2011 Storm Chasing Tours
Updated: 2010-08-31 16:30:30
Our new storm chasing tour schedule for 2011 is available at StormTours.com.
ADD has kicked in (Thanks a lot, Danielle)
Updated: 2010-08-31 16:30:29As a weather weenie, I love staring at radar images of storms. Used to do it as a kid, and I still do it to this day. The same can be said for satellite images, however most of the time those images are updated every 30 minutes. Luckily there are times where we can see [...]Finally settling in North Carolina
Updated: 2010-08-31 16:30:29
After being in Asheville, North Carolina for a little over three weeks, it is starting to feel like home. For those of you that don’t know, I am currently working at the National Climatic Data Center. While NCDC is part of NOAA, I am currently contracted through the Cooperate Institute for Climate and Sciences. (Don’t [...]The one National Weather Service warning we'd all like to see
Updated: 2010-08-31 16:30:28
In the summer season, we hear of heat advisories. In the winter, it's the kitchen sink of snow, wind, and flood warnings.
But what about like today when the weather is going to be nice? I mean, isn't that by far and away the weather you most want to be urgently notified about?
Sad to say, the Weather Service doesn't have any nice weather warnings in their arsenal.
Partly to Mostly Bloggin' Weather Blog to the Rescue!
Here is my humble suggestion to NOAA to add to their advisory repertoire when the masses are about to be hit by a sunny and 77 streak...Umm, yeah, I think it's time to put the tarp out...
Updated: 2010-08-31 16:30:28
It's the weekend, and that means it's time to find some pretty pictures to hold the blog over until next week, and this weekend's version might just be in the Top 5...
First of all, take a look at this time lapse video that has been posted of the Perseid Meteor Shower raging above Mt. Rainier last week. Note how some of the meteor tails squiggle at the end:Awesome video of meteor shower above Mt. Rainier and aurora from space
Updated: 2010-08-31 16:30:28
It's the weekend, and that means it's time to find some pretty pictures to hold the blog over until next week, and this weekend's version might just be in the Top 5...
First of all, take a look at this time lapse video that has been posted of the Perseid Meteor Shower raging above Mt. Rainier last week. Note how some of the meteor tails squiggle at the end:Tuesday Morning Weather Update – 10 AM
Updated: 2010-08-31 16:15:55
Good Tuesday morning! Light rain and clouds will be moving out later today, and we’ll notice more sunshine in our forecast. The rain this morning is in response to a small scale disturbance. These are often hard to predict and can bring an unexpected rain. The system will work westward today and should be out [...]Big Bad Earl… Tuesday – 9 AM
Updated: 2010-08-31 15:53:34
AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT EARLIER REPORTED 700 MB FLIGHT-LEVEL WINDS OF 124 KT…AND ESTIMATED SURFACE WINDS OF 112 KT FROM THE SFMR. THE PLANE ALSO REPORTED A CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 931 MB. BASED ON THIS…THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS SET AT 115 KT. SINCE THE PLANE LEFT…A TRMM OVERPASS AND DATA FROM THE [...]Good Morning Fiona – Tuesday 9 AM
Updated: 2010-08-31 15:41:56
FIONA HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN STRUCTURE DURING THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS. DEEP CONVECTION REMAINS CONFINED TO A FEW CURVED BANDS MAINLY OVER THE WESTERN SEMICIRCLE…ALTHOUGH AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS RECENTLY FORMED NEAR THE ESTIMATED CENTER POSITION. THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS HELD AT 35 KT…IN AGREEMENT WITH AN 0056 UTC ASCAT PASS AND A 1007 [...]Unusual August Rainfall
Updated: 2010-08-31 00:41:00
: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Monday , August 30, 2010 Unusual August Rainfall An unusually heavy rainfall event for August is going to strike our region during the next two days , and its coming from the west and northwest--not the usual southwesterly direction of our big winter rains . Take a look at the latest satellite image above--see those clouds offshore they are the leading edge of the first a several , unusually strong , late summer disturbances that will strike . soon How wet Here are the latest 24-h rainfall total predictions for Washington State ending 5 PM Tuesday and Wednesday click on the images to get larger images The coast and western side of the Cascades get ,WVUA Forecast: Monday, August 30 5:22pm
Updated: 2010-08-30 23:33:45
Scattered showers continue this afternoon across parts of central and west Alabama. Other areas of West Alabama are seeing a few breaks in the cloud cover this afternoon. High pressure will try to work into our area overnight and during the day on Tuesday. We should see showers end tonight and gradual clearing begin. High [...]3rd warmest summer on record for Bowling Green
