July 2021 PNW Weather Discussion

[TT-SEA]

79/59 at SEA today... that is +4 on both the high and the low.  

And 79 split the difference between the ECMWF (75) and the GFS (83) for today.

The ECMWF shows 82 tomorrow and 81 on Sunday... so possibly mid 80s both days.

[TacomaWaWx]

1 hour ago, Jginmartini said:

OT

I’m assuming PDX dispatched some F15S our way.  Sounded quite ominous out there a bit ago (between 3-3:15)  with roaring jet engines.  Friend down here got this shot so I’m assuming small plane violated military airspace.  Will see how this unfolds.  
 

Meanwhile sunny and 78*
 

Hahaha…yeah for anyone who didn’t know I’d imagine this would be a shock. They’ve been practicing and buzzing over my house a lot this afternoon particularly 1-4pm. Very loud and cool. 

[TigerWoodsLibido]

15 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

They had 122" of snow in January 1950 and 120" in January 1969. 

Makes sense as Springfield must have had a ton, with EUG getting over 3 feet in each of those months.

[TacomaWaWx]

77/58 today. Pretty nice day. 

[snow drift]

2 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

I was looking forward to that. I spent a few days in town in May 2011 and November 2019 and thought it was a nice area. 

People are moving here in droves. The secret got out. Both CdA and Spokane are in the midst of a housing boom. Prices are rising quickly. Many long time residents can't afford to buy a home in the area now.

[Omegaraptor]

Now in Sunriver. High was 88, now 86. 18% RH here doesn’t feel quite as dry as Bend’s 9%.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

1 minute ago, TigerWoodsLibido said:

Makes sense as Springfield must have had a ton, with EUG getting over 3 feet in each of those months.

Silver Falls had about 100" in 1969, but has no data for January 1950 unfortunately. Probably a similar amount though. 

January 1949 had an average monthly low of 14.4 at Silver Falls and 10.7 at Detroit. Unbelievable. Our coldest monthly average low since I have lived here was like 23.5 in December 2013 and about 24 in January 2017. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

1 minute ago, Snowdrift said:

People are moving here in droves. The secret got out. Both CdA and Spokane are in the midst of a housing boom. Prices are rising quickly. Many long time residents can't afford to buy a home in the area now.

I wanted to move there after college in 2010, by my wife at the time wanted to move to Oregon (We were in Oklahoma at the time.), because I had family and job connections here. I remember seeing beautiful farms with 10-15 acres for 170K. And nice classic craftsman homes on the hill in Spokane for around 200K. We got really lucky and found this place for 185K, 1620 sq ft 3bd 2ba on 3 acres, so I am happy about that, this place would probably go for over 500K now. 

[wx_statman]

Looks like NWS Spokane will investigate the 123F reading at Alpowa Creek HADS automated station in eastern WA last Tuesday (June 29th). My guess is that it's a bit overexposed, but it will be interesting to find out.

 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Just now, wx_statman said:

Looks like NWS Spokane will investigate the 123F reading at Alpowa Creek HADS automated station in eastern WA last Tuesday (June 29th). My guess is that it's a bit overexposed, but it will be interesting to find out.

 

I also heard they were going to investigate a WSDOT station at Hanford and an ODOT station at Ceilo Falls. IDK someone posted a pic of the Ceilo station on FB and it looked over exposed and right next to the freeway. 

[wx_statman]

Just now, SilverFallsAndrew said:

I also heard they were going to investigate a WSDOT station at Hanford and an ODOT station at Ceilo Falls. IDK someone posted a pic of the Ceilo station on FB and it looked over exposed and right next to the freeway. 

Oh interesting, I wasn't aware of those. Yeah not surprised about some of these DOT stations. I saw one of the Seattle newspapers also reported 119F at a couple stations in the Chelan Valley. Lots of candidates for the state record it seems.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

6 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

I also heard they were going to investigate a WSDOT station at Hanford and an ODOT station at Ceilo Falls. IDK someone posted a pic of the Ceilo station on FB and it looked over exposed and right next to the freeway. 

If it's Celilo Falls then it's possible. The Indigenous Peoples had a ton of extreme events in the past in that area and Wyam was one of the oldest trading posts in North America going back 15,000 years until the area was destroyed by the construction of The Dalles Dam in the 1950s.

[Timmy Supercell]

31 minutes ago, Snowdrift said:

100s in June are not very common. Only five had ever been recorded before the June 2021 heatwave. Snow in October isn't common either. Spokane is streaky.

Not very different to this area. Only three 100's were ever recorded in June at KLMT. 2021 made a few swift records in that category (maxed at 100 in 1992 for 2 days and 1918 for 1 day). Then we get 101-103-100 for 3 days straight, setting a June record twice in a row and potentially setting an all time heatwave record of 3 consecutive highs over 100 including ANY heatwave. 

