Friday, September 30, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Wet Period Ahead
The latest forecast reveal a substantial shift in the upper-level pattern with troughing (low pressure) over the Northwest and northeast Pacific. And yes....it is going to get wet. Let's start with the 500 hPa (about 18,000 ft) forecast for Saturday at 5 PM. Big trough over our region, but the main action is offshore.
Or we can look at the average of many forecasts (the ensemble mean) for the same level, in this case for Sunday at 5 PM. This figure also shows the anomaly--difference from normal--with color shades. Big trough over the NW coast, which means cooler and wetter.
Over a 24h period ending Saturday at 5 PM, good rain along the coast and western Oregon, but only light rain reaching Puget Sound
Ditto on Sunday.
On Tuesday, significant rain engulfs western Oregon and Washington.
And then much wetter conditions on Thursday.
Bottom line: if you keep away the coast, this weekend will be tolerable and eastern Washington should be pleasant. But wetter conditions are expected later in the week over both sides of the Cascades.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2cEXjTJ
Over a 24h period ending Saturday at 5 PM, good rain along the coast and western Oregon, but only light rain reaching Puget Sound
For the next 24h (Monday), still wet over the coast and offshore, but not much over the interior.
On Tuesday, significant rain engulfs western Oregon and Washington.
Bottom line: if you keep away the coast, this weekend will be tolerable and eastern Washington should be pleasant. But wetter conditions are expected later in the week over both sides of the Cascades.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2cEXjTJ
Wet Period Ahead
The latest forecast reveal a substantial shift in the upper-level pattern with troughing (low pressure) over the Northwest and northeast Pacific. And yes....it is going to get wet. Let's start with the 500 hPa (about 18,000 ft) forecast for Saturday at 5 PM. Big trough over our region, but the main action is offshore.
Or we can look at the average of many forecasts (the ensemble mean) for the same level, in this case for Sunday at 5 PM. This figure also shows the anomaly--difference from normal--with color shades. Big trough over the NW coast, which means cooler and wetter.
Over a 24h period ending Saturday at 5 PM, good rain along the coast and western Oregon, but only light rain reaching Puget Sound
Ditto on Sunday.
On Tuesday, significant rain engulfs western Oregon and Washington.
And then much wetter conditions on Thursday.
Bottom line: if you keep away the coast, this weekend will be tolerable and eastern Washington should be pleasant. But wetter conditions are expected later in the week over both sides of the Cascades.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2cEXjTJ
Over a 24h period ending Saturday at 5 PM, good rain along the coast and western Oregon, but only light rain reaching Puget Sound
For the next 24h (Monday), still wet over the coast and offshore, but not much over the interior.
On Tuesday, significant rain engulfs western Oregon and Washington.
Bottom line: if you keep away the coast, this weekend will be tolerable and eastern Washington should be pleasant. But wetter conditions are expected later in the week over both sides of the Cascades.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2cEXjTJ
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Monday, September 26, 2016
A Weather Data Revolution in the Cockpit
A weather data revolution is about to take place in the cockpit of commercial aircraft, a revolution that will make air travel safer and more comfortable.
As I noted in a blog last month, most pilots do not have access to the full range of critical, real-time weather information when they are airborne. The amazing truth is that a passenger sitting in coach with a laptop, using aircraft wifi, has much better real-time weather information than most pilots.
With a lack of weather information some pilots have made serious and dangerous mistakes, taking their aircraft into thunderstorms and other weather threats.
One example is the JetBlue Flight 429 incident in which an Airbus 320 flew directly into severe convection, sending nearly two dozen passengers and crew to the hospital.
And there are many more examples. Take Delta Flight 1889, which went into a strong thunderstorm with big hail last August, smashing the windshield and destroying the nose cone. As described here, this incident was easily avoidable.
Even today there was several aircraft flying into thunderstorms, needlessly endangering and discomforting passengers. Don't believe me? Here is an example from this afternoon. The colors give radar intensity, with red being intense echoes (heavy rain, hail). Look closely about two thirds up, just left of center and you will see a jet flying into red. Bad move.
