During the last two days we have had something we haven't seen in a while. No, I am not talking about highs near 60F...although that is true. What we have had is a very large diurnal (daily) range of temperature. Look at the plot above at Sea Tac, today the high was 59 with a low of 39F, a 20F temperature range....far greater than we have had since December. Many locations got colder than that and frost graced many a car this am.Why so large a range? Most important have been clear skies and our strengthening sun. You feel the warmth? Remember the sun right now is as strong as in mid October, with much longer days than two months ago. And the clear skies associated with high pressure aloft allow maximum heating during the day and maximum cooling at night as the earth radiates infrared energy to space.
But why no clouds and fog...which often occur in midwinter? The secret is that we have a modest east-west pressure difference (higher pressure to the east), which is producing easterly flow across and down the western Cascade slopes. Such downslope air produces drying and warming. Check out the latest profiler data from north Seattle...you can see the easterly flow.
But too much easterly flow would cause warming due to compression and keep our temperatures up at night. But fortunately for diurnal temperature range lovers the easterly flow is strong enough to keep us clear, but not strong enough to cause too much warming.
These conditions will continue through the weekend...warm enough for tee shirts during the day, but cold enough for frost in the morning at many locations.
Today's Contest: WHO HAS THE LARGEST DIURNAL RANGE?
PSS: There is an article in the Seattle Times today (Saturday) on the early spring
WARM TEMPS: "If you have fruit that needs to be protected this weather is a curse not a blessing."
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was working outside with my dad today here east of the mts. and we're getting a huge range too.
ReplyDeleteThree spring like observations today. Cumulus builds along our area ridgetops, whirlwinds and heat radiation causing mirages this afternoon.
Try 32 to 58 in Bellingham yesterday! A 26 degree differential! I am actually enjoying de-icing the vehicle these last few bright mornings, with the secure knowledge that I will be sunbathing at lunchtime. I will say that this is my best winter yet and allow that this isn't true for everybody. I do wish there was some fresh snow for my weekend. :( I'll just hike up Chuckanut Mtn. instead. : )
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this blog and all of the great information you provide! And a funny coincidence, in that article in today's paper, you and my husband were both quoted : )
ReplyDelete28 on my back porch this morning and it got to 61 this afternoon in West Olympia. 33 degree difference!
ReplyDeleteSaturday Morning we experienced a low of 29 degrees here in the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie valley. By mid afternoon it topped out at 62 degrees, a 33 degree swing just like Corie experienced. Keeping plants in the greenhouses for now.
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