Cliff Mass references a UW study, led by psychology professor Susan Joslyn, that found that people struggle with what the probability expressed in a “75 percent chance of rain” applies to. It’s a statement that makes much more sense if you realize that weather prediction happens on a computer these days — it’s not a guesstimate. Continue reading Getting a Bead on Our Improbable Weather
Sunny days this time of year (November to early July) are rare and wonderful. A sunny weekend day this time of year, that’s paradise on earth. So when the weather reports calls for a sunny Saturday, like they did last week, and instead those all too familiar clouds hang around all day, well, it’s upsetting and makes us want to have a little heart-to-heart with our local weather team. What better time than National Weatherperson’s Day? Continue reading Coffee’s for Meteorologists Only
Sporadic snow showers are predicted throughout today, with things clear and cold by tomorrow, January 11. There’s just not enough moisture for Snowmageddon ’13, says KOMO Weather, apologetically, but the afternoon commute may contain some surprises. Continue reading Keep a Watch for Snow on Seattle’s SnowWatch
“Seattle has dozens of microclimates and I’d say we challenge San Francisco as far as number, only ours aren’t quite as stark. However, San Francisco cheats a bit in that their population spreads out further.” Continue reading And Now, KOMO’s Scott Sistek on Northwest Weather, Coastal Radar & Microclimates
As of Monday morning, rain gauges are reporting more than one inch of rainfall in the past 24 hours in Seattle. If you’ve been reading Cliff Mass’s blog, you knew to break out the waders for today. But he’s also worried about Thanksgiving. Continue reading Atmospheric Rivers Don’t Run Dry
Winter is coming, says Cliff Mass. The University of Washington meteorologist has a vested interest in preparedness since he gets stuck in the snow just like everyone else, and is a vocal member of the salt-and-snow-plow lobby. Continue reading Well-Salted Seattle Keeps an Online Watch on Winter Weather
The trend is for a weak El Niño winter, or even a neutral winter, and that “indicates an increased likelihood of below-median precipitation for the Pacific Northwest.” A wildcard, they say, is the Arctic Oscillation, which could cool things off…or not. Continue reading A Less Rainy Winter Forecast Doesn’t Rule Out Big Storms
