN.
ALL OF THESE HAZARDS ARE FORECAST AHEAD OF TIME BY YOUR LOCAL
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. WINTER STORM WATCHES ARE ISSUED UP
TO 3 DAYS AHEAD OF A STORMS ARRIVAL. WINTER STORM WARNINGS...ICE
STORM WARNINGS...AND BLIZZARD WARNINGS ARE TYPICALLY ISSUED WITH AT
LEAST 24 HOURS OF ADVANCE NOTICE AND SOMETIMES UP TO 48 HOURS IN
ADVANCE OF THE EVENT.
...WINTER STORM WARNING...
WINTER STORM WARNINGS ARE ISSUED WHEN ANY COMBINATION OF FREEZING
RAIN...SLEET...WIND AND SNOW OCCUR OVER AN AREA. THE AMOUNT OF SNOW
REQUIRED FOR A WARNING TO BE ISSUED VARIES BY REGION AND ELEVATION.
LOW LYING AREAS WHICH NORMALLY RECEIVE LITTLE SNOW ONLY REQUIRE 2 TO
4 INCHES FOR A WARNING. ON THE OTHER HAND...IN THE MOUNTAINOUS
AREAS WHERE NEARLY EVERY STORM BRINGS AT LEAST 6 INCHES OF SNOW...A
WARNING REQUIRES 8 TO 10 INCHES OR MORE. IN GENERAL...A WINTER
STORM WARNING MEANS THAT ROAD CREWS WILL HAVE SOME DIFFICULTY
KEEPING ROADS OPEN AND SNOW FREE...MAKING TRAVEL DIFFICULT AT BEST
AND IMPOSSIBLE AT WORST.
...BLIZZARD WARNINGS...
THE TERM BLIZZARD IS NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS WHERE NORTHWEST WINDS BRING SNOW AND FRIGID
TEMPERATURES. WHILE RELATIVELY COMMON IN THE PLAINS...BLIZZARDS OR
NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ALSO HAPPEN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEFINES A BLIZZARD AS A COMBINATION OF WIND
35 MPH OR GREATER AND SNOW WITH VISIBILITIES FREQUENTLY BELOW 1/4
MILE.
...ICE STORMS...
ICE STORMS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ARE AN INFREQUENT
OCCURRENCE...BUT CAN BE EXTREMELY DAMAGING. ACROSS INTERIOR
LOCATIONS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...VALLEY LOCATIONS WILL HAVE
TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING WHEN A WARM WINTER STORM MOVES IN. RAIN
FALLING OUT OF THE STORM PASSES THROUGH THE SUB FREEZING AIR NEAR
THE SURFACE AND FREEZES ON EVERYTHING. THESE CONDITIONS CAUSE TREES
TO SNAP...POWER LINES TO FALL AND MAKE ROADS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
NAVIGATE.
...AVALANCHE...
THOUSANDS OF AVALANCHES OCCUR EACH WINTER IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST. WITH THE ENORMOUS POPULARITY OF WINTER
SPORTS...THIS POSES A RISK TO SKIERS...HIKERS AND SNOWMOBILERS.
THIS RISK IS VERY REAL. EACH YEAR...PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES WHEN
AVALANCHES BURY THEM. WHILE THOUSANDS OF AVALANCHES OCCUR IN THE
BACK COUNTRY...AVALANCHES CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE THE SLOPE IS STEEP
ENOUGH WITH A HEAVY SNOW LOAD. AVALANCHES TYPICALLY OCCUR DURING OR
JUST AFTER SNOWSTORMS AND MOST OCCUR ON A SLOPE OF 30 TO 45
DEGREES. BY WAITING 36 HOURS AFTER A BIG SNOWSTORM...YOU MAY ALLOW
THE SNOW TO SETTLE. IF YOU STAY IN VALLEYS AWAY FROM AVALANCHE
CHUTES...IN STANDS OF DENSE TREES OR ON GENTLE SLOPES...YOU CAN
MINIMIZE YOUR RISK TO AVALANCHES.
...AVALANCHE SAFETY RULES...
NEVER TRAVEL ALONE. ALWAYS HAVE ONE OR MORE COMPANIONS. IF YOU ARE
ALONE AND GET TRAPPED BY AN AVALANCHE...YOU MAY NOT BE FOUND UNTIL
SPRING.
IF CROSSING A SLOPE THAT MAY BE PRONE TO AVALANCHES...DO IT ONE
PERSON AT A TIME. YOU WANT TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON YOUR PARTY IF
AN AVALANCHE IS ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED.
