July 2018 Weather in the Pacific Northwest

[Front Ranger]

That is my thought too.

 

There have only been 7 years where SEA has had below normal precip every month from May - August: 1951, 1952, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, and 2003. 

[MossMan]

A little dribble of drizzle!

[TigerWoodsLibido]

64F under marine clouds in Springfield. Very pleasant morning.

[Jesse]

The persistently low dewpoints the past few summers have been a big problem. The higher humidity in the summers of 2013 and 2014 was much appreciated.

Of course, there are many summers that have been moist without being torches like those (especially 2014).

[MossMan]

Heavy drizzle!

[Front Ranger]

Of course, there are many summers that have been moist without being torches like those (especially 2014).

 

Semi-regular rains May through July seems like the best antidote to a bad fire season. Some of the worst wildfire years like 1958, 2015, and 2017 all turned dry in late spring and then really dry for a month or two in the summer.

 

Unfortunately, 2018 has taken that path so far as well. A region-wide soaking before August would be hugely beneficial, but that doesn't look likely at all.

[Geos]

Highs in the 70s would fit my definition of paradise, yes.

 

Scheduled to land at SeaTac around 8pm tomorrow, then making the drive up to Everett. Also grabbed some tickets to the Mariners/White Sox game on the 20th.

 

That looks like it will be just that.

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-122.19068745489528&lat=47.97076872041694#.W1C7itJKg2w

[Front Ranger]

Basically all of western OR/WA south of Seattle is now in moderate drought conditions.

 

 

When comparing to maps at this time from previous years (they go back to 2000), the only time the drought situation was worse for areas west of the mountains was 2015, when much of the region was in severe drought.

[BLI snowman]

Of course, there are many summers that have been moist without being torches like those (especially 2014).

 

Whatever keeps the dust and fire danger down keeps me happy. I don't remember those being bad fire seasons here locally but I could be forgetting.

[Phil]

Fascinating.

 

http://www.stce.be/news/414/welcome.html

[Geos]

Clouds even more extensive this morning.

 

 

Low of 55 last night felt great! 

[Jesse]

Basically all of western OR/WA south of Seattle is now in moderate drought conditions.

 

20180717_west_none.png

 

When comparing to maps at this time from previous years (they go back to 2000), the only time the drought situation was worse for areas west of the mountains was 2015, when much of the region was in severe drought.

Heavy drizzle!!!

[Jesse]

Whatever keeps the dust and fire danger down keeps me happy. I don't remember those being bad fire seasons here locally but I could be forgetting.

2014 had some bad ones on the east side. Well above average temps are a pretty significant part of the fire equation.

[BLI snowman]

2014 had some bad ones on the east side. Well above average temps are a pretty significant part of the fire equation.

 

Yeah, I forgot about the big Okanogan County fire that year. 2013 was fairly average though.

[Phil]

Just another 70” of snow over the next 10 days across Western Greenland. No biggie.

 

[Blizzard777]

Hmmmmm

[Frontal Snowsquall]

Looks like the wildfire near The Dallas has grown to over 50,000 acres and expected to increase by tonight. The good news is that the winds are suppose to die down by tomorrow so hopefully they can make progress.

 

"THE DALLES, OR (KPTV) -

 

Crews responding to the wildfire burning near The Dalles are expecting a busy day with similar weather conditions as Wednesday as they try to get a handle on the growing fire.

 

Officials provided an update on the Substation Fire Thursday morning and said the fire remained at more than 50,000 acres, but they expect it to increase by the evening."

 

 

http://www.kptv.com/story/38684614/deadly-substation-fire-remains-at-more-than-50k-acres-cause-under-investigation

[MossMan]

Chilly 59 here in Skykomish currently. Nothing around here looks drought stressed either. Lush!!

[Geos]

Just another 70” of snow over the next 10 days across Western Greenland. No biggie.

 

 

That reminds me of this story. Birds that breed in the Arctic are finding their food supplies cut off by the deep snow still. Many places have snow depths of 1 m or more. Birds are starving by the thousands.

 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/late-snowpack-signals-a-lost-summer-for-greenlands-shorebirds/

 

Being dubbed the year without a summer in Greenland and Baffin Island areas. 

[Frontal Snowsquall]

Looks like the wildfire near The Dallas has grown to over 50,000 acres and expected to increase by tonight. The good news is that the winds are suppose to die down by tomorrow so hopefully they can make progress.

 

"THE DALLES, OR (KPTV) -

 

Crews responding to the wildfire burning near The Dalles are expecting a busy day with similar weather conditions as Wednesday as they try to get a handle on the growing fire.

 

Officials provided an update on the Substation Fire Thursday morning and said the fire remained at more than 50,000 acres, but they expect it to increase by the evening."

 

 

http://www.kptv.com/story/38684614/deadly-substation-fire-remains-at-more-than-50k-acres-cause-under-investigation

It looks like they are suspecting arson as the cause of the wildfire. After what happened last year with the Columbia River Gorge fire, it continues to amaze me how irresponsible people are. This one is even worse than last year because this would have been intentional. If it is arson they need to find the person(s) and hopefully bring them to justice. An innocent man lost his life in all of this.

