Rain and possibly Snow for the L/C Valley

Rain starts late this afternoon, light Snow Thursday night.

TODAY: Mostly Cloudy with chance of light rain showers beginning late afternoon. Afternoon high temperature upper 30s (37 degrees).

TONIGHT: Rain increasing after 10pm. No accumulation expected before midnight. Showers help to hold temperatures in the mid 30s overnight.

WEDNESDAY: Soggy/Breezy. Rainy all day-total rainfall between ⅓” to ½” (my calculation .35”). High temperature in the mid 40s (44).

THURSDAY: Light rain showers (drizzle really) continues through late afternoon.  After about 4pm, rain showers will mix with/change to snow.  Total accumulation of rain 1/10”, Total snowfall ½”. Best snow showers 4pm to 9pm. Afternoon high temp 42 degrees occurs midday. Temps fall after 2pm.

FRIDAY: Most flurries end early morning (about 4am). Morning low near 30 degrees. Skies becoming partly sunny with afternoon high temperatures near 40.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. morning low 27, afternoon high 40.

SUNDAY: Partly sunny, morning low 25, afternoon high upper 30s.

**These showers along with breezes will scour out the dirty, stagnant air. Until then Air stagnation Advisory posted until 10:00 am Today.

Wintry Showers Today/Tonight

National Weather Service Spokane, WA
Moderate snow will be possible for portions of the Inland NW Tuesday Night into Wednesday. Snow, rain and freezing rain will all be possible as a winter system passes. Travel could be impacted overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning effecting the morning commute. The Cascades, northern Washington, the Idaho Panhandle should remain as snow. The Spokane area will likely start as snow, potentially see a switch to a wintry mix as the system progresses through the region. The Columbia Basin into the Palouse will stand the best chance of seeing the Freezing Rain while the L/C Valley will likely only see rain. Winter weather highlights have been issued to cover the thre

ats.

FINALLY - Showers End Stale Pattern

 SHOWERS!  Rain starts Tuesday, Snow by Friday

TODAY: Morning clouds, afternoon sun, light NW wind, afternoon warmest temperature mid 30s.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy, light easterly wind, lowest temperature mid 20s.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy with llight rain showers beginning late day (about 4pm). high temp near 40 degrees.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Rainy  - barely .02 inches total rainfall expected before midnight.  SE wind 5-10mph, low temp mid 30s.

WEDNESDAY: Rainy - ¼” to ⅓” total rainfall expected.  West wind to 15mph, Morning low temp mid 30s. Afternoon high temp mid 40s.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Light rain or drizzle.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with light rain totalling about 1/10”.

THURSDAY NIGHT: light snow overnight as temps dip below freezing (near 30 degrees).

FRIDAY: Chilly start with about ¼ inches of snow. Becoming Mostly cloudy with highs near 40 degrees.

SATURDAY: Partly sunny. Morning low upper 20s, afternoon high near 40.

SUNDAY: Partly sunny. Morning lows near 30, afternoon high upper 30s.

This Morning's Weather Map...

national weather service spokane - graphical forecast
click link below to access afternoon, tonight, tomorrow weather forecast

http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/otx.php

Just Cool...Fog Lid Over Pac NorthWest - as seen from space

How long can this stagnant weather go on?

Inland Northwest Weather Blog

By now, most of you may be getting tired of our boring, foggy weather.  On the positive side, you haven't had to shovel any snow, and the roads have been in decent shape, except for some occasional icy spots from freezing drizzle.  But the gray skies do tend to wear on some folks.  Here's what it looks like from space.

 The Columbia Basin is bordered by the Cascades to the west, the Selkirks to the north, the Panhandle mountains to the east, and the central-Oregon mountains to the south.    A perfect bowl.  Note in the above picture of the western US, the Central Valley of California also provides a nice elongated topographic bowl.

Second, you need moisture in order to form fog.  And while we have been very dry, we still have had weather systems providing some moisture.  Coupled with the cold nights, and you get fog and stratus to form.  The Central Valley of California has been so dry this winter, they can't even produce fog! 