WHEN WINTER STORMS THREATEN...AVOID TRAVEL IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. ROAD
CREWS WORK HARD TO KEEP ROADS OPEN...STUCK CARS ONLY MAKE THEIR JOB
HARDER.
WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH OCTOBER 25 IN THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT TIME FOR ALL
INDIVIDUALS...FAMILIES...BUSINESSES...SCHOOLS AND RADIO AND
TELEVISION STATIONS TO REVIEW THEIR WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS
PLANS.
USE THE 511 PHONE AND INTERNET TRAVELER INFORMATION SERVICE PROVIDED
BY STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS FOR WEATHER RELATED ROAD
CONDITIONS...ROAD WORK...COMMERCIAL VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS AND ROAD
CLOSURES.
THIS MESSAGE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE STAFF AND YOUR LOCAL AND STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OFFICIALS. - Blog post
- 4 weeks ago
- Views: 256
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September Averages
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
September 10, 2009 Temperatures are about to soar in September for the next several days. By Friday and Saturday western Washington will be in record high territory. High pressure is strengthening and as it shifts to the east of the Cascades the pressure gradient will change winds to offshore along with a thermal trough (heat low) developing.
Average high temperatures for the month of September are:
Sea-Tac 69.4
Bellingham 67
Olympia 71.5
Hoquiam 67.5
By Friday most cities will be in the upper 70s and low to mid 80s. Fall officially begins in about two weeks so the return of summer weather is a treat for those that have relished the long, dry, warm summer of 2009.
Rebecca Stevenson
- Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 535
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Labor Day Hints of Fall
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
September 4, 2009 The Labor Day Holiday usually means packing up for a camping trip, a long hike or some sort of outdoor activity in the Pacific Northwest. A little rain never seems to stop anyone, but the rainfall coming in for Labor Day Weekend 2009 may have some deciding to stay at home!
A large and wet cold front will turn Saturday into a rainy day with high temperatures in the low to mid 60s. Winds will be breezy at times and snow levels will begin to fall. As the big trough moves in Sunday the highs will be lucky to get to 60, winds will be gusty and the rain showers will be persistent and widespread. The snow level is expected to fall between 6,000 to 7,000 feet. That's well below normal for the time of year and will be a fast reminder that fall is only a few weeks away!
On Monday, Labor Day, there will still be plenty of showers scattered around as the trough exits but the showers will decrease through the day with plenty of sunbreaks. Temperatures will return near 70.
Rebecca Stevenson
- Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 587
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September Fools Showers
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
September 2, 2009 With the rain in August the three month rainfall total at Sea-Tac airport for June, July and August was 1.40". This is the 6th driest on record. The record for the driest June 1st through August 31st at the airport is .84" set in 1987.
It was a September Fools Joke as rain showers swept across western Washington from south to north on September 1st. A disturbance that was forecast to bring showers and thunderstorms into the Cascades turned out to be farther west, stronger and far more moist than any computer model showed. After not being caught in the models the forecast was for sunshine and it turned out to be quite the opposite. Temperatures were 10 degrees below normal and the sun did not come out until right before sunset. Rainfall totals were light, ranging from only a Trace to .02".
Another trough of low pressure will swing into western Washington late Wednesday into early Thursday morning. This will keep the area showery, cool and even a chance of thunderstorms.
- Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 596
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August Weather Stats
- From: KIRO7Weather
-
Description:
Tuesday September 1, 2009 11:45 am
August 2009 is in the books. Looking at the weather stats, we ended up being right around average. Rainfall for the month at Sea-Tac Airport totaled 1.16 inches. That is 0.14" above normal for the month. Even through we were slightly wetter than normal, looking at the last 3 months of rainfall, we are still very much in the red.
The combined rainfall for June, July, and August this year came out to 1.40 inches. On average, the total for these three months is usually around 3.30 inches. With less than half the normal rainfall, this period is the 6th driest on record. The driest June 1st through August 31st on record at Sea-Tac was 0.84" set back in 1987. This might explain why your lawn is still struggling to turn green.
As far as temperatures last month, it was not nearly as hot as the July we had this year where the average temperature for the month was over 4 degrees above normal. When you average the highs and lows each day, the average August temperature this year came out to 65.6 degrees. That is right on spot with normal.
As we head into the first week of September, it looks like we will be starting out on the cool and wet side. High temperatures will be dropping down into the 60s by the weekend and showers will be staying with us through the end of the work week and into the Labor Day weekend.
-Sam Argier, Morning Meteorologist
- Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 477
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September Fog
- From: KIRO7Weather
-
Description:
September 1, 2009 The month of August went out in a summer fashion with warm tempertures and plenty of sunshine....that is after all the morning fog and low clouds. September is beginning in the same manner but thunderstorms in the Cascades and Chelan and Douglas counties will be thrown into the mix.