Updated: 2010-08-30 18:32:13This meteorological summer Jun-Aug is the 3rd warmest on record. This summer will be noted for extremes in the number of hot days and the times it got above 100 in August.WVUA Forecast
Updated: 2010-08-30 03:32:39Scattered shower and thundershower possibilites continue for West Alabama this Monday. We are waiting on the system that delivered the weekend rainfall to pull out of the area. Behind this system we should see dry air return this week. Afternoon highs will reach the lower to middle 90s by Tuesday, and continue through the upcoming [...]Earl is a Hurricane – Sunday, 12 PM
Updated: 2010-08-29 18:57:48
EARL HAS BECOME MUCH BETTER ORGANIZED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY WITH SEVERAL BANDS OF THUNDERSTORMS WRAPPING AROUND THE CENTER AND A DEVELOPING CDO. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT FOUND 850 MB FLIGHT-LEVEL WINDS OF 81 KT AND SFMR SURFACE WINDS OF 64 KT EARLIER THIS MORNING. THESE MEASUREMENTS SUPPORTED THE EARLIER UPGRADE TO HURRICANE [...]A Change in the Sky
Updated: 2010-08-29 05:10:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Saturday , August 28, 2010 A Change in the Sky Yesterday from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Visibility Camera Today from Dale Ireland's web cam Notice that the sky has a very different look the past two days Yes , there are clouds . but the clouds have a very different look . with the sky filled with cotton-ball , cumulus type clouds see above two images Some of the cumulus have grown into cumulonimbus with rain and lightning see satellite picture below , particularly over the eastern Cascade slopes What has caused these changes Destablization of the atmosphere . And what has caused that moving in of cool air . aloft There really has been an amazingModerate Drought for portions of Western Kentucky
Updated: 2010-08-29 04:54:14
This week portions of Western Kentucky are moving into moderate drought. The rainfall events we have had sinceMay have been have been less frequent than normal but the number of extremely heavy events is above normal in the Bowling Green region but not just to our west. Areas of the bluegrass region also have to be [...]Saturday Afternoon Weather Update – 5 PM
Updated: 2010-08-28 23:05:23
A good Saturday to you! There are some changes to the forecast for the rest of the weekend, as data has dramatically changed overnight. An area of low pressure is moving inland over Louisiana this afternoon, and it spreading lots of tropical moisture in from the southeast. Numerous showers and storms exist over southern Alabama [...]Watching Tropical Storm Earl… Saturday – 5 PM
Updated: 2010-08-28 23:03:28
THE CENTER BECAME EXPOSED EARLIER TODAY BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE SHEAR HAS BEGUN TO RELAX AND THE CENTER IS NOW TUCKED INTO THE CONVECTION ONCE AGAIN. EARL HAS MAINTAINED A LARGE VIGOROUS CIRCULATION AND ITS UPPER-LEVEL OUTFLOW IS MAINLY TO THE SOUTH AND WEST DUE TO THE STILL PREVAILING NORTHERLY SHEAR. T-NUMBERS THIS AFTERNOON [...]Friday Afternoon Weather Update – 3:30 PM
Updated: 2010-08-27 21:40:22
Good Friday afternoon! Football Friday is here, and our weather is looking rather hot for the local high school football games. Temperatures this afternoon are mainly in the lower 90s, but some storms south of Highway 80 is cooling off areas such as Linden and Demopolis. A few storms this evening to the south of [...]Friday Morning Weather Update – 9:30 AM
Updated: 2010-08-27 15:30:06
Good Friday morning to you! Our Local weather continues rather nice today, with seasonable temperatures and low humidity. Moisture levels have increased just a bit, so it isn’t going to be as comfortable as the past few days. However, we don’t feel a tropical airmass in here either. An area of high pressure at the [...]On Autopilot these days
Updated: 2010-08-27 03:04:14Over the next few days a very strong ridge will build over the eastern great lakes. For us here in the Bowling Green region this means several things 1. sinking air unfavorable for clouds and convection 2. some increase in humidity on the backside of the high this weekend 3. gradually increasing highs from the low 80’s [...]Major Change
Updated: 2010-08-26 05:09:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Wednesday , August 25, 2010 Major Change For the last few days the weather over the Northwest has been warm and sunny . nearly perfect for outdoor activities . The only negative of the warm , dry weather is fire . and if you look at this evening's visible satellite image you can see the smoke from two large fires over northern Oregon . Plus lots of low clouds along the coast , with a sliver entering the Strait of Juan de Fuca Here is a summary of the temperatures of the last 4 weeks versus the normal highs and . lows Pretty normal pattern , with periods of warmer and cooler than normal temps--average out the period , it all is close to normal . Therequiet week ahead