The third ingredient is a lid to put on the bowl of fog, to prevent it from going anywhere.  This is provided by the ridge of high pressure.  High pressure results in sinking air.  Sinking air warms. So while at the surface we're stuck in cold, sub-freezing temperatures, the air above us is much warmer.  Locations in the mountains as high as 5000-6500'' have been reaching the mid-40s each day.   The high pressure also keeps storms away from our area.  Storms mean wind, and wind mixes the air which dissipates fog.

for ful article: inlandnorthwestweather.blogspot.com

Rain/Snow Tuesday Night

natonal weather service spokane
A midweek storm system will finally bring a taste of winter to portions of the region. Snow, rain and freezing rain will likely all be on display around the Inland NW. Location will be the biggest factor as to what form of precipitation you will see. Snow is expected for areas north of a line from Deary to Sprague to Wilbur. Freezing rain will be possible for portions of the Columbia Basin along with rain and snow. Rain with periods of snow is possible for the Palouse while the LC Valley is expected to see all rain. The heaviest of the precipitation with this system is expected to occur Tuesday Night. More details will come on this system as we get closer to the event.  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/FXC/wxstory.php

Cloud Bowl of Eastern Washington

Cliff Mass Weather Blog - Sunday, Jan. 19

So that  all of you have the proper sympathy with our brethren in eastern Washington here is a WSDOT cam shot Saturday in Richland.  How many ways can you say dismal?  And such low clouds and fog coupled with low temperatures often produces freezing fog on the bridges in the Tri-Cities.  Just wonderful.

While many of you are thinking about the Superbowl, today let's talk about another bowl:  the Cloudbowl of eastern Washington. While a warm, blazing sun is considered the signature condition of eastern Washington by some (see the logo for the Tri Cities Visitor Bureau below), the truth is that during the middle of the winter the Columbia Basin of eastern Washington is often filled with fog and stratus clouds: a cloud bowl.
full article - http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/01/cloud-bowl-of-eastern-washington.html

Monster inversion: Mt. Rainier station warmer than Las Vegas

By Scott Sistek Published: Jan 17, 2014 
This is the inversion (picture at right).  Mt. Rainier in the warm layer of air above the clouds & fog

Here is a nice chart of high temperatures Friday: 
Paradise Ranger Station at Mt. Rainier (5,000 feet): 69°
Las Vegas: 68°
San Francisco: 67°
Forks: 64°
Hurricane Ridge: 57°
Mt. Baker Ski Area: 54°
Stevens Pass: 54°
Snoqualmie ski area (Alpental): 52°
Mt. Rainier's Camp Muir (10,100 feet up): 43°
Seattle (Sea-Tac): 42°
Everett: 40°
Tacoma: 39°

Weather patterns that feature strong inversions can make for some zany temperature readings, but zany could be quite the understatement Friday.

How else to explain those enjoying the sight of Mt. Rainier from Paradise Ranger Station (5,000 feet up) were experiencing warmer weather than those on the Strip in Las Vegas?

At 3 p.m., the temperature at Paradise was a whopping 69 degrees, while it was a paltry 67 in Vegas. A strong ridge of high pressure has brought incredible warmth to the middle levels of the atmosphere, while the cold nights have in turn allowed cold, dense air to remain trapped at the surface, resulting in cool, foggy weather down in the lowlands.

Seattle-Tacoma-Everett areas were stuck the upper 30s to low 40s for much of the day -- colder than the 10,100-foot elevation Camp Muir, the last stop before summiting Mt. Rainier! http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Monster-inversion-Mt-Rainier-station-warmer-than-Las-Vegas-240934381.html

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
SUN JAN 19 2014

...STAGNANT CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS WEEK...

