Pacific NW Weather

 

 Saturday, May 31st Low pressure moves into B.C… North Puget Sound Highs in the low 50s Lows in the 50s Scattered showers, becoming slightly denser in the afternoon  Gusts in the 20s South Puget Sound Highs in the upper 60s, cooling off in the afternoon Lows in the 50s Slight chance of rain in the early afternoon  Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 60s Lows in the 50s Isolated showers Gusts in the teens South Willamette Valley  Highs in the low to mid 70s Lows in the 50s Mostly dry Gusts in the teens Sunday, June 1st High pressure moves back in place… North Puget Sound Highs in the mid 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s No rain Gusts in the teens South Puget Sound Highs in the upper 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s No rain Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the low 70s Lows in the mid to upper 40s No rain Gusts in the teens South Willamette valley  Highs in the upper 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s No rain Gusts in the ...

 Thursday, May 29th A ridge builds over the region… North Puget Sound Highs in the mid 50s Lows in the low 50s Steady rain in the morning turning to showers by 10 AM Gusts in the 20s South Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the low to mid 50s Steady rain in the morning turning to showers by 10 AM Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the low to mid 50s Steady rain in the morning turning to showers by 10 AM No wind South Willamette Valley Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the low to mid 50s Steady rain in the morning turning to showers by 10 AM No wind Friday, May 30th The ridge remains in place… North Puget Sound Highs in the low 70s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Isolated showers No wind South Puget Sound  Highs in the mid to upper 70s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Isolated showers Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 70s to low 80s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s Isolated showers No wind South Wil...

 Tuesday, May 27th A ridge sets up over the region… North Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 70s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s No rain No wind South Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 70s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s No rain Little to no wind North Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 70s to low 80s Lows in the upper 40s No rain Little to no wind South Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 70s to low 80s Lows in the upper 40s No rain Little Little to no wind

 Saturday, May 24th A transient ridge of high pressure build over the region… North Puget Sound Highs in the mid 60s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s No rain Little to no wind South Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 70s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s No rain Little to no wind North Willamette Valley Highs in the low to mid 70s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s No rain Little to no wind South Willamette Valley Highs in the low to mid 70s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s No rain Little to no wind Sunday, May 25th Low pressure moves toward the region, and a slight negative tilt occurs… North Puget Sound Highs in the mid to upper 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s No rain Gusts building into the 20s South Puget Sound Highs in the mid to upper 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Slight chance isolated shower in late evening Gusts building into the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the mid to upper 60s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s Slight chance isolated shower in the late evening ...

 Thursday, May 22nd A weak low pressure system swings onshore into Oregon… North Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the mid 40s to low 50s Isolated showers  Little to no wind South Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the mid 40s to low 50s Small chance steady rain in the morning, then Isolated showers Little to no wind North Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 50s to low 60s Lows in the low 50s Steady rain before 8 AM, then scattered showers Little to no wind South Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 50s to low 60s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s Isolated showers Little to no wind Friday, May 23rd A ridge of high pressure begins to set up… North Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Mostly dry Little to no wind South Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the low to mid 40s Mostly dry Little to no wind North Willamette Valley Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the low to mid 40s Mostly dry Little to no w...

 Tuesday, May 20th Low pressure moves further inland… North Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers, some showers may be very heavy at times Less than 5% chance isolated lightning Gusts in the teens South Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers, some showers may be very heavy at times Less than 5% chance of an isolated lightning strike Gusts in the upper teens, maybe reaching 20 North Willamette Valley Highs in the mid to upper 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers, some showers may be very heavy at times Single digit gusts South Willamette Valley Highs in the low to mid 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers Single digit gusts Wednesday, May 21st The PNW sits on the fringe of low pressure to the north, and high pressure to the south… North Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Mostly dry, few isolated showers possible Single digit gusts S...

 Sunday, May 18th Low pressure center moves further inland… North Puget Sound Highs in the mid 50s Lows in the mid 40s Isolated showers Gusts in the 20s South Puget Sound Highs in the mid to upper 50s Lows in the low to mid 40s Isolated showers Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the mid to upper 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers Gusts in the teens South Willamette Valley Highs in the mid to upper 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers Gusts in the teens Monday, May 19th Another low pressure system moves inland over B.C… North Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s to low 60s Lows in the low to mid 40s Somewhat steady rain in the morning, and isolated showers in the afternoon Gusts in the 30s South Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s to low 60s Lows in the low to mid 40s Somewhat steady rain in the morning, and isolated showers in the afternoon Gusts in the 20s North Willamette Valley Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s S...

 Have weather related questions and/or requests about a topic or forecast? Want to share a weather observation? Please contact me using the contact form located in the drop down menu in the upper left hand corner. Friday, May 16th Low pressure drops down over the region… North Puget Sound Highs in the mid to upper 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers Gusts in the teens South Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the low 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Isolated showers Single digit gusts South Willamette Valley Highs in the low 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40 Sparse showers Single digit gusts Saturday, May 17th Another low pressure system begins to drop down over the area… North Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s Off and on somewhat steady rain most of the day due to the convergence zone setting up Small chance isolated lightning strike...