Updated: 2010-08-23 05:03:30
1. Overall we have very good agreement between the gfs and euro models which should make this an easy forecast.
2. Monday and Tuesday will be sunny and still hot with little wind and highs near 90 as weak high pressure will be in the region. Of note throughout the week will be a stalled front along the east [...]Sunday AM
Updated: 2010-08-22 16:01:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Sunday , August 22, 2010 Sunday AM A brief note---here is the visible sat picture and the latest radar . as predicted by the models a convergence zone has set up , plus clouds precipitation on the western mountain slopes . SUN is available even on the west side . for example , south of Tacoma there is bright sun right now . Or head east of the crest . get past Easton on I90 and you are . out Posted by Cliff Mass Weather Blog at 8:01 AM 4 comments : WanderChow said . What a beautiful satellite photo Yesterday seemed very autumnal . The sun's light is changing quickly it is swinging ever closer to the due-west sunset of the equinox . The red mountain ashIt's BACK!
Updated: 2010-08-22 04:56:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Saturday , August 21, 2010 It's BACK Rain that is . During most years there is a weather event during the third week of August that is the harbinger of the fall , when it becomes clear that the summer dry spell is over and cooler temperatures are . coming Yes , it can still be nice , and often Septembers have spectacular periods around here , but it is not the . same I am sitting in my home right now , listening to an unaccustomed sound . rain pattering on the roof . Take a look at the latest radar : image Showers develop over the Olympics during the past few hours and then drifted into central Puget Sound . Its also raining on the north coast , butshort term forecast
Updated: 2010-08-21 15:19:30A complex of showers and a few thunderstorms is moving east and southeast into the region well in advance of the front. As a result rain and storms are moving in a little sooner than expected today. Right now periods of showers and storms will occur into the early afternoon hours. The most intense storm [...]The Big Question
Updated: 2010-08-20 05:26:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Thursday , August 19, 2010 The Big Question I have repeatedly gotten asked one question--including tonight--so let me answer it for . all Why is the warmest period of the year in early August , when the sun is strongest on June 21st How could that be Or a similar question : Why are the highest daily temperatures in summer around 5 PM when the sun is strongest at 1 PM PDT The temperatures should be highest when the sun is the strongest , right Nope . that isn't . correct The temperature of the earth depends primarily on two things . The amount of radiation coming IN and the amount of radiation going OUT . Everyone is familiar with what is comingWeekend forecast
Updated: 2010-08-19 03:47:12Highlights - still warm but drier - scattered storms by the weekend Forecast The front and disturbance which brought heavy rain to region Wednesday will be south of the region with only morning clouds and patchy fog today with highs in the upper 80’s. Friday will see a return to southerly flow keeping the humidity in place [...]Rainfall record today
Updated: 2010-08-19 03:22:443.23 inches of rain fell today which broke the old mark of 1.72 inches in 1931.flash flood warning in effect
Updated: 2010-08-18 18:54:42we have had several rounds of storms today with hvy rains from a disturbance and moisture from td 5. The rainfall over 2 inches, some mesonet sites over 5 inches of rain has resulted in an increased flood threat today. Addtional storms may increase the flood threat again later this afternoon. Several reports of flooding have [...]It's Coming!
