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