 Wednesday, May 14th Slightly higher pressure moves into the area… North Puget Sound Highs in the low 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers in the morning Gusts in the 20s South Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s, possibly reaching 60 Lows in the mid to upper 40s Sparse shower or two in the morning Gusts in the 20s North Willamette Valley Highs in the mid to upper 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers Gusts in the teens South Willamette Valley Highs in the mid to upper 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers Gusts in the teens Thursday, May 15th Low pressure begins to move back towards the area… North Puget Sound Highs in the low 50s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Isolated showers until somewhat steady rain begins around the mid morning hours Gusts in the teens South Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 50s Lows in the mid 40s Isolated showers until somewhat steady rain begins just before noon Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the...

 Monday, May 12th The low pressure system moves further inland… North Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s to low 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers Gusts in the teens South Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s to low 60s Lows in the mid to upper 40s Scattered showers Tiny chance of an isolated lightning strike Gusts building until reaching the mid teens in the evening North Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 50s Lows in the upper 40s to low 50s Heavy showers, showers may be densely packed at times Chance of scattered lightning Gusts in the upper single digits South Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 50s Lows in the upper 40s Densely packed heavy showers Chance of scattered lightning  Gusts in the teens Tuesday, May 13th Higher pressure begins to make its way back towards the area… North Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the upper 40s Scattered showers Gusts in the upper single digits South Puget Sound Highs in the low to mid 60s Lows in the mid t...

  Windstorms Windstorms are some of the most damaging weather scenarios we receive in the Pacific Northwest. Winds we typically receive in the Pacific Northwest are only high enough to be classified as “blustery”, but with the right conditions aloft, areas of the PNW can be hit by highly damaging wind speeds. Wind is caused by a gradient in pressure. By “gradient in pressure” I mean a change from low to high pressure over an area. The tighter the gradient, the higher the wind speeds. PNW wind is caused by a low setting up off the coastline, and then moving over the area. The favorable trajectory for high winds is when the low sets up slightly to the north, because the pressure gradient is typically denser on the south side of the low. The SE corner of the low, (where it begins to curve north), has the highest winds, and these winds are known as Bent Back Occlusion winds.  Wind can also be impacted by local terrain features. Some features can amplify the wind. One of these is t...

 Notice the lenticular clouds being produced across the east slopes of the cascades. This due to strong onshore flow aloft. (Imagery from the college of DuPage) Saturday, May 10th Low pressure moves closer to the region as higher pressure is pushed eastward… North Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s Lows in the mid 40s Slight chance of steady rain between 9 and noon, isolated showers after Gusts in the teens South Puget Sound Highs in the low 60s Lows in the mid 40s Small chance of rain between 10 AM to 2 PM Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley  Highs in the mid 60s Lows in the mid 40s No rain Gusts in the teens South Willamette Valley Highs in the low 60s Lows in the mid 40s No rain Gusts in the teens Sunday, May 11th A low pressure center drops down from the gulf of Alaska to off the Oregon coastline… North Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s Lows in the mid 40s Showers all day, becoming denser in the evening Outside chance of an isolated lightning strike Gusts in the te...

 Thursday, May 8th High pressure moves back over the region… North Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s Lows in the low 40s No rain No wind South Puget Sound Highs in the low 60s Lows in the low 40s No rain No wind North Willamette Valley Highs in the low 60s Lows in the low 40s No rain No wind South Willamette Valley Highs in the mid 60s Lows in the low 40s No rain No wind Friday, May 9th High pressure remains in place… North Puget Sound Highs in the low 60s Lows in the mid 40s No rain No wind South Puget Sound Highs in the mid 60s Lows in the mid 40s No rain No wind North Willamette Valley  Highs in the upper 60s Lows in the mid 40s No rain No wind South Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 60s Lows in the mid 40s No rain No wind 

 Monday, May 5th High pressure stays over the region… North Puget Sound Highs in the mid 60s Lows in the low 50s No rain No wind South Puget Sound Highs in the mid to upper 60s Lows in the low 50s No rain No wind North Willamette Valley Highs in the low 70s Lows in the low 50s No rain No wind South Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 60s Lows in the low 50s No rain No wind Tuesday, May 6th High pressure remains in place… North Puget Sound Highs in the low 70s Lows in the low 50s Slight chance of showers in the late evening  No wind South Puget Sound Highs in the mid 70s Lows in the low 50s No rain No wind North Willamette Valley Highs in the mid 70s Lows in the low 50s No rain Gusts in the 20s South Willamette Valley Highs in the mid 70s Lows in the low 50s No rain No wind

 Saturday, May 3rd A weak area of low pressure moves through the area… North Puget Sound  Highs in the low 50s Lows in the low 40s Chance of steady rain before 9 AM, and scattered showers afterwards Gusts in the 20s South Puget Sound Highs in the low 50s Lows in the low 40s Steady rain before 8 AM, showers afterwards Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the mid 50s Lows in the upper 30s Steady rain before 8 AM, and then isolated showers Gusts in the 20s South Willamette Valley Highs in the mid 50s Lows in the upper 30s Steady rain before 9 AM, and then sparse showers Gusts in the teens Sunday, May 4th High pressure tries to move back over the area… North Puget Sound Highs in the mid 50s Lows in the low 40s Sparse showers Gusts in the teens South Puget Sound Highs in the upper 50s Lows in the low 40s No rain Gusts in the teens North Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 50s Lows in the low 40s No rain Gusts in the teens South Willamette Valley Highs in the upper 5...