Weather reports on whatever I decide to report on.
Strong El Niño conditions were observed over the winter of 2023-24, leading to long lasting periods of split flow in the jet stream aimed at Western North America. This is a typical El Niño pattern, where the northern split persistently aims storms at southeast Alaska and the southern branch aims at California. Despite this, Oregon […]
From about November to February temperature inversions accompanied by low clouds and fog are a common weather feature in the Columbia Basin. These are not unique to the Columbia Basin with many valleys throughout the Western United States and the world also experiencing strong inversions, including the Salt Lake City area in Utah and Almaty, […]
A rapidly intensifying low pressure system is moving north through the Gulf of Alaska on Wednesday afternoon. It is forecast to make landfall on or near Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula early Thursday morning. Off the coast of Alaska, hurricane-force winds are forecast to extend eastward from the Kenai Peninsula toward the southeastern portion of the state. […]
Ridging over the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday along with a strong low in the Gulf of Alaska are driving mostly sunny and seasonably warm conditions in the Portland area. Meanwhile to the north, a Pineapple Express has been aiming at Vancouver Island, producing up to 200 mm (8 inches) of rain. This Pineapple Express is […]
Colder temperatures are swinging into the Pacific Northwest out of British Columbia and Alberta with a brisk north to northeasterly breeze forecast on Tuesday. Those winds die down early Wednesday morning and despite mostly sunny skies temperatures aren’t likely to hit 40° that afternoon. Again under mostly clear skies, temperatures are forecast to get quite […]
Mostly dry weather (with a few isolated showers) comes to an end on Friday as an atmospheric river takes aim at the Pacific Northwest. This is likely to bring the first wind storm of the season to much of the region, including the Columbia Basin, Palouse, and Spokane area culminating during the afternoon hours. Current […]
Rain showers diminish Tuesday afternoon and evening, though a few isolated showers are possible during the day Wednesday. After that, skies are forecast to clear over the Columbia Basin allowing for temperatures to get below freezing in most lowland areas. This has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a freeze warning for everywhere in […]
Spring of 2022 was notoriously wet across the Pacific Northwest, but an abrupt pattern change in June left the region unusually dry through the rest of the summer and into the first half of fall. Some rain did fall during this time in the Tri-Cities, but from June 13 to October 20, only 0.39 inches […]
Note: This article is using the meteorological definition for fall, which is September 1 to November 30. The first half of meteorological fall is September 1 to October 15. The weather pattern over the Western United States has been dominated by persistent upper level ridging for several weeks, leading to above average temperatures and below […]
The first half of October brought mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures to the Pacific Northwest as a persistent ridge of high pressure sat overhead, forcing the storm track into Southeast Alaska. The Tri-Cities have recorded ten days with highs at or above 80° so far this month, tying the record set in 1945. Temperatures […]