August 2018 Weather in the Pacific Northwest

[VancouverIslandSouth]

Does smoke cause higher dewpoints?

 

I see that SEA and BLI are at 61 now... which seems high for this pattern (and weak offshore flow) in a normal situation when we are not choking on British Columbia's smoke and ash debris.  

 

I think it has more to do with air trajectory. This airmass originated over the Central BC interior, which just received some heavy rains. The Strait of Georgia, with current SSTs around 68-70F, may also be contributing. The dewpoint maxed out at 63F here under northerly winds with pretty similar readings at other places around the Strait. Seems like it could be another warm night, last night started warming up from about midnight on.

[Tyler Mode]

I had a low of 55 in Battle Ground.  Not as bad as it could have been I guess. 

[TT-SEA]

Looks like the smoke will finally be shoved east by Friday morning...

 

[MossMan]

Looks like we all have less time now.

https://komonews.com/news/local/research-wildfire-smoke-may-be-killing-tens-of-thousands-in-us

[ShawniganLake]

This photo was taken just after 4pm yesterday near Fraser Lake BC. The smoke was so thick above that it was basically pitch black.

 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Obviously nobody here experienced the lightly regulated field burning years of the 70's and 80's in the mid Willamette Valley.

 

You want smoke? There were times where the street lights would actually come on in the middle of the afternoon.

 

At least it was usually cleared out by the next day (until the next round of burning took place)

 

Disclaimer. I took part in some of the burning as part of a summer job

 

I grew up on the valley floor between Silverton and Mt. Angel. We moved there in 1989. I remember up until the mid-90s they burned the field across the street from us every summer. By the late 90's field burning on the valley floor was pretty much over. But it was still very extensive in the foothills. I remember a thunderstorm rolling off the foothills in to Silverton in August 1998 which I had not noticed coming because the sky was already dark with smoke. 

 

You are right though, generally the field burning smoke would clear up very quickly. 

 

I still live in one of the few/only places in Oregon where they still field burn, but it is fairly limited and they really space it out from late July into early September. I believe they only allow them to burn the fields where they had grown fine fescue.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

[MossMan]

This photo was taken just after 4pm yesterday near Fraser Lake BC. The smoke was so thick above that it was basically pitch black.

 

9FA9D57C-B2D3-4BBE-A825-425B4CEFD58A.jpeg

Wow!

[ShawniganLake]

GEFS seems to be latching onto a pattern change during week 2. Wonder if the EPS will get onboard today.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

GEFS seems to be latching onto a pattern change during week 2. Wonder if the EPS will get onboard today.

Really hope so. Would suck to come home to Silent Hill.

[Frontal Snowsquall]

[BLI snowman]

Finally back awake and am able to move around. Waking up to thick smoke and poor air quality. But at least I am at OHSU, climate controlled and much cooler than the inferno outside.

 

Thanks for the support folks

 

Nice to hear!

[jakeinthevalley]

I grew up on the valley floor between Silverton and Mt. Angel. We moved there in 1989. I remember up until the mid-90s they burned the field across the street from us every summer. By the late 90's field burning on the valley floor was pretty much over. But it was still very extensive in the foothills. I remember a thunderstorm rolling off the foothills in to Silverton in August 1998 which I had not noticed coming because the sky was already dark with smoke. 

 

You are right though, generally the field burning smoke would clear up very quickly. 

 

I still live in one of the few/only places in Oregon where they still field burn, but it is fairly limited and they really space it out from late July into early September. I believe they only allow them to burn the fields where they had grown fine fescue.

Yeah, you moved there during the tail end of the lightly regulated burning. The only time burning was off limits was with an off shore wind that would send the smoke towards Salem. Didn't always keep some farmers from burning though. When they were ready and had the crews in place...."light 'em, Boys!!"

 

The fines were a "minor" inconvenience, if even levied! DEQ didn't have much pull then. Sure people complained, but pretty much a way of life living in the east valley.

 

Never would have considered cancelling football practice due to air quality. Daily doubles with ash falling on the practice field was just a sign of the season!

[jcmcgaffey]

Looks like this years smoke is worse than last years although last year seemed to affect me more than this year for some reason.

https://komonews.com/weather/scotts-weather-blog/wildfire-smoke-reaches-unhealthy-levels-in-seattle-howd-it-get-so-bad

[Phil]

[SilverFallsAndrew]

TigerWoodsLibido you are like my favorite poster on here so glad to hear you are doing well. 

 

I know you are a big college BB fan. Maybe we can catch a ducks game this year. I usually go to 3-4 a season. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Yeah, you moved there during the tail end of the lightly regulated burning. The only time burning was off limits was with an off shore wind that would send the smoke towards Salem. Didn't always keep some farmers from burning though. When they were ready and had the crews in place...."light 'em, Boys!!"

