Pacific Northwest Weather - May 2023

[Phishy Wx]

I might go back to Santa Cruz (in fact we're visiting this weekend) lived there 2012-2016

 

 

[T-Town]

11 hours ago, MossMan said:

This is all I use…Roundup will probably end up killing me someday with the many thousands of gallons I sprayed way back in my golf course days. (8 years to be exact between the late 90’s to mid 2000’s) 

How did you handle varmints?

[TT-SEA]

6 minutes ago, T-Town said:

This is how I feel as well. I enjoy the sunny weather but it seems like we dry out in May lately, which is too soon. 

That wasn't a problem last year.    Of course then it ended up being the driest astronomical summer ever and by far the driest conditions I have ever seen in my area by September and October.  I really think this warm season will be the inverse of last year with more frequent rain by August and September.  

[Port Angeles Foothiller]

1 minute ago, TT-SEA said:

That wasn't a problem last year.    Of course then it ended up being the driest astronomical summer ever and by far the driest conditions I have ever seen in my area by September and October.  I really think this warm season will be the inverse of last year with more frequent rain by August and September.  

If it isn't, we will lose a lot of mature plants in the area. Especially western red cedars

[Front Ranger]

15 minutes ago, T-Town said:

This is how I feel as well. I enjoy the sunny weather but it seems like we dry out in May lately, which is too soon. 

2 of the last 3 Mays were wetter than average, at least at SEA and OLM. 2018, 2019, and 2021 were dry...but 2017 was wet, so it comes out 3 of the last 6.

[ShawniganLake]

8 minutes ago, Port Angeles Foothiller said:

If it isn't, we will lose a lot of mature plants in the area. Especially western red cedars

Western red cedar’s days appear to be numbered around here.  Since about 2015 a large number of them have died or are in the process of dying from the top down. 

[TT-SEA]

Such an Nino-like pattern... looks like what Phil has been predicting for a couple months now.  

[TT-SEA]

And then you have the 12Z GEM... interesting pattern for sure. 

[Phishy Wx]

need to get more water on those Canadian fires

[Rubus Leucodermis]

11 hours ago, Anti Marine Layer said:

Trough remains over the PNW, so why are things warming up for the middle of the week?

Gotta make progress on baking those forests nice and dry so they can ignite come July.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

1 hour ago, ShawniganLake said:

Western red cedar’s days appear to be numbered around here.  Since about 2015 a large number of them have died or are in the process of dying from the top down. 

Yeah, a lot of them are struggling in Stanley Park. Real pity to see.

[Omegaraptor]

No measurable rain since May 8 here and at many other Willamette Valley stations. Looking like a historically long dry stretch in the works for this early in the season.

[TT-SEA]

Absolutely lovely day.

[MossMan]

2 hours ago, Port Angeles Foothiller said:

What mixture of these do you use? How long is it effective?

1 gallon of Straight vinegar, 1 cup salt, and one tablespoon of dish soap. 
Not as long lasting as roundup as many times the root is not effected. I spray twice a month this time of the year but reduce down to once a month as we go into summer/early fall. Definitely more time consuming and not as effective but I can’t even stomach the smell of roundup anymore. 

[Slushy Inch]

This weekend has ended up becoming a compromise. No heatwave, but looks sunny, at least in the afternoon.

[MossMan]

2 hours ago, T-Town said:

How did you handle varmints?

Just like that! 

Well not quite…We had an employee that was really good at setting this type of trap, the superintendent would pay him $20 a mole! 

[Slushy Inch]

Southerly flow aloft starts to develop. 

[Slushy Inch]

Similar pattern to what we had earlier in May possible. I for one love this pattern and it is quite rare.

[TT-SEA]

8 minutes ago, Slushy Inch said:

Southerly flow aloft starts to develop. 

Maybe some convection down south that day... 

[TT-SEA]

5 minutes ago, Slushy Inch said:

I could’ve guessed. Should move north after that.