STRONG HIGH PRESSURE FORMED OVER THE INLAND NORTHWEST LAST
WEDNESDAY. SINCE THEN...WINDS HAVE BEEN LIGHT AND THE ATMOSPHERE
HAS BEEN VERY STABLE. WIDESPREAD FOG AND LOW CLOUDS HAVE FILLED
THE VALLEYS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN WASHINGTON...AS WELL AS THE
VALLEYS OF FAR NORTH IDAHO. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL LIKELY
PERSIST THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE ON
WEDNESDAY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO WEAKEN THE INVERSION BRIEFLY...BUT
IT APPEARS THAT STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL RETURN FOR THE END OF
THE WEEK.


AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM FRIDAY

* AIR QUALITY: LIGHT WINDS AND STABLE CONDITIONS WILL INCREASE
  THE POTENTIAL FOR THE BUILD UP OF POLLUTANTS NEAR THE GROUND.

* TIMING: THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MAY
  WEAKEN THE INVERSION TEMPORARILY ON WEDNESDAY...BUT THE STRONG
  INVERSION IS EXPECTED TO RETURN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

* IMPACTS: PROLONGED PERIODS OF STAGNANT AIR CAN HOLD FINE
  PARTICULATES CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND DEGRADE AIR QUALITY.

* WEB PAGE: FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA VISIT
  HTTP://WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/WRH/WHV/?WFO=OTX

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AN AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY INDICATES THAT DUE TO LIMITED MOVEMENT
OF AN AIR MASS ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA...POLLUTION HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO INCREASE TO DANGEROUS LEVELS. PERSONS WITH
RESPIRATORY ILLNESS SHOULD FOLLOW THEIR PHYSICIANS ADVICE FOR
DEALING WITH HIGH LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION.

Personnel records of dismissed police officers’ released to KLEW

By Veronica Miracle Published: Jan 17, 2014 
ASOTIN, WA - 
Veronica Miracle obtained nearly 200 pages of personnel files which explain the events leading up to the legal battles might surprise you. 

The two Asotin police officers were fired in 2013, but they didn't take it lightly, in fact they both took action against the city.

KLEW News obtained personnel records of the two men that shed a new light on their claims.

In 2013, officers William Guinn and Danny Vargas were fired for insubordination. Both now have pending lawsuits against the city. 

William Guinn alleges he was wrongfully terminated at the end of December. He's asking the city for $1.5 million in damages. But according to these personnel files...in December, Guinn responded to a call about child abuse. A child on visitation in Asotin County told Guinn his step dad was beating him. The report said Guinn tainted the investigation by returning the child to his stepfather before a detective could question the child. In a document written by Commander Scott Coppess, Guinn admitted to lying to the detective and blaming the chief for releasing the child. 
full story http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/lawsuit-240805931.html

FOG & ......RIME?

Our recent stagnant weather pattern has really taken hold of the Inland Northwest. ManY were socked in again today with fog, while others experienced widespread lower clouds. And the fog has been depositing quite a bit of rime on the trees, power lines, and grass due to the air being very moist and the temperatures at or below freezing. Will this weather pattern end soon. Maybe not soon, but it has to come to end at some time, right? The dominant ridge may get nudged east or west, but it won't be going far. That means many valleys will likely see a lot of the same things for several days. If you want a change, the mountains have been enjoying mostly clear skies with above average temperatures. Temperatures at 3500 to 4000 feet have been in the 40s to near 50 degrees at times.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=614938061886622&set=a.185405251506574.41041.176739849039781&type=1&theater

Julia’s 7 Day Weather Forecast for Lewiston, ID

Mostly Sunny with patchy morning fog and a slow warming trend

MON: Patchy morning fog then Partly Cloudy, morning low temperature in the upper 20s, afternoon high temperature in the upper 30s.

TUE: Patchy morning fog the Partly Sunny, morning low upper 20s afternoon highs mid 30s.

WED: Partly Cloudy, morning low near 30 degrees, afternoon high low 40s.

THURS: Patchy morning fog then Partly Sunny, morning low near 30, afternoon high low 40s.

