July 2021 PNW Weather Discussion

[TacomaWaWx]

1 minute ago, Jesse said:

What is really shocking is how widespread the problems are. Could be a pretty big step change in vegetation type in some areas. The hemlocks in particular have just been annihilated in spots, especially below 1,200’.  At least down here, calling them a lowland species might not be very representative of their range anymore.

Very very sad. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

27 minutes ago, TigerWoodsLibido said:

We did it again! 90F!!

Unreal. I think NWS was saying mid-80s. They don't understand the role the record low soil moisture and localized desertification is having on the Willamette Valley. What a wasteland. 

[Jesse]

4 minutes ago, TacomaWaWx said:

Very very sad. 

It just sucks to have to look at so much death. Especially this time of year, when all the plants and trees are usually green and vibrant.

The whole region honestly feels like it’s withering. I mean if you blur your eyes I’m sure you can still willfully ignore it for now, but anyone paying attention even a little can see how many native plants are wasting away. 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

5 minutes ago, Jesse said:

What is really shocking is how widespread the problems are. Could be a pretty big step change in vegetation type in some areas. The hemlocks in particular have just been annihilated in spots, especially below 1,200’.  At least down here, calling them a lowland species might not be very representative of their range anymore.

Even up here it had an impact. I'm fairly optimistic most of the trees will be fine long term, but many were burned. 

[Jesse]

1 minute ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Even up here it had an impact. I'm fairly optimistic most of the trees will be fine long term, but many were burned. 

Hard telling. I want to be optimistic too but the reality is sometimes these mass die offs happen. None of these temperate rainforest species are built for 115 degree temps.

[Jesse]

If you think back to even five years ago, it’s really incredible how much the region as a whole has changed. There will come a point where it doesn’t feel like home anymore.

[MossMan]

Nice day up at Samish Bay! 
next stop the lake house! 

[TigerWoodsLibido]

6 minutes ago, Jesse said:

If you think back to even five years ago, it’s really incredible how much the region as a whole has changed. There will come a point where it doesn’t feel like home anymore.

I’m just about there sadly. My family isn’t going to move but it isn’t what I grew up with.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

4 minutes ago, Jesse said:

Hard telling. I want to be optimistic too but the reality is sometimes these mass die offs happen. None of these temperate rainforest species are built for 115 degree temps.

It's interesting. You can see the new growth appears fine, but the inner needles are burned and dead. Down in the valley I have seen the opposite on some trees. My guess is the trees where the new growth was burned are in much worse shape. 

[Jesse]

4 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

It's interesting. You can see the new growth appears fine, but the inner needles are burned and dead. Down in the valley I have seen the opposite on some trees. My guess is the trees where the new growth was burned are in much worse shape. 

I’ve noticed the same thing Andrew. 

Just about the worse timing possible to maximize the damage of an all time record heatwave, coming off a record dry spring.

[Jesse]

2 minutes ago, TigerWoodsLibido said:

I’m just about there sadly. My family isn’t going to move but it isn’t what I grew up with.

You will always have Indiana  

[TT-SEA]

Wind is lighter on the lake now... up to 83 and feels pretty hot without a decent breeze.   

[SnowWillarrive]

29 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Unreal. I think NWS was saying mid-80s. They don't understand the role the record low soil moisture and localized desertification is having on the Willamette Valley. What a wasteland. 

Pretty soon willamette valley will be a desert. 

[NWbyNW]

We got a lot to be thankful for everyone.

Happy Independence Day!

[Front Ranger]

2 hours ago, TT-SEA said:

Memorial Day and now the 4th... weather perfection!   I am sure Labor Day will be rainy now... which would be much better than what happened last year.  

Seems like the weather has been close to ideal most major warm weather holidays there in recent years.

[Front Ranger]

1 hour ago, TT-SEA said:

Pretty warm here... 

 

Silly unvaccinated frog.

[Front Ranger]

1 hour ago, TigerWoodsLibido said:

I’m in Springfield 60 miles south of Salem…

California?

[TT-SEA]

5 minutes ago, Front Ranger said:

Seems like the weather has been close to ideal most major warm weather holidays there in recent years.

Totally agree.   Can't imagine how today could be nicer on the water. 

[TT-SEA]

It's 81 at KRNT and only 76 at SEA... only a couple miles apart.

[Geos]

Been up to 78 here today. Nice to see temps underperforming for once!

Hopefully no idiots set off any fireworks and start a wildfire tonight. I can already hear the random firework going off. 

[Perturbed Member]

1 hour ago, Jesse said:

It just sucks to have to look at so much death. Especially this time of year, when all the plants and trees are usually green and vibrant.

The whole region honestly feels like it’s withering. I mean if you blur your eyes I’m sure you can still willfully ignore it for now, but anyone paying attention even a little can see how many native plants are wasting away. 

There may have been a point in the past where it was debatable whether this was really an issue or not but IMO it is just undeniable now, all it takes is a quick drive through our forests to see it and you don't even have to be some kind of Ecologist or plant BIologist to see the destruction. I talked to a friend this week who lives in N. California and he was talking about the clear devastation to the vegetation near the CA/OR border over the past few years as well. Hell we can see some of those changes on satellite now. These are large scale changes to the vegetation. 

