Rod's Weather Headlines

Remember 106 Degrees?

By Rod Hill on 2010-07-28

Be thankful for this morning's pleasant temperatures.  One year ago, July 28th, 2009, PDX reached a record high of 106 degrees. The morning hours low of 74 degrees tied the record for the warmest July low temperature.  The date was day four of a record 10 day run of 90 degree temperatures or hotter.  The record heat wave was just one of several records set in the hot summer of 2009!  Obviously this summer has been much cooler by comparison.  To date, PDX has reached 90 degrees 4 times.  We are running below pace for the season average of 13 days. 90 degree temperatures are typically reached into the first two weeks of September.  There are no signs of prolonged heat in the coming weeks.  in fact, 90 degree heat is not expected through the 12th day of August.  After that, we'll see??

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Northwest Opposite From Global Trend

By Rod Hill on 2010-07-21

Portland temperature average is one degree below normal through the first 20 days of July.  With warmer days expected this weekend, odds favor a near normal month both for temperature and precipitation.  Interesting to note that our cool weather comes during a year that is the warmest on record globally when both sea and land temperatures are measured.  Below is a report from NOAA:

Last month’s combined global land and ocean surface temperature made it the warmest June on record and the warmest on record averaged for any April-June and January-June periods, according to NOAA. Worldwide average land surface temperature was the warmest on record for June and the April-June period, and the second warmest on record for the year-to-date (January-June) period, behind 2007.

Arctic sea ice continued its annual decline, typically reaching a September minimum. Similar to May 2010, the Arctic sea ice continued to decline at a record rapid rate—the fastest measured for June (more than 50 percent greater than average). The previous record for the fastest decline rate in June was set in 1999. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), June 2010 Arctic sea ice extent was 10.9 million square kilometers (10.6 percent or 1.29 million square kilometers below the 1979–2000 average), resulting in the lowest June sea ice extent since records began in 1979—the previous June record low was set in 2006. This was also the 19th consecutive June with below-average Arctic sea ice extent. It was reported that sea ice was below average everywhere with the exception of the East Greenland Sea, where sea ice extent was near average. June Arctic sea ice extent has decreased at an average rate of 3.5 percent per decade. Of note, the Arctic dipole (DA) anomaly—an atmospheric pressure pattern—was present during June 2010 (similar to 2007—which had record low September sea ice extent).

As the Arctic sea ice extent contracts (during the Northern Hemisphere warm season), the Antarctic sea ice extent expands (during the Southern Hemisphere cold season). During June 2010, the Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent reached its largest extent on record for June, 8.3 percent above the 1979–2000 average. This is the eighth consecutive June with above-average Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent. Southern Hemisphere sea ice extent for June has increased at an average rate of 1.4 percent per decade.

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There continues to be debate over temperature records, but the bottom line is that record numbers are being put into the books.  Little debate can be offered about Arctic sea ice decreasing year after year.  Of course, it is interesting to note the increase of southern hemispheric ice. 

Rod Hill

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Coldest In 24 Years!

By Rod Hill on 2010-07-06

"Did it seem chilly this morning? It was! Portland's morning low of 48 degrees today was the coldest July morning low in 24 years! This also sets a new record for July 5th. The old record low for today was 49 set on July 5th 1988 (22 years ago). The last time it was this cold in July was on July 18th 1986 when it dipped to 47 degrees. This is the first record morning low for anytime in the month of July (in Portland) since 1988. All of the current record lows for the month of July are pre-1988, with the vast majority of those set between 1940-1975. The all-time coldest July morning low at the Portland International Airport is 43 degrees set on July 2nd 1955.

The above research is courtesy of Steve Pierce.  Mr. Pierce is the Vice President of the local American Meteorological Society and a research wizard!

 

 


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Wettest June At PDX In The Book

By Rod Hill on 2010-07-02

June total rainfall ends up at 4.27" at PDX.  The total becomes the new monthly record for Portland International Airport.  The total is 2nd most all time dating back to 1871.  The record for all reporting stations is 5.38" back in 1888.  The daily high temperature average was 68.8 degrees, nearly 4 degrees below normal.  Despite, the chill, the monthly temperature averages did not place in the top five for coolest Junes.  It is also interesting to note that June only had one really wet day, following the record wet start that ended June 10th.  The final 20 days, were mostly dry and averaged on the cool side, not enough to impress the record book.

July is typically Portland's driest month.  The average rainfall is .72 inches.  July averages only four days with measurable rainfall.  One day down, three to go! 