[Dave]

I'm gonna plant some palm trees and maybe a few cactuses. Any suggestions for the best types for this desert climate?

[TacomaWaWx]

39 minutes ago, Snowdrift said:

100s in June are not very common. Only five had ever been recorded before the June 2021 heatwave. Snow in October isn't common either. Spokane is streaky.

Heat of that magnitude is rare in general in June. From 2005-2020 only had 3 +90 days in June…had 3 in a row this year with 2 +100s to boot. 

[Chewbacca Defense]

1 hour ago, Jginmartini said:

Standing down….another shot reveals a vintage plane so must be practicing for the airshow.  Coming out of my shelter now.

The first pic it almost looks like it was an F/A-18, but with this pic that is almost certainly an F-15, and I would put money on that other being a P-51.  Its quite possible its might be Val-halla

It used to be based in Bellingham, now based down in Skagit.  They are certified to do the heritage flights, probably knocking the rust off after a year of no airshows.

https://heritageflight.org/aircraft/p-51-mustang/

I have a picture sitting in the cockpit, my bother-in-law did professional military aviation photography, so he used to do the airshows as well as photo shoots of red flag exercises.  He got to know all the military and civilian airshow pilots, got us up close to an F-22 (could not look in the cockpit though).  

 

Edit:  Just found the N number and flight track, and it was Val-Halla:

 

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n151af#28448807

 

[SnowWillarrive]

1 hour ago, Jginmartini said:

OT

I’m assuming PDX dispatched some F15S our way.  Sounded quite ominous out there a bit ago (between 3-3:15)  with roaring jet engines.  Friend down here got this shot so I’m assuming small plane violated military airspace.  Will see how this unfolds.  
 

Meanwhile sunny and 78*
 

That is an F-18 super hornet 

[Rubus Leucodermis]

74°F after a high of 76. Warmest in several days.

[NWbyNW]

Blistering 74F in Everett today.  Cool breeze, and the skies don't look all too hazy due the smoke.  That's a positive.  

I feel bad for the folks out east.  Hopefully the smoke will stay aloft and not go surface level.  

[Rubus Leucodermis]

15 minutes ago, dolt said:

I'm gonna plant some palm trees and maybe a few cactuses. Any suggestions for the best types for this desert climate?

Redding is a warm-summer Mediterranean and not a desert climate.

[TT-SEA]

The past couple days have been about the warmest marine layer days I can remember here.   

[Jesse]

82/60 day here. Morning clouds and afternoon sun. Nice day. Hoping the marine layer can sneak in again by morning.

[Chewbacca Defense]

1 hour ago, CloudBFIWx said:

Well, look like whoever is in that small plane got a story to tell for life. "Yup! I got the military to scramble a fighter jet to intercept me!" 

Reminds me of an intercept that happened with the PDX F-15's several years back.  They ripped a sonic boom from Portland to Seattle while intercepting a poor seaplane pilot who didn't get the memo about the big 'ole no fly zone in Seattle for a Presidential visit.  Some lady was filming her kid in a little wading pool and they caught the booms on video.

 

I found an article at the time that gave a detailed timeline, and did the math.  I think it took something like 8-10 minutes from wheels up to arriving on station in Seattle, which would put it north of 1,000 mph *average*.  I wish I could find that specific article again.  Folks in Vancouver reported that the F-15's lifted off from PDX full afterburners, immediately turned north and stayed full burner flying low level as they were still climbing out.  That would have been a site!

[TigerWoodsLibido]

90/57. Beautiful, warm day.

[TacomaWaWx]

6 minutes ago, Chewbacca Defense said:

Reminds me of an intercept that happened with the PDX F-15's several years back.  They ripped a sonic boom from Portland to Seattle while intercepting a poor seaplane pilot who didn't get the memo about the big 'ole no fly zone in Seattle for a Presidential visit.  Some lady was filming her kid in a little wading pool and they caught the booms on video.

 

I found an article at the time that gave a detailed timeline, and did the math.  I think it took something like 8-10 minutes from wheels up to arriving on station in Seattle, which would put it north of 1,000 mph *average*.  I wish I could find that specific article again.  Folks in Vancouver reported that the F-15's lifted off from PDX full afterburners, immediately turned north and stayed full burner flying low level as they were still climbing out.  That would have been a site!

F-15s intercepted that hijacked plane that crashed into ketron island out of SeaTac in august 2018 in like 120 seconds or something like that. That was a crazy day. 

[TacomaWaWx]

2 minutes ago, TigerWoodsLibido said:

90/57. Beautiful, warm day.

You’ve had more +90 days then I’ve had +80 days. 

[TT-SEA]

Looks like it got to 77 today here... with a dewpoint that was in the mid 60s all day and marine layer clouds that are still hanging on.    A typical marine layer day here is in the upper 60s to around 70.

[Omegaraptor]

Looks like the boro got to 85 and PDX got to 86.