And nearly the same time, a crazy prop plane went into even stronger convection.
Or this one about the same time in which a jet pilot took his/her passengers on a needlessly exciting ride.
Aircraft Radars Are Not Sufficient
Airline captains don't get to view good radar imagery like shown above, but rather use their aircraft radar, which have relatively low resolution, limited range, and present all levels at once. Here is an example:
Aircraft weather radars may be ok for tactical, short-term decision making (e.g., maneuvering around an isolated cell), but are completely inadequate for strategic decision making (deciding on route changes 10 minutes or more ahead of time). Aircraft radars can't see behind strong echoes so pilots can get into trouble farther on.
A failure mode evident in the JetBlue and Delta cases was the filling of a gap in a convective line, problems that would have been evident if the pilots had radar and weather satellite animations.
The Technology Exists to Fix This Problem
Today our nation has a marvelous network of powerful high-resolution radars maintained by the National Weather Service. New generations of weather satellites not only show the structure of clouds below, but probe the 3D structure of the atmosphere. Real-time lightning detection networks define cloud to cloud and cloud to ground flashes. And new rapid-refresh, real-time analysis and forecast systems are constantly updating the forecasts. Plus, many planes are taking weather observations and radioing them in constantly.
But how get this rich data to pilots? The solution is pretty much in place: most commercial jet aircraft now have wifi, including many flights over the oceans. I should know: I use wifi on every flight I take to follow the weather en route. So a pilot with a laptop or a pad should be able to get virtually any type of weather information, but few have done so until very recently.
Why?
Part of the problem is with the airlines, who have been too slow in understanding the benefits of this technology.
Some of the problem has been with the FAA, which even today PROHIBITS the use of weather software that shows the position of the aircraft. Amazing.
Part of the problem is from concerns about wifi interfering with cockpit electronics, but that can be solved.
Weather Software in the Cockpit
A number of vendors are now developing or providing weather display systems for commercial pilots. For example, JetBlue is now making such software available to their air crews. I understand Alaska Airlines is working on the same thing. Delta, working with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, has developed a Fight Weather Viewer App, with particular attention to defining areas of turbulence:
Honeywell has weather software that loads on to iPads and are designed for relatively low-bandwidth aircraft environments:
And WSI/Weather.com/IBM has a solution for general aviation that uses XM satellite technology:
Bottom Line
There is now an explosion of aviation weather apps that can be installed on laptops or pads. If airlines and the FAA work together to encourage the use of real-time weather data in the cockpit, all of us can look forward to smoother and safer flights.
______________
My talk on Northwest Climate Surprises on September 28.
During the evening of September 28, I will be giving a talk in Seattle at the Mountaineers in NE Seattle on Climate Surprises: Unexpected Impacts of Global Warming on the Pacific Northwest.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2cH8KJ4
As I noted in a blog last month, most pilots do not have access to the full range of critical, real-time weather information when they are airborne. The amazing truth is that a passenger sitting in coach with a laptop, using aircraft wifi, has much better real-time weather information than most pilots.
With a lack of weather information some pilots have made serious and dangerous mistakes, taking their aircraft into thunderstorms and other weather threats.
A passenger with neck brace being taken off of JetBlue429
One example is the JetBlue Flight 429 incident in which an Airbus 320 flew directly into severe convection, sending nearly two dozen passengers and crew to the hospital.
And there are many more examples. Take Delta Flight 1889, which went into a strong thunderstorm with big hail last August, smashing the windshield and destroying the nose cone. As described here, this incident was easily avoidable.
Even today there was several aircraft flying into thunderstorms, needlessly endangering and discomforting passengers. Don't believe me? Here is an example from this afternoon. The colors give radar intensity, with red being intense echoes (heavy rain, hail). Look closely about two thirds up, just left of center and you will see a jet flying into red. Bad move.
And nearly the same time, a crazy prop plane went into even stronger convection.