Tuesday will have areas of fog and low clouds lingering through the late morning before the sun will burn through for a mostly sunny late summer day.
It has been a warm, dry summer for western Washington and as fall draws near the temperatures are near normal and the weather pattern is normal too. But the area is about to be sent into a weekend of cooler than normal temperatures.
A large trough offshore is edging closer, as it does, the upper air pattern has become southerly which will bring the instability for thunder into the Cascade mountains to Bridgeport. A disturbance will bring a brief hit of showers very late Wednesday night into Thursday morning for western Washington. Then high pressure will build for one more pleasant afternoon Thursday.
The entire trough will ride over the area Friday and settle in over the Labor Day Holiday Weekend for periods of rain showers, sunbreaks and cool highs in the 60s.
- Blog post
- 2 months ago
- Views: 493
- Not yet rated
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Summer Keeps Going
- From: KIRO7Weather
-
Description:
August 27, 2009 What?! ANOTHER day with near record high temperatures?! Yes, here it is. We have high pressure that is building up over western Washington from the south. There is lower pressure offshore and that is creating a brief period of offshore winds early Thursday afternoon.
The high temperatures that are forecast are all within 2 to 5 degrees of the standing record high but none are forecast to break the record high. Now THAT's a change this summer! When the record highs have been near, the forecast always broke them...I guess this is a sign that fall really is around the corner.
Even Wenatchee, Chelan and Leavenworth will be close to record highs in the 90s on Thursday.
Despite the cooler, cloudier and wetter weather expected Friday the weekend will rebound with far more sunshine on Sunday.
For the Labor Day Weekend: This is not a definite forecast, it is only meant for planning purposes and will change and become more detailed within the next week and a half. Current computer model solutions are showing a large trough of low pressure moving in for the weekend. It will mean temps in the 60s with rain showers and mostly cloudy skies for the three day weekend.
Rebecca
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 538
- Not yet rated
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Shifting To Fall
- From: KIRO7Weather
-
Description:
August 26, 2009 May, June and July are months that Sea-Tac temperatures were a few degrees above average. As we near the end of August the temperatures are averaging out just below normal. Perhaps you felt the relief as we have had a few weak systems increase onshore winds and bring some cooling and also a little rain, here and there.
After a very, very warm summer the seasons are beginning to change as the days get shorter and the sun becomes lower in the sky. The overnights will become cooler and it would be difficult for Mother Nature to give us a 90 degree day this late in August.
As you look at the satellite you may notice a very, very large trough of low pressure spinnng out in the Pacific. It looks ominous. But western Washington will only feel a glancing blow from the large trough on Friday.
A ridge of high pressure over the southwest United States is going to become stronger and push up into the Pacific Northwest. The ridge will shunt energy of the large low into Canada. Western Washington, under the influence of high pressure, will dry out and warm up for late August summer days on Wednesday and Thursday.
Friday, a small front will break away from the large main trough and increase cloud cover for western Washington along with rain showers which are going to be focused on the coast and south of Seattle. Over the weekend high pressure will return for a sunny warm weekend. Relish it! We are shifting gears to cooler weekends.
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 505
- Not yet rated
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Record Heat On The Coast
- From: KIRO7Weather
-
Description:
August 20,2009 Wednesday started out with record warmth as Sea-Tac only cooled to 61 degrees. The last time that happened was in 1961! The heat was on and the temperatures began to rise but not as quickly as expected. The very warm airmass on the coast slowed down and let the beaches cook another day which brought record highs to Hoquiam at 89 and Quillayute at 85.
When the very warm airmass finally tracked over the central Puget Sound we were losing daytime hours! Sea-Tac was one degree away from the record of 88, it only hit 87. Olympia was 4 degrees away from it's record high of 94, and Bellingham came in at 78 which wasn't very close to its' standing record of 84.
Now a marine push is developing and cooling the coast today and keeping it cloudy in the 60s. As the marine air moves inland through the evening Thursday we'll cool off several degrees with a more dramatic cooling near 70 on Friday.
Rebecca Stevenson
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 545
- Not yet rated
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Another Hot Summer Day
- From: KIRO7Weather
-
Description:
Wednesday August 19, 2009 8:45 am
Looking at temperatures around the sound right now, we're hovering around 70 degrees and it's not even 9 am yet! We have a hot day on the way with temperatures running 10-15 degrees above normal. Forecast high in Seattle is 90 degrees today. That is expected to break today's daily record high of 88 degrees set back in 1962.
