Vocab Time

Atmospheric Rivers: plumes of moisture that generally start in the tropic and subtropics. Usually associated with warm air (since warm air contains more water vapor than cold air). They dump precipitation when they interact with the hilly terrain of our region. e.g Pineapple Express

We're getting one tonight, but it's more westerly than the usual P.E., and thus the rainshadow will move southward making the north Sound virtually rain free. The mountains will get 5-10 inches of rain, increasing avalanche risks.

Niñ(o|a)

It's hard to predict weather in Niño/Niña winters. Cascade snowpack is roughly normal this year (which is low for a La Nina year in which we expect it to be above normal)*. But snow in California has been very high.

This pattern will reverse at the end of the week, and we'll go back to more wet weather.

And News Flash, the food on airplanes is bad!

* This sentence was copied verbatim from Cliff Mass Weather Blog, due to its extreme awesomeness.

Why it was warm

As air descended down the western slopes of the Cascades it compressed and warmed.

California Dreamin'

Not. Record-breaking rainfall in CA, while we enjoy this... (look out the window)

Double-good

Large-scale troughing on the West Coast that is going to send weather disturbances to our south, and at the same time reduce radiation risks. Increased chance of dryness.

The Northwest has been sufficiently wet that even if we don't get a drop for the rest of the month, we will still have normal rainfall for March.

March

March is coming in like TWO lions this year.

More rain tomorrow...but Thursday and early Friday should be dry!

Update on our impending radiological disaster

Turns out there's no serious radiation threat to us here in the Northwest.

Not a great week to be on vacation

Radiation from Japan to reach Seattle in 9 days! But by the time it gets here the radion levels would be minimal, if not infinitesimal.

(Cliff Mass TLDR goes away for a week, and this is what happens?)

(Happy Pi day)

(Please discuss the semantic difference between "minimal" and "infinitesimal")

The hurricane happened

Or whatever it's called. Winds up to 116mph, and downed trees.

[On a personal note, CliffMassTLDR is taking a vacation next week. While he's gone, please enjoy the tweets of fellow NW Weather abbreviator Weather Girl.]

Midlatitude cyclone tomorrow

That's what we call a hurricane in the NW. Huge pressure differences bring VERY strong winds and large waves on the coast.

How come storm-related tourism hasn't caught on? Either it's because The Man is keeping us down, or because it's boring.