 

The fines were a "minor" inconvenience, if even levied! DEQ didn't have much pull then. Sure people complained, but pretty much a way of life living in the east valley.

 

Never would have considered cancelling football practice due to air quality. Daily doubles with ash falling on the practice field was just a sign of the season!

 

I still think of the field burning as a summer time rite of passage in the Willamette Valley. My understanding is that terrible accident on I-5 in 1988 or so was the catalyst for more regulation. But it was probably coming regardless. 

[Chewbacca Defense]

Obviously nobody here experienced the lightly regulated field burning years of the 70's and 80's in the mid Willamette Valley.

 

You want smoke? There were times where the street lights would actually come on in the middle of the afternoon.

 

At least it was usually cleared out by the next day (until the next round of burning took place)

 

Disclaimer. I took part in some of the burning as part of a summer job

 

I moved to the mid-valley January '94, and it had slowed down by then.  I didn't know about it so it was pretty alarming to walk outside and see these huge smoke plumes shooting into the sky.  By that time, I think only a certain number of acres could be burned, and the weather conditions had to be just right.  So you might go a week or 2 with nothing then one day 5-6 fields would go off in quick succession.

 

 

My wife grew up in Corvallis, and she told me about the huge fatal wreck they had on I-5 in Albany because the smoke shifted and reduced visibility to zero in an instant.

 

 

I've always had a mild grass allergy, but it turns out moving to the "grass seed capital of the world" turns that mild allergy into a severe allergy over the course of about 6 seasons.  Who'da thunk?  

 

Left in '02 and I've never been back.  By the time we moved I was barely surviving on heavy doses of steroids and antihistamines.  We went to Portland about 6 years later in mid-June, and by the 3rd day my eyes were watering really bad and my sinuses went nuts.  I don't think I will ever be able to visit the Willamette Valley during early summer.  Thankfully my son had zero interest in OSU or U of O.

 

Do they still do the field burning?

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I moved to the mid-valley January '94, and it had slowed down by then.  I didn't know about it so it was pretty alarming to walk outside and see these huge smoke plumes shooting into the sky.  By that time, I think only a certain number of acres could be burned, and the weather conditions had to be just right.  So you might go a week or 2 with nothing then one day 5-6 fields would go off in quick succession.

 

 

My wife grew up in Corvallis, and she told me about the huge fatal wreck they had on I-5 in Albany because the smoke shifted and reduced visibility to zero in an instant.

 

 

I've always had a mild grass allergy, but it turns out moving to the "grass seed capital of the world" turns that mild allergy into a severe allergy over the course of about 6 seasons.  Who'da thunk?  

 

Left in '02 and I've never been back.  By the time we moved I was barely surviving on heavy doses of steroids and antihistamines.  We went to Portland about 6 years later in mid-June, and by the 3rd day my eyes were watering really bad and my sinuses went nuts.  I don't think I will ever be able to visit the Willamette Valley during early summer.  Thankfully my son had zero interest in OSU or U of O.

 

Do they still do the field burning?

 

They do very limited burning in the Waldo and Silverton Hills. I think about 12,000 acres were burned last summer. 

[jakeinthevalley]

I moved to the mid-valley January '94, and it had slowed down by then.  I didn't know about it so it was pretty alarming to walk outside and see these huge smoke plumes shooting into the sky.  By that time, I think only a certain number of acres could be burned, and the weather conditions had to be just right.  So you might go a week or 2 with nothing then one day 5-6 fields would go off in quick succession.

 

 

My wife grew up in Corvallis, and she told me about the huge fatal wreck they had on I-5 in Albany because the smoke shifted and reduced visibility to zero in an instant.

 

 

I've always had a mild grass allergy, but it turns out moving to the "grass seed capital of the world" turns that mild allergy into a severe allergy over the course of about 6 seasons.  Who'da thunk?  

 

Left in '02 and I've never been back.  By the time we moved I was barely surviving on heavy doses of steroids and antihistamines.  We went to Portland about 6 years later in mid-June, and by the 3rd day my eyes were watering really bad and my sinuses went nuts.  I don't think I will ever be able to visit the Willamette Valley during early summer.  Thankfully my son had zero interest in OSU or U of O.

 

Do they still do the field burning?

Yes, there are still a limited number of acres that are permitted. As Andrew said, they are limited to fields towards the east foothills.

 

The pile up on I5 south of Albany was certainly the catalyst for the reduction of the "open Season" burning throughout the Valley.

 

It is still one of my favorite Summer jobs. You would disc a 20' fire break around the perimeter of the field. We had an old Ford truck with the doors removed and a water tank in the back. Pick the upwind side of the field and start driving with a drip torch of napalm. Goes up in a hurry so get the heck out of there!

[TT-SEA]

Here is the link to a story about that field burning accident from 1988... WOW.  

 

Actually included a truck carrying wood chips... perfect storm.  