FRI: Patchy morning fog then Mostly Sunny, lows upper 20s, highs near 40.

SAT & SUN: Sunny, lows near freezing, highs mid to upper 40s.

Inland Northwest Weather Blog

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Does a dry winter lead to a bad fire season?

Common sense would suggest that if the fuels begin the fire season on a dry note that should increase the risk of fires later in the year. But is that necessarily true? Before we address that notion, lets review the weather pattern thus far this water year and what the weather looks like for the remainder of the winter. For climate purposes in the western U.S., the water year is defined as the 12-month period beginning in October. Since October, the western U.S. has generally been affected by a persistent ridge of high pressure fixed just off the coast. Meanwhile, the remainder of the U.S. has seen a rather persistent trough of low pressure. http://inlandnorthwestweather.blogspot.com/2014/01/does-dry-winter-lead-to-bad-fire-season.html

13 Fun Facts about Clouds

1. It takes somewhere between a few minutes and an hour for clouds to be created.

2. There are 3 categories of clouds, depending on their height from the ground, low clouds, medium clouds and high clouds.

3. Loud clouds are normally made up of water droplets and have a base under 2,000 meters. 
- See more http://13-fun-facts.blogspot.com/2011/05/13-fun-facts-about-clouds.html

Lewiston, Lapwai, Culdesac - 45mph gusts may cause damage, outages

* LOCATIONS: LEWISTON, LAPWAI, CULDESAC, PECK, COEUR D`ALENE, POST FALLS, HAYDEN, WORLEY, GIFFORD, SPOKANE, CHENEY, DAVENPORT, ROCKFORD

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
SAT JAN 11 2014

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH

* TIMING: WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT WHILE SLOWLY
DECREASING.

* IMPACTS: STRONG WINDS COULD LEAD TO SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES
AND MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. STRONG WINDS COULD ALSO LEAD TO
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

65mph gusts may cause outages for Clarkston & Palouse

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
SAT JAN 11 2014
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM SUNDAY...

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CLARKSTON, UNIONTOWN, GENESEE, MOSCOW, PULLMAN, PLUMMER...POTLATCH, COLFAX, KAMIAH, CRAIGMONT, NEZPERCE, WINCHESTER
POMEROY, ROSALIA, LA CROSSE, OAKESDALE, TEKOA

* WINDS: WEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH. THE ALPOWA AND POMEROY AREA COULD EXPERIENCE GUSTS OF 65 MPH OVERNIGHT.

* LOCATIONS: THE EXPOSED TERRAIN OF THE PALOUSE AND CAMAS PRAIRIE AS WELL AS THE HIGH TERRAIN NEAR ALPOWA SUMMIT WILL EXPERIENCE THE STRONGEST WINDS. THE CLARKSTON AREA WILL BE SOMEWHAT PROTECTED FROM STRONG WINDS ALTHOUGH GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.

* TIMING: WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE NIGHT AND SLOWLY DECREASE SUNDAY MORNING

* IMPACTS: STRONG WINDS COULD LEAD TO SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES AND TREE DAMAGE. STRONG WINDS COULD ALSO LEAD TO TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

Giant Solar Flare Creates Brilliant Auroras and Tech Trouble

Strong Geomagnetic Storm may interrupt radio/TV, power grids-An intense coronal mass ejection (giant solar flare) observed Tuesday is expected to cause strong geomagnetic storming late Thursday into Friday. Geomagnetic storms on Earth can impede the operation of electrical grids and temporarily damage radio and satellite telecommunications. The NWS Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) continues to closely monitor and update forecasts and impacts as required. http://ow.ly/srlouhttp://ow.ly/i/4fpmj

WINDY SATURDAY

Very windy conditions expected Saturday as a strong storm system passes through the region. The strongest winds will be present over the Palouse, Columbia Basin, Spokane/CdA areas and most Mountainous Areas. Sustained winds of 30 to 40mph with gusts to 60mph are possible. Hazards associated with the winds will include the potential for downed trees and power lines along with dangerous conditions for high profile vehicles.  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/FXC/wxstory.php?wfo=otx&img=2

Gem State Population Growth Outpaces National Average While Job Market Goes Down

 many people moving to Idaho are retirees and students...