Or this one about the same time in which a jet pilot took his/her passengers on a needlessly exciting ride.
Aircraft Radars Are Not Sufficient
Airline captains don't get to view good radar imagery like shown above, but rather use their aircraft radar, which have relatively low resolution, limited range, and present all levels at once. Here is an example:
Aircraft weather radars may be ok for tactical, short-term decision making (e.g., maneuvering around an isolated cell), but are completely inadequate for strategic decision making (deciding on route changes 10 minutes or more ahead of time). Aircraft radars can't see behind strong echoes so pilots can get into trouble farther on.
A failure mode evident in the JetBlue and Delta cases was the filling of a gap in a convective line, problems that would have been evident if the pilots had radar and weather satellite animations.
The Technology Exists to Fix This Problem
Today our nation has a marvelous network of powerful high-resolution radars maintained by the National Weather Service. New generations of weather satellites not only show the structure of clouds below, but probe the 3D structure of the atmosphere. Real-time lightning detection networks define cloud to cloud and cloud to ground flashes. And new rapid-refresh, real-time analysis and forecast systems are constantly updating the forecasts. Plus, many planes are taking weather observations and radioing them in constantly.
But how get this rich data to pilots? The solution is pretty much in place: most commercial jet aircraft now have wifi, including many flights over the oceans. I should know: I use wifi on every flight I take to follow the weather en route. So a pilot with a laptop or a pad should be able to get virtually any type of weather information, but few have done so until very recently.
Why?
Part of the problem is with the airlines, who have been too slow in understanding the benefits of this technology.
Some of the problem has been with the FAA, which even today PROHIBITS the use of weather software that shows the position of the aircraft. Amazing.
Part of the problem is from concerns about wifi interfering with cockpit electronics, but that can be solved.
Weather Software in the Cockpit
A number of vendors are now developing or providing weather display systems for commercial pilots. For example, JetBlue is now making such software available to their air crews. I understand Alaska Airlines is working on the same thing. Delta, working with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, has developed a Fight Weather Viewer App, with particular attention to defining areas of turbulence:
Honeywell has weather software that loads on to iPads and are designed for relatively low-bandwidth aircraft environments:
And WSI/Weather.com/IBM has a solution for general aviation that uses XM satellite technology:
Bottom Line
There is now an explosion of aviation weather apps that can be installed on laptops or pads. If airlines and the FAA work together to encourage the use of real-time weather data in the cockpit, all of us can look forward to smoother and safer flights.
______________
My talk on Northwest Climate Surprises on September 28.
During the evening of September 28, I will be giving a talk in Seattle at the Mountaineers in NE Seattle on Climate Surprises: Unexpected Impacts of Global Warming on the Pacific Northwest.
The latest climate model simulations provide a far more nuanced prediction of what will happen here, with some of the predictions being quite surprising. I will discuss them in a talk sponsored by CarbonWa and the Audubon Society. To find out more or to secure tickets, please go here.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2cH8KJ4
A Weather Data Revolution in the Cockpit
A weather data revolution is about to take place in the cockpit of commercial aircraft, a revolution that will make air travel safer and more comfortable.
As I noted in a blog last month, most pilots do not have access to the full range of critical, real-time weather information when they are airborne. The amazing truth is that a passenger sitting in coach with a laptop, using aircraft wifi, has much better real-time weather information than most pilots.
With a lack of weather information some pilots have made serious and dangerous mistakes, taking their aircraft into thunderstorms and other weather threats.
One example is the JetBlue Flight 429 incident in which an Airbus 320 flew directly into severe convection, sending nearly two dozen passengers and crew to the hospital.
And there are many more examples. Take Delta Flight 1889, which went into a strong thunderstorm with big hail last August, smashing the windshield and destroying the nose cone. As described here, this incident was easily avoidable.
Even today there was several aircraft flying into thunderstorms, needlessly endangering and discomforting passengers. Don't believe me? Here is an example from this afternoon. The colors give radar intensity, with red being intense echoes (heavy rain, hail). Look closely about two thirds up, just left of center and you will see a jet flying into red. Bad move.