 

https://www.oregonlive.com/data/2015/02/smoky_21-vehicle_pileup_kills.html

 

[Deweydog]

Sub-90 low smoke shocker in progress!

[Farmboy]

It'll be kinda sad to see the warm weather go. Not the smoke, just the warm weather, as we usher in the impending non-stop wet, cold, gloomy, lifeless months ahead...

[Kayla]

Sub-90 low smoke shocker in progress!

Only running -3 compared to yesterday.

 

91

[TT-SEA]

It'll be kinda sad to see the warm weather go. Not the smoke, just the warm weather, as we usher in the impending non-stop wet, cold, gloomy, lifeless months ahead...

 

Same thought here.

 

Wish the smoke would exit stage right so we can enjoy what is left of summer.    So fleeting.    

[WeatherArchive]

Obviously nobody here experienced the lightly regulated field burning years of the 70's and 80's in the mid Willamette Valley.

 

You want smoke? There were times where the street lights would actually come on in the middle of the afternoon.

 

At least it was usually cleared out by the next day (until the next round of burning took place)

 

Disclaimer. I took part in some of the burning as part of a summer job

I am subscribed to the Statesman Journal Archives any years in particular where it worse then others?  

[Phil]

It'll be kinda sad to see the warm weather go. Not the smoke, just the warm weather, as we usher in the impending non-stop wet, cold, gloomy, lifeless months ahead...

Either move or stop complaining about it, man. One Tim is more than enough.

[Front Ranger]

Same thought here.

 

Wish the smoke would exit stage right so we can enjoy what is left of summer. So fleeting.

Regular diet of 70+ weather for the past 4 months. With probably at least 1 more month to go.

 

Not that fleeting.

[TT-SEA]

Either move or stop complaining about it, man. One Tim is more than enough.

 

 

Says the fool who complains endlessly about the heat!   

 

I actually don't complain much at all during the fall and winter... rain is just expected.   My complaining ramps up in the spring if it remains nasty.    Human nature.  I did not complain much at all this year until April.    

[Deweydog]

Either move or stop complaining about it, man. One Tim is more than enough.

I've always wondered if DC summers are humid? It'd be nice if we had boots on the ground to let us know. A lot.

[TT-SEA]

Regular diet of 70+ weather for the past 4 months. With probably at least 1 more month to go.

 

Not that fleeting.

 

Lots of crappy weather in there before the 4th of July.   

 

Typical here... summer just gets rolling and then its almost over.    

[Farmboy]

Either move or stop complaining about it, man. One Tim is more than enough.

Did u really just say that? lol...

[Phil]

I've always wondered if DC summers are humid? It'd be nice if we had boots on the ground to let us know. A lot.

Didn’t you say something about high humidity making you feel “physically ill” a few years back? Easy to talk smack when you never have to deal with it.

[Front Ranger]

Lots of crappy weather in there before the 4th of July.   

 

Typical here... summer just gets rolling and then its almost over.    

 

The fact that you are complaining about this year being "typical" (despite it having the driest mid April to mid August period on record at SEA) speaks volumes.

 

SEA has had 75 70+ days this year. They'll probably end up with close to 100. PDX probably 120. That is a large portion of the year with warm weather.

[Deweydog]

Didn’t you say something about high humidity making you feel “physically ill” a few years back? Easy to talk smack when you never have to deal with it.

Either move or stop complaining about it, man. One Phil is more than enough.

[TT-SEA]

The fact that you are complaining about this year being "typical" (despite it having the driest mid April to mid August period on record at SEA) speaks volumes.

 

SEA has had 75 70+ days this year. They'll probably end up with close to 100. PDX probably 120. That is a large portion of the year with warm weather.

 

 

Was much more typical out here until July 10th

 

June was barely drier than normal here... and we had rain on almost half the days.   

 

March and May were drier than normal... January, February, April, and late June into early July were very wet.     

 

And we are still above normal overall for rain for 2018.     

[Front Ranger]

Was much more typical out here until July 10th.

 

Ok. .12" at SEA in May is also quite typical.

[TT-SEA]

Ok. .12" at SEA in May is also quite typical.

 

There was an unusually dramatic difference between SEA and my area in February and again in May and June into early July.     Way more than the normal difference.  

 

That happened.

 

We have been over this many times... it does not change when you review it again.   

[TT-SEA]

Visibility at SEA has been around 3 miles for the last couple days... now up to 6 miles as onshore flow begins to ramp up.

 

Baby steps!  

[Front Ranger]

There was an unusually dramatic difference between SEA and my area in February and again in May and June into early July.     Way more than the normal difference.  

 

That happened.

 

We have been over this many times... it does not change when you review it again.   

 

Ok, well there is also a difference between your area and statements you try to apply to the general area - like "our summer is so fleeting". 

 

And you like to use SEA stats when they suit your points...talking about your local region. You have kind of painted yourself into that corner.