By Sophie Miraglio
LEWISTON, ID - According to the Census Bureau, Idaho's population is growing faster than most states. Idaho is joined by 16 other states with growth rates of at least one-percent. The Gem State also has the 13th strongest growth throughout the nation. However, this growth isn't correlating with the job market, as Idaho's labor force has gone down.
http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/Idaho-population-is-growing-238594151.html

POSSIBLE BLACK ICE THURSDAY MORNING

Potentially slick roads Thursday Morning for parts of the region as the melting snow and rain from today may freeze as temperatures drop. Black Ice on the roadways could lead to a slick Thursday Morning commute. Use extra caution.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/FXC/wxstory.php?wfo=otx

VALLEY RAIN - PALOUSE SNOW

LEWISTON/CLARKSTON: TODAY- light rain continues today totalling less than 1/10 inch (.06” is my calculation) by tonight.  Light SE wind, high temp 41 degrees

TONIGHT- windy with SW gusts 15 to 25mph, low 37 degrees. Light rain midnight to 4am should total less than 1/10 inch. (.05”)

THURSDAY- mostly cloudy & windy with westerly wind gusts to 30mph, high temps in the mid 40s. Light rain begins after 4pm totalling about .06” by midnight.

THURSDAY NIGHT-light snow may mix with the rain after 10pm as temps drop into the mid 30s.  Showers may briefly change to all snow briefly in the early morning hours with little if any accumulation.

FRIDAY- mild & light showers, light rain beginning late morning (about 11am). High temp near 40.

SATURDAY- heavier rain should total ¼ inch. High temp 46.

SUNDAY- drizzly, light rain. HIgh 45.

PULLMAN/MOSCOW: TODAY-Snow to Rain then back to Snow.

This morning’s snow should total about ½ inch before mixing with and changing to rain as temps rise into the mid 30s around 9am to 10am. Temps will top out in the upper 30s with blustery west winds of 25 to 35 mph. Expect about ¼ inch of rain by 5pm. Showers change back to snow after 5pm as temps drop again.

TONIGHT: Snow should total about ½ to 1 inch by early Friday morning.

TRAVEL ALERT FOR FREEZING RAIN

SHORT TERM FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
WED JAN 8 2014
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATHENA...PENDLETON...PILOT ROCK...
DAYTON...WAITSBURG...WALLA WALLA
NOW...
AREAS OF FREEZING FOG WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE BLUE MOUNTAIN
FOOTHILLS THROUGH 8 AM. THE VISIBILITY WILL RANGE FROM ONE QUARTER
TO ONE MILE. ROADS AND SIDEWALKS WILL BE SLICK IN PLACES...AS
PRECIPITATION FROM TUESDAY NIGHT`S SYSTEM AND FOG WILL FREEZE ON
ROADWAYS AND OTHER SURFACES. MORNING COMMUTERS SHOULD DRIVE WITH
CAUTION AND ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION.
http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=short%20term%20forecast

VALLEY RAIN - HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW

It looks like we are beginning our transition out of the blocking ridge of high pressure to a more active weather pattern. A train of storm systems will bring increased chances for precipitation over most locations. The exception will be over the deep Columbia Basin where a large precipitation shadow will limit totals. The mountains will be the big winners as far as snowfall totals are concerned. Several inches of snow are likely over the Cascades and the Idaho panhandle mountains beginning midweek and continuing into the early weekend. Some light snow accumulations are even possible over the valleys (especially northern valleys), although a transition to a rain/snow mix or just plain rain may occur south of I-90.

MORNING SNOW

LEWISTON/ CLARKSTON-A batch of light showers is spreading into the Inland NorthWest. In Lewiston & Clarkston, temperatures are now near 30 degrees. Showers may begin as snow, then mix with and change to all rain about 10am as temperatures rise above freezing.

