Yet another chilly spring on tap for the Northwest?
It seems like a broken record:
Did you hear? It was a chilly spring in 2008.(Coldest start to June on record)
Did you hear? It was a chilly spring in 2010. (2nd-longest wait for first 75 degree day of year)
Did you hear? It was a chilly spring in 2011. (Coldest April on record, 2nd wettest March-April)
Did you hear? It was a chilly spring in 2012. (3rd wettest March on record)
If long range forecasts are to be believed, tune in next year when I add a line for 2013.
While winter hasn't really lived up to its name -- especially in the "you call 0.6 inches of snow a winter?" department -- the season once again seems like it won't be able to keep its grubby paws off its successor.
The 30-day forecast issued for March by NOAA's Center for Environment Prediction paints a very blue picture for the Pacific Northwest -- literally for the forecast maps; figuratively for sun and warm weather fans:
And its 90 day forecast that covers March through May isn't much warmer, although later maps seem to indicate the cooler period is likely to occur in the March-April time frame than May. (See? Silver lining -- Memorial Day will be great!*)
(*- Not an actual forecast)
Now for some other silver linings for the sun fans: The forecast had been for a cooler February too and so far, it's trending just a bit warmer than average -- although the cool forecast is more adamant for March/April than it was for Feb. Also, the forecasts for rain are equal chances -- as in there is no signal in the climate models one way or the other. Many times when you get the "cool" forecast moniker it comes with a "wetter than average" one too, but this time, no.
As to why (or in sun fan cases: "Why?...Why?....WHY??!?!") we've been on this streak of missing springs -- this blog I wrote last spring as we pondered how we could possibly be having the fourth chilly spring of the last five has one answer.
The abridged version for those who don't want to click on the link: The Pacific Decadal Oscillation remains in a cool phase and that could keep the Northwest a little cooler than normal for a while -- it's been an effective shield so far against the much warmer than normal temperatures the rest of the nation has experienced the past couple of years.
But someday we'll shift back to a warmer phase, and perhaps then the broken record will stop. We'll see if anyone remembers what records were by then...
Northwest Weather Workshop this weekend!
The Pacific Northwest Weather Workshop, the annual gathering for those interested in Northwest weather and climate. will be held this Friday and Saturday at the NOAA Sand Point facility in Seattle. For more information, check out http://www.atmos.washington.edu/pnww/
I don't know why we'd think the coming Spring wouldn't be as wet, cold, and drippy as it's ever been. Yes it's been a while since we heard the weather forecasters tell us "now get outside and do something (and spend plenty of money while you're out there)". It doesn't start to get nice around here until mid-Summer anyway, but that won't stop me from tackling the yard come rain or shine.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!Â
I'm ready for that 70+ degree weather!
It was, it was, it was...
No one can predict the weather here. The best we can do is 'was'.
I've seen a snow wall on one side of 99, and ten feet to the left, rain. The best anyone can hope for is looking out the window and hope it doesn't change a quarter mile down the road. Good luck with that. No million dollar contraption on the coast is gonna change that.
'Was' is the best we can do. Barring the somewhat freak occurance that is.
I'm from here. this year will be mostly gray with 6 weeks of sun....that's all folks.
@ScottSKOMO I'm probably one of the few that likes a cold, rainy Spring. But I do want 80's this summer. Still hoping for a March snow...
@JulierainlvrÂ
Cold and rainy, good. Â Hot and dry, bad. Â I'm fine with 80s this summer, just as long as it's not here on the coast. Â
Sigh.... â@ScottSKOMO: Yet another chilly spring on tap for the Northwest? Long range models seem to think so -- http://t.co/csylngLD4Dâ
â@ScottSKOMO: Yet another chilly spring on tap for the Northwest? Long range models seem to think so http://t.co/ij9lm0PfjDâ save me Ecuador
@ScottSKOMO Curse you, PDO!
This sucks
We are in the 5th year of a 25 year cycle of long cooler than normal springs! Only 20 years to go......
@kewie Interesting where did you get that info, because all you hear is were in global warming.
@justsayin @kewie "Global Warming" is inacurate. The planet as a whole may have higher average temperatures, but that doesn't mean everyone will. The better term is "Climate Change." The climate will change, but the change may or may not be what you expect.
Remember the summer of 2012 where major wildfires burned throughout eastern Washington? Yeah that was after a cool, wet spring. Summer's the season here folks, but watch out what you wish for...
@TruthinAdverts I'm from Eastern Washington they have had much cooler summers. I actually think the wildfires are less than normal. BTW my sister is a firefighter for the area and last year she spent most of her time in Oregon.
@justsayin @TruthinAdvertshmmm... how many homes lost in the Ellensburg area? A firefighter died up by Wenatchee on a major fire there. Cle-ellum got a major fire. Fires burned along the Columbia. Even western Washington had fires. That said, Washington had a fairly late season. I'm a firefighter, but I'm so dang tired of arguing with people who know better on these boards... You win!
I have a bumper crop of moss in my yard this year.
@mstipton Most of my front yard is moss... and I love it! It always stays green, it's super soft, and I rarely have to mow it!
@mstipton Me to same as last year and the year before etc.
@djj @mstipton You might want to look at the PH of your soils. Grasses do best in a slightly alkaline soil and a lot of our soils here is Western WA are acidic. Lime will raise the PH and give grass more vigorous growth, you also may need to fertilize.  You can use a moss control product like ferrous sulfate but if the underlying problem isn't remedied the moss will come back.Â
I have fond memories of being a kid back in the 70s when I would start wearing shorts to school in late April when weather got warmer. Â Â :-(
@Tom-RNTÂ When you're a kid things like "preventing hypothermia" and "being cold" are outweighed by "looking cool" and "IT"S ALMOST SUMMER!!!".
@Tom-RNT Don't people around here wear shorts regardless of the weather? :oP
@tats76 @Tom-RNT lol! And socks with sandals, too!
@tats76Â @Tom-RNTÂ
yes! Â Â (once it hits about 50 degrees and stays there - shorts!)
@Tom-RNTÂ @tats76Â
40 degrees for me. And I love the fact that I live in a city where I can walk into the Safeway wearing shorts in January and know that I won't be the only one who's dressed that way!