March 2019 Weather Discussion in the PNW

[Deweydog]

Ignorant f*cks...

 

https://komonews.com/weather/scotts-weather-blog/forget-monday-this-is-the-warmest-winter-day-in-seattle-history

[Jesse]

Ignorant f*cks...

 

https://komonews.com/weather/scotts-weather-blog/forget-monday-this-is-the-warmest-winter-day-in-seattle-history

 

Sexy headline. The denier freaks are gonna sh*t when they see this one!

[Cloud]

[Deweydog]

Sexy headline. The denier freaks are gonna sh*t when they see this one!

Take that, Trump!

[Blizzard777]

On a personal note. As nice a day as it is, days like today is absolute miserable for me. Seasonal allergies is in full force and the wind just makes it worse.

Mine will soon awake

It really does suck!

[Jesse]

Take that, Trump!

Can you believe it was that warm? In the dead of WINTER of all times??

[Cloud]

Mine will soon awake

It really does suck!

This is one of the main factor for me wishing for cool/damp springs. It always cut down on the allergens.

 

I hope it’s not too miserable for you this year... i dont know how I’m going to manage it this year, so far the antihistamine aren’t as effective.

[TT-SEA]

The fact that "Tim-like" is the nuclear option insult around here kinda says it all.

 

Yeah... I am usually ranting in anger and attacking everyone.   

[Jesse]

PDX down to 64.

[epiceast]

Such anger...

 

It’s a solar minimum guys. Act like it!

Seasonal anger lag

[GHweatherChris]

Not cool dude.

Very cool!

[Jesse]

Seasonal anger lag

Something something Pendleton radar techs.

[Cloud]

SEA is crashing..... to 72!

 

Still +2F from 24 hours ago.

[snow_wizard]

80/37

Highest gust 11 mph otherwise stayed around the 3mph

Definitely a Trager evening !!!

 

I had a gust to 30 yesterday and 32 today.  This is a really weird micro climate here.  The climate IMBY is as similar to Portland as it is to SEA in a lot of ways.

[joelgombiner]

I can't find a good explanation of why a zone of high pressure is called a ridge. 

 

Is the ridge/trough terminology referring to the lat-long (X-Y) structure of winds and isobars, or is it referring to something about the three-dimensional structure of the atmosphere?

 

Under a zone of high pressure, there is more mass in the atmospheric column, so I could sort of see how that is a "ridge" or a "dome" of atmospheric mass. Anyone know of a good explanation of this terminology? 

[joelgombiner]

Translated: Dynamic extratropical forcing on the tropics can be just as important as tropical forcing on the extratropics. It’s a dynamic relationship that runs both ways.

 

The northern annular mode/PV and QBO/RWB cycles affect tropical static stability/convection quite significantly, as does solar forcing if given enough time (both thru thermal-radiative conduits and photochemical conduits in the case of the solar wind/geomagnetic activity).

 

Interesting. I see how thermal-radiative forcing can affect tropical convection, but what are the photochemical influences on tropical convection? 

[Deweydog]

I can't find a good explanation of why a zone of high pressure is called a ridge.

 

Is the ridge/trough terminology referring to the lat-long (X-Y) structure of winds and isobars, or is it referring to something about the three-dimensional structure of the atmosphere?

 

Under a zone of high pressure, there is more mass in the atmospheric column, so I could sort of see how that is a "ridge" or a "dome" of atmospheric mass. Anyone know of a good explanation of this terminology?

A ridge really isn’t a ridge. It’s just an anti-cyclone which diverts cyclonic waves north or south. The ridge term just comes from the fact high pressure at the upper levels typically sends the jet north while low pressure sends it south.

[Timmy Supercell]

I admit, I haven't paid much attention, but these high based showers? Some are right over Medford but they aren't recording anything yet.

[ShawniganLake]

I relocated my temp/humidity sensor from a okayish location (partially shaded area 15 feet from the NE side of our house) to a much better location (shaded area in a spot 50ft lower in elevation away from all buildings) and the result was an ~ 2 degree drop in daytime temps and a whopping 4 degree drop in nighttime temps.

 

I think people underestimate how easy it is for both radiational and anthropogenic contamination to screw with temperature readings. During the day it’s often the former with a little bit of the latter, at night it’s the latter.

Isn’t the point of the radiation shields to allow you to site your sensor in the sun. Haven’t stevenson screens been placed in sunny locations for decades. I bet if I moved my sensor to a hole in the deep shaded forest behind my house I would get different readings than I do now.

[MossMan]

My daughter helped me erase 41 days of winter epicness from my truck, and even washed the dirty snow bank as well!

[ShawniganLake]

At least 74F in Tofino today. March record! Would have been an April record too, if it were April

[SilverFallsAndrew]

66 today. The effects of the lingering snow fade by the day. 

[ewnichols25]

70* with 19% humidity inside my house. My indoor RH% was never this low even in February.

[Jesse]

At least 74F in Tofino today. March record! Would have been an April record too, if it were April

Impressive. What is their period of record.