Updated: 2010-08-18 02:40:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Tuesday , August 17, 2010 It's Coming The Onshore Push Wind Chime Symphony at 10:30 PM There are few greater summer pleasures than an onshore push of marine air after a heat . wave It often starts between 8 and 10 PM . The wind chimes start ringing . Leaves rustle . A comfortable coolness envelopes us . And it is about to . happen The satellite picture at 6:30 PM shows low clouds are moving . inland The difference in pressure between Hoquiam and Seattle reached 3.5 mb enough to guarantee the change . Update at 9:30 PM The marine air has pushed past Shelton with a vengeance Here are the observations for the past few : hours click to see better At 0353
Heat Warning
Updated: 2010-08-14 17:33:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Saturday , August 14, 2010 Heat Warning It is going to be very hot today . in fact , several degrees warmer than some of the forecasts . Many locations in western Washington will get into the . mid-90s A number of stations . such as Sea Tac . are running ten degrees above yesterday Sea Tac got to 86 yesterday The profiler at San Point Seattle shows easterly flow aloft and temperatures of roughly 6 C 11F warmer than yesterday see plot So head for the water if you want to be cool . A good place . the Oregon coast . Stratus and southerly winds have pushed northward up the coast behind the thermal trough , which now is over western Washington see graphicThe Unimaginable: No Clouds--But Smoke is Back!
Updated: 2010-08-14 06:33:00: : skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Friday , August 13, 2010 The Unimaginable : No Clouds--But Smoke is Back UPDATE SAT MORNING : HOT Going to be warm today Lots of places will be in the lower to mid 90s Clouds have made their way up the Oregon coast . so go there for . cool Click on picture for closer view Above is a NASA MODIS image from this afternoon . something has changed No low clouds on the coast The unimaginable has happened . And heat and clear skies will dominate for a while due to offshore easterly flow These pictures are really wonderful , with superb resolution . You can see the irrigated lands of eastern Washington and cumulus forming over ridges over the northeast andDiablo Winds in the North Cascades and the Upcoming Heat Wave!
Updated: 2010-08-10 02:54:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Monday , August 9, 2010 Diablo Winds in the North Cascades and the Upcoming Heat Wave An green-blue mountain lake with towering mountains , snowfields and glaciers , as well as a fascinating meteorology--the is what I found during a pleasant stay this weekend at the North Cascade Institute where I was one of the instructors for their Naturalist Weekend Retreat . The location of this beautiful facility is on Diablo Lake see maps above and below b ehind City Light's Diablo Dam . A very pleasant place to take environmentally oriented classes or to use as a base for exploring the North . Cascades The lake see picture below has a green-bluish tinge due to
The Big Chill
Updated: 2010-08-07 05:40:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Friday , August 6, 2010 The Big Chill There is always that sense of regret and loss when the first frontal system makes landfall after the late July early August dry spell and this year it is coming early . Take a look at the latest infrared satellite image below--you can see the clouds associated with this front quite clearly . Today we had considerable clouds over the lowlands of western Washington and cooler temperatures . Tomorrow will be a substantial stop down . Clouds will prevail to the Cascade crest , particularly over the northern half of the state , and light showers should be on the coast in the am and move in during the morning over NWMini-Hurricane Over Vancouver Island!
Updated: 2010-08-05 18:33:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Thursday , August 5, 2010 Mini-Hurricane Over Vancouver Island Here is an amazing radar image this morning thanks to blog-follower Paul for bringing it to my attention Looks just like a mini-hurricane with rainbands The animation is even more : impressive http : www.atmos.washington.edu ovens loops wxloop.cgi atx_n0r+16 3h and here it is in the visible satellite : image The origin The atmosphere this morning is relatively unstable thus convection and there is an atmospheric vortex centered over Vancouver Island . You could see the signs of the instability yesterday : thunderstorms over the Cascades with some mid-level convection over the westernWhy did smoke cause the a reddish sun?
Updated: 2010-08-03 20:07:00: skip to main skip to sidebar Cliff Mass Weather Blog This blog provides my latest forecast or comments on current weather or other topics Tuesday , August 3, 2010 Why did smoke cause the a reddish sun On Sunday a number of you noted the reddish color of the sky and the orange-red hue of the sun . I mentioned in my blog that day that this was the result of smoke from wildfires , blowing in from BC the main origin and eastern . Washington But why does smoke cause the red coloration The reason The scattering of light by small particles in the atmosphere--also known as Rayleigh . Scattering It also explains why the sky is blue The light from the sun contains all wavelengths and is essentially white . White light possesses contributions from all wavelengths or colors in the visible spectrum