Does show some convection making it up towards the WA coast.   Regardless... ripe with potential in a warm air mass.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

RIP Tina Turner.

[TT-SEA]

As the bromance boys always point out when the tables are turned... it seems like we have been missing the regular ensemble chart posts with obligatory back patting lately.    

Seems fair to point out that out since I am always called out for the same thing.   Maybe we all post more about things we enjoy?   

Here is the 12Z EPS:

[Meatyorologist]

Friday night looks good for some more PSCZ drizzle. Seems to be the best way to get precip after April 15th now.

[Phishy Wx]

just had a shower go thru,  looks like more cells popping west of here and there seems to be an upper level 'low' twist forming this afternoon over E WA on radar.  kinda neat

[TT-SEA]

In addition to the PNW being dry... the EPS also shows a large area of abnormally dry in the Midwest and East.    I assume that will be a hot topic in the Ag Weather update tomorrow.

[Phishy Wx]

Just now, TT-SEA said:

In addition to the PNW being dry... the EPS also shows a large area of abnormally dry in the Midwest and East.    I assume that will be a hot topic in the Ag Weather update tomorrow.

that wetness on/off the Carolina coast, wonder if it's hinting tropical development

[Anti Marine Layer]

Pretty similar pattern to 2019. That year PNW was warm in May and California was FREEZING

Most likely it's a new feature of climate change since the poles are heating up the fastest and that cold air has to go somewhere. 

[TT-SEA]

2 minutes ago, Phishy Wx said:

that wetness on/off the Carolina coast, wonder if it's hinting tropical development

That is actually happening over the next couple days... shows up on the ECMWF as well.  

 

[the_convergence_zone]

14 hours ago, Anti Marine Layer said:

Trough remains over the PNW, so why are things warming up for the middle of the week?

We're transitioning to weak ridging and more importantly an airmass that has subtropical origins. 

[TigerWoodsLibido]

71F and mostly sunny. What a beautiful stretch of weather here. Good thing we had some rain from Feb-early May.

[TT-SEA]

Another 70+ day at SEA after a 3 day break.  

Today is the 14th day at 70+ at SEA so far this month... with 7 days to go.   Last May there was only 2 days at 70+ which included highs of 70 and 71.   Last May was pretty pathetic.

[TT-SEA]

Side note... SEA has not officially hit 70 on the hour.   But was up to 72 between the hourly updates so assuming high will end up being at least 70.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

70-burger IMBY today (just barely, 70.5°F). Good chance for an 80-burger tomorrow.

[TT-SEA]

Officially 71 at SEA for a high.

[TT-SEA]

Its really nice when May and June aren't gloomy and cloudy given the days are so long.  Just feels wrong... like we are missing out on peak daylight.   I would gladly take more sun in May over September. 

[Meatyorologist]

Its really nice when May and June aren't sunny and hot given the days are so long.  Just feels wrong... like we are missing out on soft white skies and wet morning grass lit by a 4am dawn.   I would gladly take more clouds in May and September!

[TT-SEA]

3 minutes ago, Meatyorologist said:

Its really nice when May and June aren't sunny and hot given the days are so long.  Just feels wrong... like we are missing out on soft white skies and wet morning grass lit by a 4am dawn.   I would gladly take more clouds in May and September!

Doesn't have to be hot.   Today was quite sunny and not hot.  Pretty close to May perfection.   

[TT-SEA]

00Z GFS shows gradual warming over the holiday weekend... 72 on Saturday, 75 on Sunday, and 80 on Monday in Seattle.

[MossMan]

Military exercises over the house tonight, some nice rumbles! I can’t seem to buy a T-Storm up here so I guess the jet rumbles will do. 
Currently 53 degrees. 

[Meatyorologist]

8 minutes ago, MossMan said:

Military exercises over the house tonight, some nice rumbles! I can’t seem to buy a T-Storm up here so I guess the jet rumbles will do. 
Currently 53 degrees. 

Sometimes they trip the same wires in my head for a moment and I get super excited. Blue Angel season is a biiiiiitch haha