[Phil]

I can't find a good explanation of why a zone of high pressure is called a ridge.

 

Is the ridge/trough terminology referring to the lat-long (X-Y) structure of winds and isobars, or is it referring to something about the three-dimensional structure of the atmosphere?

 

Under a zone of high pressure, there is more mass in the atmospheric column, so I could sort of see how that is a "ridge" or a "dome" of atmospheric mass. Anyone know of a good explanation of this terminology?

The terms “ridge” and “trough” are wavetrain-streamflow references, like the peak and trough of an ocean swell.

 

To simplify it, the middle latitude westerly jets bend poleward around areas of high pressure, and equatorward through areas of lower pressure. That “waviness” in the streamflow is where the terms “ridge” and “trough” are derived from.

[ShawniganLake]

Impressive. What is their period of record.

Looks like early 40s. 1942 to present I believe

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Looks like early 40s. 1942 to present I believe

 

Zounds! That is astonishing! 

 

I believe the all-time record at SLE is 80 from 1947. 

 

Looks like the all-time record up here is 80 from 1966...Interestingly a lot of our record highs in late March and April are from years where there were notable cold/snow events in February and early March (1985, 1951, 1956, etc...). 

[Phil]

Interesting. I see how thermal-radiative forcing can affect tropical convection, but what are the photochemical influences on tropical convection?

The modulation of the distribution of ozone (O3), nitrous oxide (N2O) by the QBO, solar, and volcanic forcings affects the tropical convection/H2O feedback by altering the thermal/hydrostatic profile of the tropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, and by modulating the boundary conditions governing aspects of the boreal winter stratospheric polar vortex, which can dynamically influence the structure of tropical convection on a higher frequency basis, sometimes producing massive MJOs/WWBs (which happened this winter). These gases are not well-mixed spatially near/above the tropopause, so their effects on climate dynamics are dynamically distinct from those of more well mixed gases.

[Chewbacca Defense]

My last little bit of snow is about to disappear.  Definitely a record for me since I moved to the PNW 25 years ago.  The d**n moles are having a field day.  I would love to pump a little propane down there and drop a match!!

[Phil]

Isn’t the point of the radiation shields to allow you to site your sensor in the sun. Haven’t stevenson screens been placed in sunny locations for decades. I bet if I moved my sensor to a hole in the deep shaded forest behind my house I would get different readings than I do now.

Radiation shields aren’t perfect, but even more than that it’s the much larger sensible heat flux from surfaces in full sunlight which can be problematic if the station is poorly sited or insufficiently ventilated.

[Jesse]

Looks like early 40s. 1942 to present I believe

 

Wow.

[Front Ranger]

SEA sets March record, crazy.

 

OLM is a degree short, as might be expected.

[Front Ranger]

OMG this is insane.  Just a few wild numbers and stats.

 

1.  I had 44 consecutive lows of 35 or below with the streak broken today with an insane low of 59.  According to Landsburg records there has never been a low anywhere near that high this early before.

 

2. OLM had a 50 degree temperature spread today!

 

3. SEA has crushed any previous record highs for this early in the season, but the city had the amazing 81 on March 11, 1892.

 

This past 6 weeks has been totally continental with only limited marine influence.  The magnitude of this warm blast leaves me feeling pretty confident we will see a major crash coming up.  I'm guessing somewhere around April 1 for another round of much below normal temps.  Another very interesting note is that Landsburg soared to 82 on this date in 1928.  Really good company!  At any rate we are seeing history being made this year on both ends of the spectrum.

 

Seems pretty unlikely that holds this evening.

[jcmcgaffey]

It begins....

https://komonews.com/news/local/brush-fires-beginning-to-spark-across-western-washington

[SilverFallsAndrew]

So Satan comes to you with a deal. February snowfall record at SEA-TAC in exchange for letting him blowtorch it for a March all-time high. Do you take it?!

[Jesse]

So Satan comes to you with a deal. February snowfall record at SEA-TAC in exchange for letting him blowtorch it for a March all-time high. Do you take it?!

 

Apparently Tim took it. Dewey drives a hard bargain.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Apparently Tim took it. Dewey drives a hard bargain.

 

I have to say...If we are going to torch 10 months out of the year at least our cold months hit at the right time...

[Jesse]

I have to say...If we are going to torch 10 months out of the year at least our cold months hit at the right time...

 

GOA ridge almost looks to try to start reforming on the long range 00Z GFS. Maybe we will look back on this relatively brief torch spike as a blessing in disguise. The 500mb pattern got something out of its system following the big cold spell, let off a little steam so to speak, so now we can sail through a coolish and showery April and May guilt free. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

GOA ridge almost looks to try to start reforming on the long range 00Z GFS. Maybe we will look back on this relatively brief torch spike as a blessing in disguise. The 500mb pattern got something out of its system following the big cold spell, let off a little steam so to speak, so now we can sail through a coolish and showery April and May guilt free. 

 

Would be nice. 00z was nice. Gets close to something sort of crazy in the long range.

[ShawniganLake]

My super accurate gut feeling is we will see a notable cold snap in early April.