And nearly the same time, a crazy prop plane went into even stronger convection.
Or this one about the same time in which a jet pilot took his/her passengers on a needlessly exciting ride.
Aircraft Radars Are Not Sufficient
Airline captains don't get to view good radar imagery like shown above, but rather use their aircraft radar, which have relatively low resolution, limited range, and present all levels at once. Here is an example:
Aircraft weather radars may be ok for tactical, short-term decision making (e.g., maneuvering around an isolated cell), but are completely inadequate for strategic decision making (deciding on route changes 10 minutes or more ahead of time). Aircraft radars can't see behind strong echoes so pilots can get into trouble farther on.
A failure mode evident in the JetBlue and Delta cases was the filling of a gap in a convective line, problems that would have been evident if the pilots had radar and weather satellite animations.
The Technology Exists to Fix This Problem
Today our nation has a marvelous network of powerful high-resolution radars maintained by the National Weather Service. New generations of weather satellites not only show the structure of clouds below, but probe the 3D structure of the atmosphere. Real-time lightning detection networks define cloud to cloud and cloud to ground flashes. And new rapid-refresh, real-time analysis and forecast systems are constantly updating the forecasts. Plus, many planes are taking weather observations and radioing them in constantly.
But how get this rich data to pilots? The solution is pretty much in place: most commercial jet aircraft now have wifi, including many flights over the oceans. I should know: I use wifi on every flight I take to follow the weather en route. So a pilot with a laptop or a pad should be able to get virtually any type of weather information, but few have done so until very recently.
Why?
Part of the problem is with the airlines, who have been too slow in understanding the benefits of this technology.
Some of the problem has been with the FAA, which even today PROHIBITS the use of weather software that shows the position of the aircraft. Amazing.
Part of the problem is from concerns about wifi interfering with cockpit electronics, but that can be solved.
Weather Software in the Cockpit
A number of vendors are now developing or providing weather display systems for commercial pilots. For example, JetBlue is now making such software available to their air crews. I understand Alaska Airlines is working on the same thing. Delta, working with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, has developed a Fight Weather Viewer App, with particular attention to defining areas of turbulence:
Honeywell has weather software that loads on to iPads and are designed for relatively low-bandwidth aircraft environments:
And WSI/Weather.com/IBM has a solution for general aviation that uses XM satellite technology:
Bottom Line
There is now an explosion of aviation weather apps that can be installed on laptops or pads. If airlines and the FAA work together to encourage the use of real-time weather data in the cockpit, all of us can look forward to smoother and safer flights.
______________
My talk on Northwest Climate Surprises on September 28.
During the evening of September 28, I will be giving a talk in Seattle at the Mountaineers in NE Seattle on Climate Surprises: Unexpected Impacts of Global Warming on the Pacific Northwest.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2cH8KJ4
As I noted in a blog last month, most pilots do not have access to the full range of critical, real-time weather information when they are airborne. The amazing truth is that a passenger sitting in coach with a laptop, using aircraft wifi, has much better real-time weather information than most pilots.
With a lack of weather information some pilots have made serious and dangerous mistakes, taking their aircraft into thunderstorms and other weather threats.
A passenger with neck brace being taken off of JetBlue429
One example is the JetBlue Flight 429 incident in which an Airbus 320 flew directly into severe convection, sending nearly two dozen passengers and crew to the hospital.
And there are many more examples. Take Delta Flight 1889, which went into a strong thunderstorm with big hail last August, smashing the windshield and destroying the nose cone. As described here, this incident was easily avoidable.
Even today there was several aircraft flying into thunderstorms, needlessly endangering and discomforting passengers. Don't believe me? Here is an example from this afternoon. The colors give radar intensity, with red being intense echoes (heavy rain, hail). Look closely about two thirds up, just left of center and you will see a jet flying into red. Bad move.
