July 2018 Weather in the Pacific Northwest

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I was just giving you a hard time anyways. Not a big deal

 

 

 

You never know with some people on here...,

[ShawniganLake]

Since the rainy season ended abruptly on April 16th this year, today marks the 3 month mark. Just 2.29” of rain has fallen here during that stretch.

[TT-SEA]

Since the rainy season ended abruptly on April 16th this year, today marks the 3 month mark. Just 2.29” of rain has fallen here during that stretch.

Over 7 inches here since that time.

 

But its starting to dry out now. Sunny sides of roads are starting to look dry.

[Jesse]

Noticed this morning that some deciduous trees around here are starting to prematurely change color due to drought stress. Don’t usually see that until mid-August or so, if at all.

[Timmy]

Noticed this morning that some deciduous trees around here are starting to prematurely change color due to drought stress. Don’t usually see that until mid-August or so, if at all.

Better stop driving my gas-guzzlers.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

About 2" here since mid-April. Average would be about 12-13" in that span.

[Jesse]

Are they getting bsf too?

It all trended east.

[Timmy]

About 2" here since mid-April. Average would be about 12-13" in that span.

do you know if they banned campfires up near your way at state parks? Going to Detroit lake this weekend.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

do you know if they banned campfires up near your way at state parks? Going to Detroit lake this weekend.

 

I don't think so. I drove up to the park to check things out on Friday. They were staging for the small wildfire, but the campground was still open and people had campfires going.

[MossMan]

Over 7 inches here since that time.

 

But its starting to dry out now. Sunny sides of roads are starting to look dry.

I still have slugs roaming around up here! Still lush as can be here at the moment anyway. I figured my grass would start baking out after this hot weekend and with the soil difference from my old place, but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m sure this week I will start seeing signs of dryness though.

[BLI snowman]

SEA has seen 1.16" since April 16.

 

Such a drippy climate!

[Phil]

Interesting departures for the first half of July. Once again the departure decreases as one goes further south in the Willamette Valley.

 

PDX: 4.2

SLE: 3.5

EUG: 0.8

I wonder if PDX needs a sensor swap? It’s really been diverging warm since March, more-so than usual per the NCDC plots.

 

Either way, UHI is very evident there.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

It all trended east.

Correction it SLIDES east. Let's try to make it as sexual as possible, please.

[Front Ranger]

Those stats may reflect EUG's colder nights (due to UHI ) more than anything else.

 

The average to date high temps for July are a lot closer:

 

PDX: 84.7

SLE: 84.7

EUG: 83.7

EUG averaging highs a degree below PDX is unusual, though. Shows it really has been cooler further south.

[Jesse]

I wonder if PDX needs a sensor swap? It’s really been diverging warm since March, more-so than usual per the NCDC plots.

 

Either way, UHI is very evident there.

Lately they do seem to tack on a degree or two beyond what you would expect. Especially on warm, sunny days. Of course, we’ve been in fairly warm patterns the last few months as well.

[TT-SEA]

SEA has seen 1.16" since April 16.

 

Such a drippy climate!

It is a drippy climate.

[BLI snowman]

It is a drippy climate.

 

SEA might see 4" of precip a year on that rate.

 

Impressive aridity.

[TT-SEA]

SEA might see 4" of precip a year on that rate.

 

Impressive aridity.

 

 

Yep... that is the climate here.   Great insight!  

[TT-SEA]

I still have slugs roaming around up here! Still lush as can be here at the moment anyway. I figured my grass would start baking out after this hot weekend and with the soil difference from my old place, but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m sure this week I will start seeing signs of dryness though.

 

 

Lots of slugs around here too.

 

Just took this pic of the lawn... have not watered it yet this year.    Although I am letting it stay long during this warm spell.

 

[Front Ranger]

It is a drippy climate.

Not always.

[Front Ranger]

SEA has seen 1.16" since April 16.

 

Such a drippy climate!

I can't imagine many years have been drier from mid April to mid July. Only a handful have been drier for any 3 month stretch.

[TT-SEA]

Not all year long.

 

 

No... we normally have drier weather during the summer.    I know this is really surprising!     But its a drippy climate overall.

 

Here is what Wikipedia says:

 

Seattle has a temperate marine climate, classified as warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb), with cool, wet winters and mild, relatively dry summers.^[85][86]The city and environs are part of USDA hardiness zone 8b, with isolated coastal pockets falling under 9a.^[87]

Temperature extremes are moderated by the adjacent Puget Sound, greater Pacific Ocean, and Lake Washington. Thus extreme heat waves are rare in the Seattle area, as are very cold temperatures (below about 15 °F (−9 °C)). The Seattle area is the most cloudy region of the United States, due in part to frequent storms and lows moving in from the adjacent Pacific Ocean. Despite having a reputation for frequent rain, Seattle receives less precipitation than many other U.S. cities like Chicago or New York City. However, unlike many other U.S. cities, Seattle has many more "rain days", when a very light drizzle falls from the sky for many days.^[88] In an average year, at least 0.01 inches (0.25 mm) of precipitation falls on 150 days, more than nearly all U.S. cities east of the Rocky Mountains

[BLI snowman]

I can't imagine many years have been drier from mid April to mid July. Only a handful have been drier for any 3 month stretch.

 

2015 might be the closest competition but this year has been drier.

