Archive for December, 2014
Perihelion-King Tides
Update: the “storm surge” at 6:18 AM this morning (12/23) was a whopping 0.21 feet, according to preliminary measurements. SLP was higher than predicted (1025mb) and winds were also weaker (SE, ~3kts). SLP should dip to around 1012mb tomorrow, but gradually climb above 1030mb over the weekend, according to the latest UW WRF-GFS forecast. Minor […]
[More]Posted: December 22nd, 2014 under Uncategorized.
Evolution of an Atmospheric River Forecast
Clouds, cool-but-still-warmer-than-normal temperatures and occasional light rain will continue this evening all the way through Friday. But the jet stream, which split up into a few branches after last week’s onslaught, is showing signs of reorganizing and migrating toward us this weekend. We may get a preview of the shift late on […]
[More]Posted: December 16th, 2014 under Uncategorized.
Busy Week
It’s been a busy week, and after all the watches, warnings and advisories expire it may end up being remembered not for flooding or wind, but for today’s high temperature. At 11 AM, Seatac hit 66°F, which is the warmest it’s ever been not only on this day, but during any month of December […]
[More]Posted: December 10th, 2014 under Uncategorized.
Three Slices of Pineapple
A long, meandering atmospheric river is poised to give the west coast a wet and windy week. The stream of subtropical moisture is expected to lash the northwest three times as successive low pressure systems swing through the region. While forecasts have not suggested particularly intense rainfall outside of the Olympics […]
[More]Posted: December 8th, 2014 under Uncategorized.
Warmer and Wetter
Perhaps you’ve seen reports that 2014 will go down as the planet’s hottest year on record. Check out the 8-14 day outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (above) and you can see that North America will be doing its part this month to ensure the dubious distinction. We’ll be helping locally, too, […]
[More]Posted: December 4th, 2014 under Uncategorized.
On Cue?
It’s December 1st and meteorological winter has begun. Astronomical winter begins on the Solstice, of course, but we creatures of the water cycle might be excused for focusing on another moment–the meaningful period in which the jet stream tends to settle into place for about three dark, wet months. At the moment […]
[More]Posted: December 1st, 2014 under Uncategorized.