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/

RESOLVE TO BE WEATHER READY IN 2014

Be a Force of Nature by knowing your risk, taking action and being an example in your community.

Each year, people in this country are killed or seriously injured by all types of extreme weather, despite advance warning. In 2012, there were more than 450 fatalities and nearly 2,600 injuries due to extreme weather, like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, extreme heat, and wildfires. 

NOAA’s Weather-Ready Nation initiative is about building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather and water events.

  As part of the Weather-Ready Nation initiative, NOAA, along with partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), wants to motivate individuals and communities to take actions that will prepare them in the event of a weather disaster and to share their preparedness steps with others. These actions can save lives anywhere - at home, in schools, and in the workplace before tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme types of weather strike.

read on to find out how to know your risk, what you can do...

 http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/force.html#.UsQlPqKzKph

SHORT TERM FORECAST

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
WED JAN 1 2014

LEWISTON AREA-SPOKANE AREA-WENATCHEE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF LEWISTON, LAPWAI, PECK, CULDESAC,

GIFFORD,SPOKANE,CHENEY,DAVENPORT, ROCKFORD, WENATCHEE,

CHELAN,ENTIAT, CASHMERE

.NOW...
AREAS OF FOG CONTINUE TO IMPACT EAST WENATCHEE...THE 

SPOKANE/WEST PLAINS AND THE L-C VALLEY. MORNING FOG 

WAS LOCALLY DENSE WITH VISIBILITY DOWN TO ONE QUARTER 

MILE AT TIMES. TEMPERATURES BELOW  FREEZING WILL RESULT 

FROZEN ROAD SURFACES AND MAY CREATE SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS.

DRIVERS SHOULD ALLOW FOR EXTRA TIME FOR TRAVEL ON AREA

ROADWAYS AND BE PREPARED FOR HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS.

http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=short%20term%20forecast

DENSE FOG THIS MORNING - INLAND NW

Check out the visibility- in the L/C Valley, Spokane, CDA, Wenatchee,,, click link for larger view
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/FXC/wxstory.php?wfo=otx

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER EXPLAINER

TONIGHT/TUESDAY: High pressure that’s been trapping cold, stagnant air over the region began breaking down today as the first in a series of weak systems moves through. Tonight’s system will bring light rain showers to the Lewiston / Clarkston through Tuesday.  With temperatures below freezing, the Spokane/ CDA area should receive about ½ of snow, mixed with areas of freezing rain at times. Travelers should prepare for a slippery Tuesday morning drive along I-90. The Palouse can expect rain mixed with snow without much accumulation. Areas north of Spokane and east of Orofino & Grangeville can expect all snow.

NEW YEARS EVE NIGHT: Light showers should end about 10pm from the Palouse to the L/C Valley. Temperatures should drop to freezing by sunrise NEW YEARS DAY. Plan on partly cloudy skies Wednesday with afternoon highs reaching the upper 30s.

A better chance of rain reaches the area THURSDAY NIGHT.  The valley can expect about ¼ inch or less with rain changing to light snow as temperatures drop during the afternoon. THE WEEKEND should be cool and dry with morning lows in the 20s and highs in the upper 30s.

JULIA'S END OF THE YEAR FORECAST - L/C VALLEY

Drizzly tonight & Tues, dry & cold New Years Eve, better chance of showers Thursday night.

END OF THE YEAR FORECAST - L/C VALLEY

TONIGHT: liquid drips or drizzle, only a trace if any to measure (.01” to .02”). low temperature in the mid 30s.

TUESDAY: mostly cloudy & drizzly day. high temperature in the low 40s.

NEW YEARS EVE: mostly cloudy, drips ending about 10pm. Total rainfall should be light (.05”). low temperature near freezing by sunrise.

NEW YEARS DAY: brisk morning, warming to upper 30s by 3 to 4pm. partly cloudy.

THURSDAY: partly cloudy, warmest afternoon temp in the upper 40s.

THURSDAY NIGHT: soggy overnight, lows staying above freezing in the mid 30s.

FRIDAY: light rain in the morning as temperatures warm to near 40 degrees. Showers changing to snow as temperatures drop later in the day. Total rain/snow total of about ¼”.

SATURDAY: partly sunny with afternoon high temps in the upper 30s.

SUNDAY: morning clouds giving way to afternoon sun, high temp in the mid to upper 30s.