This Past Week....

I thought I’d post a bit of the content I shared on Facebook and Twitter this week.  The main reason I started this “blog” was to share with folks who don’t have social media accounts.   

So…  here is a bit of what happened this past week….

We had a gorgeous sunrise this morning with a "mackerel sky" (altocumulus) sunrise.  Altocumulus are indicators of an imminent weather change (like rain) within the next 6-12 hours. It's coming true right now as I type....  

Another great show was some very active spring time cumulus and morning wind shear.

We were visited by the Starship Enterprise on Friday....  In cumulus form.  Scott Sistek put these words to it on Twitter: 

"To boldly go where no cumulus cloud has gone before? :)" 

 

We had a gorgeous pink sky during sunset on Wednesday.

Here is that pink sky in time lapse: 

And tonight we watched the first cruise ship of the year go by.  The Holland America Eurodam.

As I am typing a beautiful pink is briefly peaking through the clouds....  Time to stop typing...

   

Follow Up From Hansville Community Center Talk

Last night I had the pleasure of giving a talk at the Hansville Community Center.  I had a ton of fun sharing some of the things my cams have discovered.  I’d like to thank all who attended and would like to follow through on a couple of things, due to some great questions during Q&A.  

I got a request to post the video that I shared at the end of the presentation, so here it is.  Be sure to have some nice headphones or speakers.... 

Best viewed on HD here: Video From Tuesday Talk 

or YouTube:

One of the questions was about a convergence zone, so here is a video of one I captured back on March 2, 2013.

 

I also did some research about the “Green Flash”…..  I know what one is now and found a video to share…. :)

Once again, thanks to all who attended and let's hope that May will not be a "happy place" for the Pluviophiles....  (Inside joke)....  :) 

I just reviewed the sunset last night that took place during the talk...  Here is part of that 98.61% that we don't see...  :)

Northern Lights Through The Clouds....

Last night the clouds parted just enough for an intermittent viewing of Aurora Borealis...  

Best viewed here in HD: http://skunkbayweather.com/422.html 

Recap of a Beautiful Day

Yesterday was so awesome I put together a recap.....  

Best viewed here: http://skunkbayweather.com/421.html

Or on Vimeo:  https://vimeo.com/214208777

Quick Turnaround Today....

We had beautiful blue skies this afternoon and then.....  

Talk about a quick turnaround....  

Best viewed in HD here: http://skunkbayweather.com/420.html

Cliff's Blog About Virga

Cliff Mass talks about "virga" precipitation in his blog today.  He used content from my previous posts..... uhmmm.... As usual, he gives a "bit" more detail than I provided.... :) 

Click Here For Cliff's Blog

Beautiful Display Of Virga....

Last night we had a very nice display of “virga” rain showers.  These are shafts of precipitation that evaporate before it hits the ground.  These shafts appear to be hanging from the clouds.  In many ways they look like jelly fish..... or….  An alien being of some sort….  In the 40 years I have lived here, I have never seen a display this nice.  It was almost surreal….

When put into motion, it's quite a show....  Best viewed in HD here: Virga Time Lapse

More Local Rainfall Factoids....

We have all heard enough about the record breaking rainfall this year and I don’t want to depress us even more…  But there are some interesting facts about our local rainfall that I thought I’d share…. 

Last year we actually had MORE rain than we have had so far this year….  By April 9^th last year we had 15.38” and this year we “ONLY” have 13.73”…..  Last year started out REALLY wet and we had a great summer….  So there is hope. 

Now for the depressing facts….  We just survived the wettest rain season (October-March) that my station has recorded.  Here are the numbers:

OK...  Enough of this depressing stuff....  Let's enjoy the sunshine today!

Edit... 9:45

The NWS discussion that just came out is GREAT! Just proof that when the times get tough... all you should do is laugh....

Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Seattle WA

933 AM PDT Sun Apr 9 2017

.SYNOPSIS...Showers on the coast this morning will turn to rain

late this afternoon and the rain will spread inland tonight. More

showers on Monday with an upper level trough moving through. An

upper low parked offshore will keep the weather showery for the

remainder of the week with the exception of Tuesday.

.SHORT TERM...Here I sit looking model to model, seeking a

solution that won`t make me hit the bottle. Though I must admit

perpetual sogginess makes forecasting a breeze. Debating whether or not Seattle is under a curse, I decided to type this discussion in

verse. So if this weather poem does not please, do remember I

studied science and not humanities.

Let`s start this off on a happy note, with words so rare they leap

from my throat. A weak ridge aloft will keep conditions dry and a

break in the clouds will bring some sun. This should last for some

of today, so take this rare opportunity to go out and play. An

approaching upper level trough will sadly kill this fun, with an

incoming front bringing rain overnight tonight and into Mon.

The advancing trough behind this front, will allow showers to

continue compounding this affront. Once the trough passes by Monday night yet another ridge will be overhead. Temps will rise if only a tease, for they still can`t escape beyond the 50s. The next

weather system looms to the south filling this forecaster with

dread. As it lifts northward, it looks to return precipitation for

Wed. SMR/JSMITH

.LONG TERM...Rain will spread as far as the eye can see, even though models still tend to disagree. On the track of the low but this

point is fairly moot, because no matter who`s right it`s just going

to rain some more. Wet conditions persist for the second half of the

week, so you`d best be accustomed to shoes that squeak. And so at my heart these models tore as I looked upon them like The Raven from days of yore. I continue to ask if Seattle shall see consistent sun and they continue to seemingly answer...nevermore. SMR