 

Tim is obviously bothered by the fact that he lives on a remote mountaintop and the actual PNW is becoming increasingly baren and dusty. It feels like Tombstone here.

 

Salem hasn't seen measurable precipitation since June 11!

[TT-SEA]

Despite being drier than normal even out here since April 16th... its still really wet for 2018.   

 

And even though its been drier than normal overall out here... it was still sufficiently wet and cloudy over the last 3 months to keep it green and lush.   It has definitely stayed green out here longer this summer than any year since 2012 (but 2016 was close).

 

[TT-SEA]

2015 might be the closest competition but this year has been drier.

 

Tim is obviously bothered by the fact that he lives on a remote mountaintop and the actual PNW is becoming increasingly baren and dusty. It feels like Tombstone here.

 

Salem hasn't seen measurable precipitation since June 11!

 

 

It still been anomalously wet here in 2018.    That is compared to the average rainfall here.  

 

But overall... we have greatly appreciated the rain since the middle of April.    Its been wonderful for our landscaping and garden.    I wish we had some more sun in May and June... but the rain has been welcome for the most part.  

 

I would love some more rain right now.    It will come.   It always does!   

[Timmy Supercell]

Looking back at some of my weather notes, the last time (before yesterday's storms) I had an AM thunderstorm between sunrise and noon was 06/09/2015 in Klamath Falls.

 

For a place very prone to storms in the spring and summer, you'd figure I'd average at least 1 or 2 every year. Even in 2014 I had none that occurred between midnight to noon, that was a year I recorded 21 t'storm days, almost twice my annual average.

[Jesse]

2015 might be the closest competition but this year has been drier.

 

Tim is obviously bothered by the fact that he lives on a remote mountaintop and the actual PNW is becoming increasingly baren and dusty. It feels like Tombstone here.

 

Salem hasn't seen measurable precipitation since June 11!

The tree die off next spring should be pretty sobering. There was a large die off in 2016 following the 2015 mega-drought, and this year is looking even worse. Gradual change over to California-lite vegetation.

[Timmy Supercell]

I had a significant amount of convective precipitation in 2015. Like the types of storms that turn streets into streams in July/August. I don't have the numbers on me but I am sure the J-J-A period in both 2015 and 2014 were like 250-300% normal rainfall here and not just in Klamath. 

[James Jones]

The tree die off next spring should be pretty sobering. There was a large die off in 2016 following the 2015 mega-drought, and this year is looking even worse. Gradual change over to California-lite vegetation.

 

I've been noticing the color on some trees in the last week or so as well, definitely the earliest I've ever seen it happen. But as Tim says, the rain always comes!!!!

[TT-SEA]

I've been noticing the color on some trees in the last week or so as well, definitely the earliest I've ever seen it happen. But as Tim says, the rain always comes!!!!

It does here!!!

 

Sorry... I don't live in Portand.

[Jesse]

It does here!!!

 

Sorry... I don't live in Portand.

Then why do you feel the need to respond with your latest slug-stat the umpteenth time everyone posts an observation about drought down here?

[TT-SEA]

Then why do you feel the need to post your latest slug-stat the umpteenth time everyone posts an observation about drought down here?

Randy brought up slugs today.

 

But it's been quite the battle for us this year in the garden. Worse than ever.

[BLI snowman]

The tree die off next spring should be pretty sobering. There was a large die off in 2016 following the 2015 mega-drought, and this year is looking even worse. Gradual change over to California-lite vegetation.

 

We're basically just becoming what SW Oregon was a few decades ago. No biggie.

[Jesse]

We're basically just becoming what SW Oregon was a few decades ago. No biggie.

I miss seeing bigleaf maple trees with a full, healthy canopy. Most of them have dead branches and brown areas of dying leaves on the top now. Our classic Portland area scenery has really taken a hit. Basically everything looks unhealthy these days.

[TT-SEA]

Lots of slugs around here too.

 

Just took this pic of the lawn... have not watered it yet this year. Although I am letting it stay long during this warm spell.

 

Big leaf maple on the left of pic above.

[Jesse]

Big leaf maple on the left of pic above.

Looks way healthier than the ones down here. When we were at the coast yesterday they looked pretty healthy heading down the Nestucca valley to Pacific City too. Sort of underscored how much the inland ones are suffering in this area.

 

Not sure if it’s the early dry out or the sustained heat the last several summers, probably a combination of the two.

[TT-SEA]

Looks way healthier than the ones down here. When we were at the coast yesterday they looked pretty healthy heading down the Nestucca valley to Pacific City too. Sort of underscored how much the inland ones are suffering in this area.

 

Not sure if it’s the early dry out or the sustained heat the last several summers, probably a combination of the two.

Yeah... it is really unfortunate how dry it's been in the inland areas from Seattle southward since April.

 

I don't think it's a permanent warm season phenomenon though... despite how it feels now. At least I hope not.

[Jesse]

For those that scoff at the potential for heat and drought related tree die off in the west, here’s how bad it’s been in California in recent years. And there is nothing that says our forests are immune to this sort of thing. Might just be a matter of time.

 

Sierra foothills in Fresno county. Taken summer 2015:

 

 

Then summer 2016 from the same viewpoint:

 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Noticing the GFS ensembles have slowly crept warmer for the entire run the past two runs...

[Jesse]

Noticing the GFS ensembles have slowly crept warmer for the entire run the past two runs...

Too be expected.,.