And nearly the same time, a crazy prop plane went into even stronger convection.
Or this one about the same time in which a jet pilot took his/her passengers on a needlessly exciting ride.
Aircraft Radars Are Not Sufficient
Airline captains don't get to view good radar imagery like shown above, but rather use their aircraft radar, which have relatively low resolution, limited range, and present all levels at once. Here is an example:
Aircraft weather radars may be ok for tactical, short-term decision making (e.g., maneuvering around an isolated cell), but are completely inadequate for strategic decision making (deciding on route changes 10 minutes or more ahead of time). Aircraft radars can't see behind strong echoes so pilots can get into trouble farther on.
A failure mode evident in the JetBlue and Delta cases was the filling of a gap in a convective line, problems that would have been evident if the pilots had radar and weather satellite animations.
The Technology Exists to Fix This Problem
Today our nation has a marvelous network of powerful high-resolution radars maintained by the National Weather Service. New generations of weather satellites not only show the structure of clouds below, but probe the 3D structure of the atmosphere. Real-time lightning detection networks define cloud to cloud and cloud to ground flashes. And new rapid-refresh, real-time analysis and forecast systems are constantly updating the forecasts. Plus, many planes are taking weather observations and radioing them in constantly.
But how get this rich data to pilots? The solution is pretty much in place: most commercial jet aircraft now have wifi, including many flights over the oceans. I should know: I use wifi on every flight I take to follow the weather en route. So a pilot with a laptop or a pad should be able to get virtually any type of weather information, but few have done so until very recently.
Why?
Part of the problem is with the airlines, who have been too slow in understanding the benefits of this technology.
Some of the problem has been with the FAA, which even today PROHIBITS the use of weather software that shows the position of the aircraft. Amazing.
Part of the problem is from concerns about wifi interfering with cockpit electronics, but that can be solved.
Weather Software in the Cockpit
A number of vendors are now developing or providing weather display systems for commercial pilots. For example, JetBlue is now making such software available to their air crews. I understand Alaska Airlines is working on the same thing. Delta, working with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, has developed a Fight Weather Viewer App, with particular attention to defining areas of turbulence:
Honeywell has weather software that loads on to iPads and are designed for relatively low-bandwidth aircraft environments:
And WSI/Weather.com/IBM has a solution for general aviation that uses XM satellite technology:
Bottom Line
There is now an explosion of aviation weather apps that can be installed on laptops or pads. If airlines and the FAA work together to encourage the use of real-time weather data in the cockpit, all of us can look forward to smoother and safer flights.
______________
My talk on Northwest Climate Surprises on September 28.
During the evening of September 28, I will be giving a talk in Seattle at the Mountaineers in NE Seattle on Climate Surprises: Unexpected Impacts of Global Warming on the Pacific Northwest.
The latest climate model simulations provide a far more nuanced prediction of what will happen here, with some of the predictions being quite surprising. I will discuss them in a talk sponsored by CarbonWa and the Audubon Society. To find out more or to secure tickets, please go here.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2cH8KJ4
5 Ways to Prep your House for Winter
You may think that getting ready for winter involves nothing more than stashing the swimsuits and pulling out the heavy coats. Yet, one of your biggest investments, your home, needs a bit of prep to get ready for the cold season as well.
Winter weather can be tough on a home's systems, and there are several reasons to winterize your home. A well-prepped home can save a lot of money on energy bills. Also, properly preparing a home can prevent costly damage down the road. Here are just five things that you can do to prep your home for the coming cold snap.
1. Clean Out the Gutters
The gutters on your home should be inspected and cleaned twice per year - in the fall and the spring. Leaf and debris build-up in your gutters can block them from performing their intended function which is to move water away from your home through the downspout. If they are blocked or damaged, water could leak into your home or damage your roof, causing costly damage.
2. Check the Heating System
Whether you heat your home with a furnace or a boiler, you'll want to make sure that your system is in top shape for the coming season. This usually requires the services of a professional at least once a year to perform an inspection and check for parts that may need replacement. Aside from this, make sure that heating vents around your home aren't blocked and inspect ductwork for rips and tears that can be easily repaired.
