Jul 12, 2019 | Climate Events, Climate Matters, Flooding and Streamflow, Seasonal Low Streamflows on the Skagit River in Early Summer 2019 The warm and dry spring of 2019 has raised concerns about water supplies in parts of WA state. It is unclear how much it is a coincidence, but the same topic was addressed in this space a year ago. Read more
Jun 6, 2019 | Climate Matters, Extreme Heat, Humidity Humidity Variation during Heat Waves in WA State Summer is approaching, and while there will surely be some spells of hot weather, we cannot say much about their severity. Our most extreme heat waves tend to occur in July and August, but they certainly can occur earlier in summer and occasionally well into September. Read more
May 13, 2019 | Climate Events A Review of Winter 2018-2019 Seasonal weather forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center made in fall 2018 for the winter of 2018-19 were generally indicating warm and dry conditions, in line with the expected El Niño development. Read more
Apr 3, 2019 | Climate Matters, Rain and Snow, Seasonal Melting of the Cascade Mountain Snowpack in Spring The date of 1 April is often considered the end of winter for the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Snow can continue to fall in the high country, of course, but the vast majority of the accumulation has generally occurred by that time of year. Read more
Mar 11, 2019 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns, Climate Matters, Extreme Cold, Rain and Snow Kona Storms and Winter Weather in WA State As detailed here, the month of February 2019 will long be remembered for its snowy weather, especially in the lowlands of western Washington. We are not the only place that has experienced some unusual conditions – here we direct our attention to Hawaii, and in particular the “Kona” storm that slammed the state during the second week of the month. Read more
Feb 6, 2019 | Climate Events, Climate Matters, Climate Review, Extreme Cold What a Blast: The Arctic-Air Outbreak of February 1989 This edition of the OWSC newsletter more or less coincides with the 30th anniversary of the severe cold snap of early February 1989. Last month we reviewed the record warm anomalies that occurred in January 1953; perhaps it makes some sense to take a look at the other side of the coin. Read more
Jan 4, 2019 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns, Climate Events, Climate Matters, Climate Review, Rain and Snow, Temperature January 1953: Largest Positive Monthly Temperature Anomaly in WA State History Considering statewide averages, what would constitute a large monthly anomaly in temperature? And would we expect to see the largest monthly anomaly in winter or summer? At OWSC, these are the sorts of questions that we ask ourselves as we begin a new calendar year. Read more
Dec 4, 2018 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns, Climate Events, Climate Matters, Forecasts, Marine The Return of Warm Water to the NE Pacific The intense marine heat wave (MHW) of 2014-16 in the NE Pacific, aka the “Blob”, received a great deal of attention and deservedly so. When relatively warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs) emerged in the Gulf of Alaska in late summer/early fall 2018, both those monitoring the North Pacific atmosphere ocean climate system, and the media, began speculating whether a new MHW might be developing. Read more
Nov 8, 2018 | Climate Events, Climate Matters, El Niño/La Niña and Global Climate Oscillations, Flooding and Streamflow El Niño Flooding: Flashback to November 2006 The “El Niño watch” issued by the Climate Prediction Center is still in effect, with the expectation that a weak or moderate El Niño will develop this winter. Appropriately, media reports have focused on the increased odds of a warmer and drier winter due to El Niño, with the warmer than usual temperatures being more likely to occur. Read more
Oct 3, 2018 | Climate Matters, El Niño/La Niña and Global Climate Oscillations Effect of ENSO on Early Season Snowfall in the Washington Cascades Most readers of this newsletter are probably aware that El Niño winters tend to result in relatively skimpy snowpacks, and that El Niño development is more likely than not during the upcoming winter. Read more