MOSCOW/PULLMAN- Any showers arriving before 10am may begin as snow today before mixing with and changing to all rain.  Tonight snow is likely with little or no accumulation. 
CHECK THE RADAR: http://radar.weather.gov/radar.phprid=OTX&product=NCR&overlay=11101111&loop=yes

SNOW TODAY & TONIGHT

Light snow is entering the region Tuesday into Tuesday Night. This will be the first system of the week and will be followed by a couple more throughout the week. Mainly snow will be associated with this system, then we will transition to a valley rain mountain snow scenario later in the week. Snow amounts will remain light around the region. A slight chance of freezing rain will be possible in the Columbia Basin on Tuesday. Even light amounts of snow can lead to slick travel conditions, so use caution on snow covered roadways. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/FXC/wxstory.php?wfo=otx 

Best Weather Videos and Photos from 2013

By Scott Sistek Published: Jan 2, 2014
2013 was quite the year for weather photography and videos. From dramatic fog to brilliant lightning to... projecting a movie onto snow? Now that essentially everyone has a video camera on their phone, amazing weather events rarely go uncaptured.
see photos /videos :  http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Best-weather-videos-and-photos-from-2013-238318661.html

Is WSU's Martin Stadium the Coldest Place on Earth?

By Scott Sistek Published: Jan 4, 2014 

The current invasion of polar air into the U.S. comes on the heels of NOAA announcing it has discovered what it believes is the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth. 

Now, before I give the answer, I thought I'd give a quiz where you think that spot might be:

A) Martin Stadium during any WSU home Apple Cup game
B) The front observation deck on any Washington State ferry crossing Puget Sound in December
C) Upper Minnesota
D) Canada
E) Alaska
F) Siberia
G) Antarctica

OK, the answer is the obvious one: Antarctica. The new NASA Landsat Satellite 8 has determined that a high ridge on the East Antarctic Plateau has had temperatures that drop to -133.6F on clear winter nights, narrowly edging Martin Stadium (right?)

"Researchers analyzed 32 years' worth of data from several satellite instruments," NASA said.             full article: http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/How-cold-is-the-coldest-place-on-Earth--238624911.html 

WET WEEK - 7 Day Forecast for the Lewiston/Clarkston Valley

MONDAY: Increasing clouds, E wind 6mph, high temperature near 40 degrees.

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, light SE wind, low temperature near 30 degrees.

TUESDAY: Cloudy, light showers may begin with brief areas of freezing rain during the morning, rain totals less than 1/10 inch (my calculation .05”) . High temp near 40.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy, showery with light winds from the S. Total rain for the day expected at less than ¼” (.12”). HIgh temp lower 40s.

THURSDAY: Cloudy & rainy, light winds, high near 40. Total rainfall about ¼” (.25”).

FRIDAY: Cloudy with a few showers, about 1/3” total (.30”).  High temp lower 40s.

SATURDAY: Cloudy & rainy, adding another ¼”, high temperature mid 40s.

SUNDAY: Cloudy & rainy, high temp near 40.

Much Needed Soggy Week Ahead

FREEZING RAIN possible Tuesday morning

A parade of storms lined up off the coast will keep a steady stream of showers going for the next 7 days.  High pressure will keep the valley dry for one more day.  Clouds will increase through the afternoon as the first weak storm begins to moisten up our very dry airmass.  Temperatures will also drop below freezing overnight. As showers begin early Tuesday morning, areas of FREEZING RAIN will be possible for a few hours around the Lewis-Clark Valley and Palouse.  This will quickly change to all rain (LIGHT RAIN) over the valley. Expect 1/10 inch or less total (my calculation is .05") for Tuesday.