3. Window Maintenance
Did you know that leaks in windows can cost you as much as an additional 10 percent on your energy bills each month? Not only are leaky windows costly, but they also allow humidity and moisture, outside noise, and unwanted pests to enter your home. The best news is that drafts and leaks in windows are both easy to identify and inexpensive to fix.
Identify leaks either by looking for pooled condensation at the bottom corner of the window or by holding up a small tea candle next to the window seam to detect air flow. If the window seal needs replacement, you'll need to remove the old caulking and apply a new seal to close the gap.
4. Check Your Insulation
Windows are major culprits, but they aren't the only place in your home that allows energy to escape. In fact, most homes in the U.S. are under-insulated and adding home insulation is one DIY project that pays off in spades. Check your attic to see if you can beef up your home's insulation. You can also save energy by wrapping an energy blanket around your hot water heater.
5. Prepare the Lawn & Garden
As winter approaches, it's time to store away or cover the deck furniture. If you maintain gardens, prepare them for the winter season and then put garden tools in the garage or shed until spring. Winterize and store the lawnmower and drain the water from outdoor faucets and garden hoses.
Old man winter may be calling from a distance, but you still have plenty of time to jump on these tips for your home to both save energy and prevent some costly repairs in the future.
from Home Design Ideas | Interior Design Ideas And Architcture http://ift.tt/2dlhMth
5 Ways to Prep your House for Winter
You may think that getting ready for winter involves nothing more than stashing the swimsuits and pulling out the heavy coats. Yet, one of your biggest investments, your home, needs a bit of prep to get ready for the cold season as well.
Winter weather can be tough on a home's systems, and there are several reasons to winterize your home. A well-prepped home can save a lot of money on energy bills. Also, properly preparing a home can prevent costly damage down the road. Here are just five things that you can do to prep your home for the coming cold snap.
1. Clean Out the Gutters
The gutters on your home should be inspected and cleaned twice per year - in the fall and the spring. Leaf and debris build-up in your gutters can block them from performing their intended function which is to move water away from your home through the downspout. If they are blocked or damaged, water could leak into your home or damage your roof, causing costly damage.
2. Check the Heating System
Whether you heat your home with a furnace or a boiler, you'll want to make sure that your system is in top shape for the coming season. This usually requires the services of a professional at least once a year to perform an inspection and check for parts that may need replacement. Aside from this, make sure that heating vents around your home aren't blocked and inspect ductwork for rips and tears that can be easily repaired.
3. Window Maintenance
Did you know that leaks in windows can cost you as much as an additional 10 percent on your energy bills each month? Not only are leaky windows costly, but they also allow humidity and moisture, outside noise, and unwanted pests to enter your home. The best news is that drafts and leaks in windows are both easy to identify and inexpensive to fix.
Identify leaks either by looking for pooled condensation at the bottom corner of the window or by holding up a small tea candle next to the window seam to detect air flow. If the window seal needs replacement, you'll need to remove the old caulking and apply a new seal to close the gap.
4. Check Your Insulation
Windows are major culprits, but they aren't the only place in your home that allows energy to escape. In fact, most homes in the U.S. are under-insulated and adding home insulation is one DIY project that pays off in spades. Check your attic to see if you can beef up your home's insulation. You can also save energy by wrapping an energy blanket around your hot water heater.
5. Prepare the Lawn & Garden
As winter approaches, it's time to store away or cover the deck furniture. If you maintain gardens, prepare them for the winter season and then put garden tools in the garage or shed until spring. Winterize and store the lawnmower and drain the water from outdoor faucets and garden hoses.