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Cool July Outlook, May Be A Joke

By Rod Hill on 2010-06-29

Our stretch of cool weather this week will hit the burner next week.  Forecast charts have been consistent in showing a run of near 90 degree temperatures next week.  It is unclear if the warm up will begin Sunday the 4th or next Monday.  At any rate, all signs point to a normal July, with mostly dry weather and plenty of warm days.  In fact, the first 15 days of the month are likely to average above normal with a stretch of sunny warm to hot days.  If true, this will continue to be a bad year in terms of monthly forecast projections.  Remember, our spring was suppose to be warm and dry and the current July forecast calls for cool and wet.  As of today, I don't think so!  

(The mentioned forecast outlooks are published by the National Weather Service and have a good track record when looked at over the past few years.)

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Cool Video Animation

By Rod Hill on 2010-06-28

http://www.fullscreen360.com/st-helens.htm

The above link is a very cool video animation of Mt. St Helens.  I thought you would enjoy it.

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Cool July Expected?

By Rod Hill on 2010-06-22

Summer in the Rose City begins 4 degrees below normal with cloudy skies.  The National Weather Service outlook for July calls for cool and wetter days than normal.  At this time, there is no forecast confidence to project August and September.  Before you get too depressed, please remember that monthly outlooks are often incorrect.  The outlook for this spring called for dry and warm!!  

Here is a look at how a cool and wet July could play out:  1.  7-12 days with rain / 2.  More cloudy mornings than usual / 3.  15 days with high temperatures 66-77 degrees 

The wettest July was back in 1983 with 2.68" of rain.  The above estimate is meant to show a worst case scenario and is based on historical weather records.  Lets hope for less than 6 wet days and lots of sunshine with highs most days 75-85 degrees.  Typically, the driest weeks of our year occur between July 10th and August 20th.  

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Moon To Pass Through Earth's Shadow

By Rod Hill on 2010-06-21

June 26 - Partial Lunar Eclipse for the Pacific NW
 
A partial lunar eclipse will take place on the morning of June 26, 2010, the first of two lunar eclipses in 2010. The second will be a total eclipse on December 21, 2010.  Lunar eclipses only occur during a full  Moon which is on June 26.  During a partial eclipse, a portion of the  Moon passes through the  Earth's inner shadow, called the umbra.
 
If the sky is somewhat clear, people willing to get up by 3 a.m. will be able to see the Moon passing through the Earth's shadow. Viewers in the Pacific NW will need to find clear view of the SW horizon for this eclipse.  During the start of the eclipse at 3:16 a.m. PDT on Saturday morning, the  Moon will be low above the SW horizon at 13 degrees altitude. While watching the eclipse, the International Space Station will be visible moving from the west to southeast at 4:34 a.m. PDT at altitude of 25 degress southwest.
 
The greatest eclipse occurs at 4:38 a.m. PDT when the northern half of the lunar disk will be immersed in the umbra or Earth's shadow. The umbral eclipse magnitude will be 54 percent at the instant of greatest eclipse.  During this time, the Moon will be 5 degrees above the horzion and the Sun is emerging from the east creating the twlight with the sunrise at 5:23 a.m. PDT.  No special viewing equipment are needed and lunar eclipses are not harmful to look at.  The  Moon, while in the umbra, will set at 5:27 a.m. PDT and the partial eclipse ends at 5:59 a.m. PDT below the horizon.   
 
The next lunar eclipse for the Pacific NW will be a total on the morning of December 21 and will be nearly overhead.   
 
-Courtesy of Jim Todd, OMSI Planetarium Manager

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Summer Outlook Calls For "Cool" Days

By Rod Hill on 2010-06-20

Summer begins Monday morning at 4:28 a.m..  The first two days of summer look pretty nice, but the National Weather Service outlook calls for a stretch of cool days to finish June.  The real bad news is the following:  The July monthly outlook calls for below normal temperatures.  Let's hope the projection is incorrect!  Here are a few headlines from our spring season, from April 1st to June 19th:

1.  Number of mostly sunny days morning & afternoon:  4

2.  Days with rain:  59 of 80 days / 26 more wet days than normal

3.  Days of 70 degrees or higher:  12

4.  Rain Total:  11.92"  / normal is 6.14"  (this spring is nearly 200% of normal!)

Enough fun facts for one day.  

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PDX SETS JUNE RAINFALL RECORD

By Rod Hill on 2010-06-16

Yesterday's rainfall of .38" gives PDX 4.21" for the month of June. The amount is the all-time wettest June for PDX.  The old record was 4.06" back in 1984.  The records date back to 1941.  The all-time Portland record for all locations is 5.38" back in 1888.  We continue to set the record for the wettest May and June at PDX.  As of this morning, Portland has received 8.96" since May 1st. The 2-month average is 3.97 inches.  Obviously we are well over 200% of normal!  By the way Portland's Tuesday high temperature of 57 degrees sets a daily record for the coldest high temperature.  McMinnville and Hillsboro also had daily low-high records.  McMinnville's high temperature was 58 and Hillsboro had a high of 57.

COME ON JULY!!!

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