The Pacific Northwest has begun the late summer cooling period, with a substantial cooling occurring over the entire region.
A cooling that probably represents the end of hot weather for the remainder of the season.
Solar radiation is now rapidly declining as daytime shortens and the sun starts to sink towards the horizon, something illustrated by the plot below:
The latest forecasts for Seattle show temperatures only reaching the low 70s for the next ten days!
And the Tri-Cities only rise into the 80s
In fact, the whole region will be cooler than normal, something shown by the latest European Center AI forecast of the differences in surface temperatures from normal
For the next five days: cooler than normal (blue colors)
For the next five days, EVEN COOLER than normal
For the subsequent five days, near normal in the west and colder east of the Cascade:
BURR.... I am going to unpack some light sweaters!
With the pattern change, substantial precipitation is predicted over the next ten days (see below, through late Thursday of next week)
This change in weather should help damp down current wildfires.
In fact, the fires have already gone into substantial decline, with only a few fires apparent on satellite imagery (red dots). Very, very low fire activity in California.
Enjoy the transition.
What’s the source of that Space Needle icicle picture?
ReplyDeleteA recent image....
DeleteIf you’re lucky, you can catch local performer “Chilly Willie” as he stands under them and catches them between his teeth as they break off. He used to be part of a three-person icicle-catching act, but, well. . .
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that we experienced a lot more of winds from the south than in most summers. Is this factually true and is there an explanation for this?
ReplyDeleteVery good comment! True. My next blog will discuss why.
DeleteWas this summer shorter than normal?
ReplyDeleteLet the heavens be glad and the Earth rejoice
ReplyDeleteDeliverance.
ReplyDelete" the NY Times and Seattle Times not only got the story wrong, they got it REVERSED. Global warming will reduce the potential for western Washington mega-wildfires because the necessary easterly winds are weakened." Cliff Mass
ReplyDeleteAug. 2nd : The gusty winds of up to 50 miles per hour in some locations prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for a large portion of central and eastern Washington.
More than 3.2 million acres, or more than 5,000 square miles, have burned across Washington and Oregon this year, according to the coordination center. ... The 1,200 square miles burned in the state this year rivals the worst fire season on record, when over 1,600 square miles, or over 1 million acres, burned in 2015.
Did you read quote... I WAS TALKING ABOUT WESTERN WASHINGTON MEGAFIRES. And that is entirely correction.....very little fire activity in the west this year.
DeleteIts been feeling like fall the past few days on the Grays Harbor coast. I don't know if we are in for an early fall or not, but its certainly feeling like summer is on its way to an early wind-down.
ReplyDeleteNow this is what I appreciate about climates changing-
ReplyDeletethey change at their own will,
mostly they always present a few surprises for us,
they don't need a "majority consensus" from any self-appointed groups to do it,
and they keep us on our toes all year round.
And of course, I can come here and be expertly updated by Cliff about what's happening beyond what I can see by just looking out my window occasionally. :)
Yes, we need the rain and it is coming, yet I am always a little sad to see the end of summer... end of outdoor swimming... end of backpacking while staying dry... end of sailing in my swimsuit... and in October, the end of riding my bike to work because it is too dark to do safely. Time to start planning a winter getaway!
ReplyDelete