Old man winter may be calling from a distance, but you still have plenty of time to jump on these tips for your home to both save energy and prevent some costly repairs in the future.
from Home Design Ideas | Interior Design Ideas And Architcture http://ift.tt/2dlhMth
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Saturday, September 24, 2016
A Normal Summer
With summer just ending, it is time to look back on the summer of 2016 over the western U.S. And by most measures it was a relatively normal one, particularly here in the Pacific Northwest. I will show you anomaly (difference from normal) maps for the 90-day period from June 25 through September 22, 2016.
First, maximum temperature. For most of Washington, maximum temperatures were modestly below normal, with the main exception being the Puget Sound region. Inland CA was a bit warmer than normal
Minimum temperatures were generally within two degrees of normal. Nothing remarkable.
Precipitation? A few inches below normal in the west, except for portions of western Washington State. But the west generally doesn't get much over summer anywhere because of the eastern Pacific high.
With a normal snowpack from last winter and normal temperature/precipitation over the summer, this has been one of the most benign wildfire seasons in years. Consider this.
By Aug. 30, 2014, Department of Natural Resources firefighters had responded to 687 fires covering 191,000 acres. Last year by Aug. 30, they had responded to 996 fires covering 328,000 acres. This year on Aug. 30, they had responded to 637 fires, but only covering 15,000 acres. We simply did not have the large fires this year. And air quality east of the Cascade crest was radically better as a result.
The latest 6-10 day forecast from NOAA (and we really don't have much skill beyond that) shows cooler than normal and wetter than normal conditions.
_______________________________
For those interested in the inside (and depressing) story of why some "climate justice" groups are opposing a carbon tax in Washington State, this blog is must reading. Some supposed environment groups have political agendas that result in them opposing effective, bipartisan environmental measures.
__________
My talk on Northwest Climate Surprises on September 28.
During the evening of September 28, I will be giving a talk in Seattle at the Mountaineers in NE Seattle on Climate Surprises: Unexpected Impacts of Global Warming on the Pacific Northwest.
The latest climate model simulations provide a far more nuanced prediction of what will happen here, with some of the predictions being quite surprising. I will discuss them in a talk sponsored by CarbonWa and the Audubon Society. To find out more or to secure tickets, please go here.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2ditVUr
First, maximum temperature. For most of Washington, maximum temperatures were modestly below normal, with the main exception being the Puget Sound region. Inland CA was a bit warmer than normal
Minimum temperatures were generally within two degrees of normal. Nothing remarkable.
Precipitation? A few inches below normal in the west, except for portions of western Washington State. But the west generally doesn't get much over summer anywhere because of the eastern Pacific high.
Now I could have given you a much, much scarier picture. Here is the percent of average precipitation for the same period. OMG! Much of California received less than 25% of normal! But they normally get very little in summer, so such low numbers are really meaningless. You've got to be careful with statistics.
With a normal snowpack from last winter and normal temperature/precipitation over the summer, this has been one of the most benign wildfire seasons in years. Consider this.
By Aug. 30, 2014, Department of Natural Resources firefighters had responded to 687 fires covering 191,000 acres. Last year by Aug. 30, they had responded to 996 fires covering 328,000 acres. This year on Aug. 30, they had responded to 637 fires, but only covering 15,000 acres. We simply did not have the large fires this year. And air quality east of the Cascade crest was radically better as a result.
The latest 6-10 day forecast from NOAA (and we really don't have much skill beyond that) shows cooler than normal and wetter than normal conditions.
For those interested in the inside (and depressing) story of why some "climate justice" groups are opposing a carbon tax in Washington State, this blog is must reading. Some supposed environment groups have political agendas that result in them opposing effective, bipartisan environmental measures.
__________
My talk on Northwest Climate Surprises on September 28.
During the evening of September 28, I will be giving a talk in Seattle at the Mountaineers in NE Seattle on Climate Surprises: Unexpected Impacts of Global Warming on the Pacific Northwest.