Very painful to be forced to watch this destruction and the feeling of being helpless to stop it only adds to the despair. I hope some of this damage will revert but I'm still quite worried about the future here.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

4 minutes ago, nwsnow said:

There may have been a point in the past where it was debatable whether this was really an issue or not but IMO it is just undeniable now, all it takes is a quick drive through our forests to see it and you don't even have to be some kind of Ecologist or plant BIologist to see the destruction. I talked to a friend this week who lives in N. California and he was talking about the clear devastation to the vegetation near the CA/OR border over the past few years as well. Hell we can see some of those changes on satellite now. These are large scale changes to the vegetation. 

Very painful to be forced to watch this destruction and the feeling of being helpless to stop it only adds to the despair. I hope some of this damage will revert but I'm still quite worried about the future here.

I was shocked driving through Southern Oregon on I-5 this week. It had been 2 years since I had been down there and even in the past two years the situation has become much much worse. 

[Farmboy]

1 hour ago, TacomaWaWx said:

Do you even go around our area and see what we’re seeing? There’s obvious vegetation and tree damage to native and non native vegetation. many people have posted about it. How about you come and see for yourself before just shrugging it off. You are literally over in Idaho you have no idea what you’re talking about .

I'll admit even though I'm originally from the area, I haven't spent too much time west of the Cascades since 2018, other than a week in Renton last summer.  But I still feel these type of things should be taken account of in scientific manner rather than random observations.  We literally have inmates running the asylum proclaiming we need to start riding bikes, stop eating beef and eat more Cicadas and pay carbon taxes to the IMF, based on what exactly?

[Farmboy]

1 hour ago, TacomaWaWx said:

Yeah but some guy over in Idaho said it’s not that bad so better just ignore it it’s totally fine. 

Not what I said, but whatever...

[Jesse]

I hope everyone is having a happy fourth, and manages to find a glimmer of joy for even a moment on this dying planet of ours.  

[TT-SEA]

The planet is dying... despite being through endless cycles of warm and cold for billions of years.   Probably felt like the planet was dying when what is now Seattle was buried in 3,000 feet of ice just 15,000 year ago.  That was pretty rough on the trees too.  Very depressing viewpoint.  

[Jesse]

For my fourth of July wish, I am going to pray to Uncle Sam, Thomas Jefferson, and Hulk Hogan that we get a VEI 6-7 eruption somewhere in the tropics the next 18 months.

[SilverFallsAndrew]

5 minutes ago, Jesse said:

For my fourth of July wish, I am going to pray to Uncle Sam, Thomas Jefferson, and Hulk Hogan that we get a VEI 6-7 eruption somewhere in the tropics the next 18 months.

Keep an eye on the Philippines. It may give us some temporary relief. I used to have joy in my heart on this day. It is difficult now. Our land is riven with such strife. 

[TT-SEA]

Let's go with an extinction level event.  That will happen eventually as well.  Maybe an asteroid that sends a blast of 600 degree air around the planet in a few hours and then plunges us into nuclear winter.   

[SilverFallsAndrew]

11 minutes ago, TT-SEA said:

Let's go with an extinction level event.  That will happen eventually as well.  Maybe an asteroid that sends a blast of 600 degree air around the planet in a few hours and then plunges us into nuclear winter.   

Vanity vanity, all is vanity. 

[TT-SEA]

SEA could only manage 77/57 today for +2.

WFO SEA on the west shore of Lake Washington was 82/59.   

 

[Jesse]

16 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Vanity vanity, all is vanity. 

The only thing on earth actually worth panicking over are some low clouds on a three day weekend. That is the truly noble path. Someday we will learn.

[TT-SEA]

1 minute ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Vanity vanity, all is vanity. 

Yeah... wishing death and destruction on the Philippines to save some trees is nice.    With the knowledge that it would just delay the inevitable anyways if the climate is warming.   

[TT-SEA]

2 minutes ago, Jesse said:

The only thing on earth actually worth panicking over are some low clouds on a three day weekend. That is the truly noble path. Someday we will learn.

All we can do is live our lives and try to be happy... it will all be over soon.   And the planet will go on well past the time humans are extinct.   

[Jesse]

Another 85+ day at PDX.

[TT-SEA]

If the climate is truly warming... then there is going to be some rough times ahead for the West... and if that makes you unhappy then its probably best to move.   We would certainly move if the climate starts to turn colder.     And maybe we will if it gets too warm and fire is a constant threat.   We can't control it... but we can control where we are.  

[Phil]

 

[Phil]

46 minutes ago, TT-SEA said:

The planet is dying... despite being through endless cycles of warm and cold for billions of years.   Probably felt like the planet was dying when what is now Seattle was buried in 3,000 feet of ice just 15,000 year ago.  That was pretty rough on the trees too.  Very depressing viewpoint.  

Even with mass deforestation there are at least 10X more trees globally today than during glacial maximum. The land wasn’t just dying during the ice age..it was already dead for the most part. Barely enough CO2 to maintain forests. 

[Rubus Leucodermis]

2 hours ago, Front Ranger said:

California?

Yes, I believe Tiger lives in New Redding.

[Rubus Leucodermis]

Now 70°F after a high of 75.