Today, an upper-level trough of low pressure is moving through the region, bringing cooler conditions over the region and strong winds in eastern Washington.
In fact, much stronger winds from an unusual direction.
Consider the forecast upper-level weather map (500 hPa pressure, around 18,000 ft) this morning (below). A low-pressure area.... a trough... is moving southeastward over the region, with high pressure....a ridge... over the Pacific.
This feature is pushing cooler, Pacific air into western Washington and Oregon, resulting in stronger westerly winds over the eastern slopes of the Cascades.
But in the wake of the trough later today, strong northerly winds (from the north) will push down the Okanogan Valley into northeast Washington.
Consider the wind gust forecasts from the UW high-resolution weather prediction model. At 8 PM Monday (today), it is going for moderate wind gusts...up to about 35 kt around Ellensburg and vicinity. Typical summer conditions and why there are a lot of wind turbines there.
A plot of the maximum wind gusts forecast through tonight shows a substantial strong wind area on the eastern slopes of the Cascades.
Cliff, it seems we have had more wind this summer. The northerly winds, at least in the City of Snohomish, have really made the wamer temperatures managable. I don't remember summers having this much wind normally. However, that could just be me getting older. The temps in the upper 80s are much easier to tolerate when there is a good breeze blowing. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYep had to warn most people I know. Like I said the local radio said nothing but "gusty" winds. Not the damaging dangerous wind like NWS said. And many don't follow NWS. Fire cooking now north omak evacuations. Not good. Have we seen the already or more coming?
ReplyDeleteIt's very hot here in the Rogue Valley of southwest Oregon. We've had three afternoons in a row of 100 degrees plus. It's hard to get the house cooled down overnight when it's 72 degrees at dawn, as it was this morning. Last Monday evening, 7 July, we had a raucous evening thunderstorm that delivered a lot of lightning and little rain. Firefighters have been busy extinguishing all the fire starts. Winds have been fairly light and the fires reasonably under control now.
ReplyDeleteWinds turned northerly in Western Whatcom County yesterday afternoon and, with outflow/downslope conditions, conspired to boost temperatures at my location in Bellingham to near 80F until just after 7PM. In fact, yesterday's daily maximum temperature (79F) occurred at the unusually late hour of 6:39PM.
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