The latest climate model simulations provide a far more nuanced prediction of what will happen here, with some of the predictions being quite surprising. I will discuss them in a talk sponsored by CarbonWa and the Audubon Society. To find out more or to secure tickets, please go here.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2ditVUr
A Normal Summer
With summer just ending, it is time to look back on the summer of 2016 over the western U.S. And by most measures it was a relatively normal one, particularly here in the Pacific Northwest. I will show you anomaly (difference from normal) maps for the 90-day period from June 25 through September 22, 2016.
First, maximum temperature. For most of Washington, maximum temperatures were modestly below normal, with the main exception being the Puget Sound region. Inland CA was a bit warmer than normal
Minimum temperatures were generally within two degrees of normal. Nothing remarkable.
Precipitation? A few inches below normal in the west, except for portions of western Washington State. But the west generally doesn't get much over summer anywhere because of the eastern Pacific high.
With a normal snowpack from last winter and normal temperature/precipitation over the summer, this has been one of the most benign wildfire seasons in years. Consider this.
By Aug. 30, 2014, Department of Natural Resources firefighters had responded to 687 fires covering 191,000 acres. Last year by Aug. 30, they had responded to 996 fires covering 328,000 acres. This year on Aug. 30, they had responded to 637 fires, but only covering 15,000 acres. We simply did not have the large fires this year. And air quality east of the Cascade crest was radically better as a result.
The latest 6-10 day forecast from NOAA (and we really don't have much skill beyond that) shows cooler than normal and wetter than normal conditions.
_______________________________
For those interested in the inside (and depressing) story of why some "climate justice" groups are opposing a carbon tax in Washington State, this blog is must reading. Some supposed environment groups have political agendas that result in them opposing effective, bipartisan environmental measures.
__________
My talk on Northwest Climate Surprises on September 28.
During the evening of September 28, I will be giving a talk in Seattle at the Mountaineers in NE Seattle on Climate Surprises: Unexpected Impacts of Global Warming on the Pacific Northwest.
The latest climate model simulations provide a far more nuanced prediction of what will happen here, with some of the predictions being quite surprising. I will discuss them in a talk sponsored by CarbonWa and the Audubon Society. To find out more or to secure tickets, please go here.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2ditVUr
First, maximum temperature. For most of Washington, maximum temperatures were modestly below normal, with the main exception being the Puget Sound region. Inland CA was a bit warmer than normal
Minimum temperatures were generally within two degrees of normal. Nothing remarkable.
Precipitation? A few inches below normal in the west, except for portions of western Washington State. But the west generally doesn't get much over summer anywhere because of the eastern Pacific high.
Now I could have given you a much, much scarier picture. Here is the percent of average precipitation for the same period. OMG! Much of California received less than 25% of normal! But they normally get very little in summer, so such low numbers are really meaningless. You've got to be careful with statistics.
With a normal snowpack from last winter and normal temperature/precipitation over the summer, this has been one of the most benign wildfire seasons in years. Consider this.
By Aug. 30, 2014, Department of Natural Resources firefighters had responded to 687 fires covering 191,000 acres. Last year by Aug. 30, they had responded to 996 fires covering 328,000 acres. This year on Aug. 30, they had responded to 637 fires, but only covering 15,000 acres. We simply did not have the large fires this year. And air quality east of the Cascade crest was radically better as a result.
The latest 6-10 day forecast from NOAA (and we really don't have much skill beyond that) shows cooler than normal and wetter than normal conditions.
For those interested in the inside (and depressing) story of why some "climate justice" groups are opposing a carbon tax in Washington State, this blog is must reading. Some supposed environment groups have political agendas that result in them opposing effective, bipartisan environmental measures.
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My talk on Northwest Climate Surprises on September 28.
During the evening of September 28, I will be giving a talk in Seattle at the Mountaineers in NE Seattle on Climate Surprises: Unexpected Impacts of Global Warming on the Pacific Northwest.
The latest climate model simulations provide a far more nuanced prediction of what will happen here, with some of the predictions being quite surprising. I will discuss them in a talk sponsored by CarbonWa and the Audubon Society. To find out more or to secure tickets, please go here.
from Cliff Mass Weather Blog http://ift.tt/2ditVUr
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