Noticing a little bit of haze in the sky from the Mt Shasta fires here.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

52 minutes ago, TacomaWaWx said:

You’ve had more +90 days then I’ve had +80 days. 

And we're gonna pay the price for it.

[TacomaWaWx]

30 minutes ago, Omegaraptor said:

Looks like the boro got to 85 and PDX got to 86.

Noticing a little bit of haze in the sky from the Mt Shasta fires here.

Sky is milky white from the BC fires here. Even though it’s not down to the surface it still sucks to see it in early July. 

[TacomaWaWx]

1 minute ago, hawkstwelve said:

High of 81 today in Maple Valley.

Decided to take a last minute trip with the family to spend the night in Silverdale. Pretty nice temp over here under partly cloudy skies.

I also saw those F15/16/18/22/54s flying around Tacoma area on our way over here. Also saw a friggin gigantic military cargo-style plane flying over hwy 16 on Kitsap. Pretty dang cool. 

It was super loud here this afternoon. Could see the fighter jets pulling sharp turns and maneuvers from my bedroom window today it was pretty neat. 

[Cloud]

1 hour ago, TT-SEA said:

The past couple days have been about the warmest marine layer days I can remember here.   

It’s D**n surprising that we can’t get down to average with the nighttime lows from the marine layer. It’s a good 5-7 degrees warmer, which drives up the daily departures even though it’s fairly normal for the daytime highs. 
 

Typically these will produce very cool nights/mornings…. It’s as if things are changing in front of our eyes.

[TacomaWaWx]

Smoke now more evident on satellite with less low cloud coverage.you Can see that fire up in BC. 

[Blizzard777]

1 hour ago, Chewbacca Defense said:

The first pic it almost looks like it was an F/A-18, but with this pic that is almost certainly an F-15, and I would put money on that other being a P-51.  Its quite possible its might be Val-halla

It used to be based in Bellingham, now based down in Skagit.  They are certified to do the heritage flights, probably knocking the rust off after a year of no airshows.

https://heritageflight.org/aircraft/p-51-mustang/

I have a picture sitting in the cockpit, my bother-in-law did professional military aviation photography, so he used to do the airshows as well as photo shoots of red flag exercises.  He got to know all the military and civilian airshow pilots, got us up close to an F-22 (could not look in the cockpit though).  

 

Edit:  Just found the N number and flight track, and it was Val-Halla:

 

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n151af#28448807

 

You are all over it!!!  I know they do the airshows every year down here but with the 4th of July celebration canceled thought all bets off.  Apparently not so.  I may have a date now with Wings and wheels this weekend in Gig Harbor!!! 

[Blizzard777]

1 hour ago, SnowChild said:

That is an F-18 super hornet 

We have closure

 

[Dave]

2 hours ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

They had 122" of snow in January 1950 and 120" in January 1969. 

How much in 2012? Wasn't that the year that the national guard was called in and roofs were collapsing due to 6 - 8 feet of accumulation? Also, how in the fcuk could the weather station be at 1300'? The town is at over 1500' and the lake is so for several miles until you go below the dam.

[snow drift]

2 hours ago, wx_statman said:

Looks like NWS Spokane will investigate the 123F reading at Alpowa Creek HADS automated station in eastern WA last Tuesday (June 29th). My guess is that it's a bit overexposed, but it will be interesting to find out.

 

Holy mackerel!

[Cloud]

17 minutes ago, TacomaWaWx said:

Smoke now more evident on satellite with less low cloud coverage.you Can see that fire up in BC. 

Sky is milky for sure

[Blizzard777]

1 hour ago, Chewbacca Defense said:

Reminds me of an intercept that happened with the PDX F-15's several years back.  They ripped a sonic boom from Portland to Seattle while intercepting a poor seaplane pilot who didn't get the memo about the big 'ole no fly zone in Seattle for a Presidential visit.  Some lady was filming her kid in a little wading pool and they caught the booms on video.

 

I found an article at the time that gave a detailed timeline, and did the math.  I think it took something like 8-10 minutes from wheels up to arriving on station in Seattle, which would put it north of 1,000 mph *average*.  I wish I could find that specific article again.  Folks in Vancouver reported that the F-15's lifted off from PDX full afterburners, immediately turned north and stayed full burner flying low level as they were still climbing out.  That would have been a site!

That was incredible!!! I was working the Tacoma Costco location when the F-15s went over.   Sonic booms rattled the building like and earthquake.  That memory is drilled in my mind forever!!!  I’ve enjoyed some crazy events working that Costco being on the final approach.   

[Blizzard777]

1 hour ago, TacomaWaWx said:

F-15s intercepted that hijacked plane that crashed into ketron island out of SeaTac in august 2018 in like 120 seconds or something like that. That was a crazy day. 

That was so sad… listening to the atc communication you really found yourself liking the guy