In one year, we typically see 3 days with temperatures at or above 90 degrees. We know this summer has been anything but typical when it has come to the heat! So far this year we have seen 7 days, which would make today the 8th day if we hit 90. The all-time record for days at or above 90 degrees in one year is 9 days set back in 1958.
Now that we're moving into late summer, the days are getting shorter and shorter. With less daylight, it makes it harder for temperatures to climb into the 90s. I thought this was an interesting fact courtesy of the Seattle National Weather Service. Only around 10% of the 90+ degree days we have seen at Sea-Tac Airport have occured after August 15th. It is pretty rare to get this hot so late in the summer.
Unlike the historic heat wave a few weeks ago, this round of 90s will not last nearly as long. Some cooler air starts working in tomorrow bringing temperatures back down into the mid to low 80s. Friday and through the weekend, we'll see temperatures drop down to more typical levels for August in the mid 70s. Drink that extra glass of water and stay cool outside today!
-Sam Argier, Morning Meteorologist
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
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Political Heat
- From: KIRO7Weather
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August 19, 2009 Another wave of hot air is bringing record heat to western Washington, only this time the records that fall will be daily and not all time breakers.
Isn't it ironic that there are so many politicians out speaking Tuesday night and we are dealing with a heat wave?
Tuesday started the heat wave with a new daily record high for Quillayute Airport in Forks. The new record of 79 ties 79 in 1972. As today gets going the records that will be challenged are Sea-Tac at 88 in 1991, Olympia at 94 in 1981, and Bellingham at 84 in 1950. All cities in western Washington are 10 to 15 degrees above normal.
It's the perfect meteorological set up for heat! We have high pressure over us. A hot air mass on the coast has created lower pressure which in turn has enhanced the offshore wind flow. Due to offshore winds, the air will sink and compressionally warm coming down the west slopes of the Cascades. That is the magic ingredient to pump up and maximize the heat around the area. Sea-Tac has a forecast high of 90.
The record number of days, in one year, that has hit 90 or higher is 9. 9 Days in 1958. If Wednesday hits 90 at Sea-Tac, 2009 will have 8 days of 90 or higher! It has been an unusually hot run on summer!
~Rebecca Stevenson
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
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Not the Lightning...But the Ra
- From: KIRO7Weather
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August 14, 2009 It was a very strong storm for the time of year! Thudrsday nights commute endured heavy rain from thunderstorms wrapped around a center of low pressure that crossed nothern Washington through the night.
The most impressive part of the storms was not the lightning, not the pea sized hail and not the gusty winds but the intense heavy rain. These storms produced 1.02" of rain near Enumclaw in just over a half an hour. A storm spotter in Sumner called in 2" of rain in two hours. Bremerton's rain gauge filled to .37" within two hours, which is a new daily record rainfall. Traffic was slowed as water ponded on I-5 and I-405 right in the middle of the 5pm commute.
Even more impressive was the temperature drop as the storms cooled the air and the very cold air in the upper atmosphere came down. Tacoma's temperature dropped 12 degrees in one hour. Many cities temperatures fell from the mid 60s into the mid 50s within a two hour time span.
The thunderstorms had cleared the area by 8 p.m. with scattered rain showers lingering in a few spots. Friday will be a calmer day until a few showers develop in the afternoon around the central sound. The showers will not be as heavy or widespread but the clouds will help keep the temperatures cool again.
Rebecca Stevenson
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 639
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Creaky Old Water Wheel
- From: KIRO7Weather
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Description:
August 13, 2009 Weather can be completely different just 2 miles apart in western Washington. Yesterday was a good example of dramatically different weather within different cities. Bellingham was mostly sunny and warm, for a period of time Seattle was also mostly sunny and warm but Olympia was sitting in rain and clouds with cooler temperatures.
A front, which was the leading edge of a large trough of low pressure had stalled out. It stretched in a line from the north Oregon coast all the way up to the NE corner of Washington state. Pulses of energy traveled from the Oregon coast all the way up to NE Washington producing areas of rain all along.
Like a creaky old water wheel, the trough will get moving on Thursday (today). The trough will shove the semi-stationary front off and the large low pressure trough will move east. When it does, expect it to make some noise and spill some water just like a creaky old water wheel!
Thunderstorms are expected to pop up in places around western Washington, especially in the late afternoon and early evening. Thunder, lightning, locally heavy rain, gusty winds and small hail are all possibilities within the showers. Once the low is east on Friday, high pressure will build and bring back our summer weather with highs back into the 70s and even 80s by Monday!
Rebecca Stevenson
- Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 667
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