 

"During a press conference Thursday morning, when asked about the cause of the Substation Fire, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown told a reporter, "clearly, you're hearing there is a likelihood of arson, and our agencies are going to help in that investigation."

 

After the press conference ended, KGW reporter Tim Gordon spoke to Oregon Assistant State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple and Doug Grafe, the Fire Protection Division Chief with the Oregon Department of Forestry, and both confirmed that local law enforcement agencies are investigating the fire as suspected arson."

 

https://www.kgw.com/mobile/article/news/local/deadly-wildfire-near-the-dalles-being-investigated-as-suspected-arson/283-574914450

[Phil]

Awesome trends on the GEFS from 00z to 12z for the end of July onwards (trend map, not an anomaly map).

 

One of the few times I’m actually rooting for this pattern.

 

[Kayla]

12z ECWMF looks brutal beginning Sunday until the end of the run.

 

Jesse might appreciate that Montana looks to get just enough NW flow from the departing trough to keep things in check so possibly nice escape from the excessive heat. Skirting a real fine line though on this run.

[Geos]

Chilly 59 here in Skykomish currently. Nothing around here looks drought stressed either. Lush!!

 

I can tell you were parked at that gas station - the only gas station there!

 

Clouds still show no signs of breaking here. 61 only.

[Phil]

That reminds me of this story. Birds that breed in the Arctic are finding their food supplies cut off by the deep snow still. Many places have snow depths of 1 m or more. Birds are starving by the thousands.

 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/late-snowpack-signals-a-lost-summer-for-greenlands-shorebirds/

 

Being dubbed the year without a summer in Greenland and Baffin Island areas.

Wow, that’s insane (and sad). Really feels like the beginning of a shift up there.

 

If the Baffin Vortex remains coherent through the month of August (unprecedented in recent decades) then I’ll be convinced that this is a legitimate, longer term climate shift. Until then, I’m on the fence about it (not that it matters what I think, haha).

[Deweydog]

Perfect morning for deck staining!

 

Thanks global warming/cooling!

[ShawniganLake]

Looks like the wildfire near The Dallas has grown to over 50,000 acres and expected to increase by tonight. The good news is that the winds are suppose to die down by tomorrow so hopefully they can make progress.

 

"THE DALLES, OR (KPTV) -

 

Crews responding to the wildfire burning near The Dalles are expecting a busy day with similar weather conditions as Wednesday as they try to get a handle on the growing fire.

 

Officials provided an update on the Substation Fire Thursday morning and said the fire remained at more than 50,000 acres, but they expect it to increase by the evening."

 

 

http://www.kptv.com/story/38684614/deadly-substation-fire-remains-at-more-than-50k-acres-cause-under-investigation

Is it all grasslands.

[Chewbacca Defense]

Is it all grasslands.

 

 

A lot of wheat fields too, so lots of farmers and farm workers watching their paycheck go up in smoke.....if I had to speculate (I haven't been able to read many articles) the guy who died last night was probably trying to cut a fire line to protect his property and crops.

[Frontal Snowsquall]

Is it all grasslands.

It's mostly scrub grass and wheat fields. The wheat fields are how these farmers make a living so it's not looking good for them at the moment.

[Frontal Snowsquall]

The 12z EURO trended warmer for the middle of next week. For PDX it's showing the heatwave starting on Sunday with Monday and Tuesday getting into the mid 90s. Then Wednesday to Saturday it's showing upper 90s/close to 100. July is going to finish the hottest on record here for PDX now.

[Geos]

A lot of wheat fields too, so lots of farmers and farm workers watching their paycheck go up in smoke.....if I had to speculate (I haven't been able to read many articles) the guy who died last night was probably trying to cut a fire line to protect his property and crops.

 

Yeah mostly likely he was trying to protect his crops and home. Sad

 

Can't really see the smoke on the satellite. Interesting cloud patterns off shore.

 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Yeah mostly likely he was trying to protect his crops and home. Sad

 

Can't really see the smoke on the satellite. Interesting cloud patterns off shore.

 

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/wfo/pqr/vis.jpg

 

Looking north from Pilot Butte in Bend last night the smoke was barely visible. In fact in this picture you cannot really make it out.

 

[Geos]

Mid July sun not enough strong enough; so far, to break up these marine clouds. Temperature flat line at 61 since 11:30 here. 

[Jesse]

What an awful Euro run. Hope it’s out to lunch.

[Geos]

What an awful Euro run. Hope it’s out to lunch.

 

I can tell by the 850 mb temps. Is it highs in the 90s to near 100?

[MossMan]

I can tell by the 850 mb temps. Is it highs in the 90s to near 100?

Sounds fun!!

[TigerWoodsLibido]

Clouds starting to break up.

[Geos]

Sounds fun!!

 

Your area probably won't be as hot as it will down this way.

 

Solid cloud deck still, up to 62...

[ShawniganLake]

Finally. The sun is out. Took long enough.

[Deweydog]

Low cloud shocker in progress!

 

#1985reincarnate!

[Front Ranger]

#!!!#!!