Rainfall totals gradually increase and total about 1.25 inches by Saturday night as juicier systems move in. Travelers should plan on HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW of 1 to 2 feet over the Cascades and N.Idaho mountains Wednesday through Thursday. Valleys south of I-90 can expect rain possibly mixed with SNOW Wednesday night and Thursday morning. L/C Valley rain totals should be a little less than ¼ inch (.12") Wed. about ¼ inch (.25")Thursday then adding ⅓ inch (.30") Friday.

ANOTHER L/C VALLEY WEATHER BLOG

Hey - Check out my L/C Valley weather blog on weather underground
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JuliaWeather

Rain & Snow on the Way!!!

A major change to the flow pattern will occur this week allowing for increased moisture to move into the region.  In our current flow pattern the majority of the moisture is passing to the north and east of our area. As the ridge over the region breaks down, moisture will be allowed to easily flow into the area. Currently, all precipitation for the region looks to start as snow before snow levels start to rise as we push further into the week. Given the westerly flow pattern the Cascades and Idaho Panhandle Mountains will likely receive the most precipitation from the pattern change.
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/FXC/wxstory.php?wfo=otx

WATERMELON SNOW

WEATHER FACT: snow isn’t always white.   In California’s Sierra Nevada mountains and the alpine region of Colorado, pink snow is occasionally spotted.  It’s caused by a microscopic reddish-colored algae that thrives in high altitude water kept freezing year round.  This sometimes dark red snow puzzled mountain climbers for centuries. Also known as watermelon snow, blood snow, red snow and snow algae, the first accounts of watermelon snow are found in the writings of Aristotle.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon_snow

LACK OF SNOW - can we catch up?

It has been an unusually dry start to the wet season...even record breaking for some areas of the western U.S.  Can the Inland NW catch up by early spring.....history says chances are slim

You might not have noticed, but it's been exceedingly dry in the Inland Northwest this winter. The lack of snow is obvious, but we haven't been getting much rain either.  Above is a map of the precipitation deficit across the West for the October through December period.
full article with more pics http://inlandnorthwestweather.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-dry-start-to-wet-season.html

HOW SNOW MAKES IT COLD

from Cliff Mass Weather Blog Dec 27, 2013

Snow is nature's refrigerator.  In fact, in places where snow can fall, record cold temperatures inevitably occur when there is snow cover.  

So why does snow produce cold surface air temperatures?  And remember surface air temperatures are measured at 2 meters above the ground level.

First, snow is highly reflective, allowing it to reflect the warming rays from the sun back to space.

Second, snow is a very good EMITTER of infrared radiation, much better than the atmosphere.  Such emission of infrared radiation to space produces substantial cooling...think of a refrigerator coil at the surface.

OK, so snow prevents the sun's rays from warming and snow cools by emitting infrared radiation.

But there is more  Snow is a good insulator.  The ground and particularly the subsoils can be relatively warm.  So the snow prevents the conduction of heat from below.  That contributes to cooling.

And finally, if air temperatures get above freezing, melting snow stays at 32F until it gone.

TODAY'S BIG WEATHER STORY IS.....a Weekend Cool Down

...of course Lewiston (red bar) will be the mildest
A dry and cool northerly flow is expected through the weekend across the region. Expect temperatures to cool off by 8 to 10 degrees from their Thursday/Friday highs by Sunday. This graph shows the high temperatures recorded at Spokane, Lewiston and Wenatchee on Thursday January 2nd and the forecast high temperatures for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/FXC/wxstory.php?wfo=otx&img=2 

WIND CHILL CHART

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/windchill/index.shtml

8 illuminating facts about clouds

The gorgeous cotton balls drifting 60,000 feet above our heads are more than atmospheric decoration that inspire great works of art and philosophy. Clouds come in all shapes and sizes and are the sites of a number of fascinating meteorological phenomena. Here, some cloud facts.

The average cloud droplet is .02 mm in diameter, about five times smaller than the thickness of a sheet of paper. These droplets condense to form clouds up to 14 miles tall, which would be the same height as fifty Empire State Buildings piled on top of each other.
more  http://blog.ted.com/2013/07/16/8-illuminating-facts-about-clouds/