Weather, Climate, and Other Science Topics
Hi all, I know it’s been a LONG time since I’ve posted on this blog! I have a major life update: I recently accepted an offer from Iowa State University to begin a PhD program in electrical engineering. I will begin working as a research assistant in May and start taking classes in August. My […]
Just a quick blog this afternoon – I’ve gotta head out the door in a few minutes for a night shift of real-time energy trading at Puget Sound Energy. The main goal of real-time trading is to economically balance generation with system demand, and because there is system demand 24 hours a day, we need […]
I was perusing the Facebook weather-sphere the other day, and KPTV chief meteorologist Mark Nelsen pointed out that the Blob had resurfaced dramatically over the past month in the Northeast Pacific. Taking a look at weekly SSTs, I’d say he’s onto something! Below are SST anomalies in mid February and mid March – you can […]
When one thinks of springtime weather in the Pacific Northwest, fires are one of the last things that typically come to mind. However, a fire flared up on Easter Sunday at the Swanson Bark and Wood Products company in Longview, Washington and quickly hopped from pile to pile of wood products under dry, brisk northerly […]
Morning clouds didn’t burn off as fast as expected today, so most folks were shrouded in our typical wintertime blanket of low clouds and fog. But after a stunning Sunday and Monday, I’m completely fine with a gray day! I had a three-day weekend and got to spend a ton of time outside, and I […]
Beginning late last week, the GFS (American) model began showing a transition to much colder weather for early-mid January. However, the normally-superior ECMWF (European) model did not, and given how far in advance the forecast was, it was a bit premature to throw the “s” word around. After all, we’ve seen the disastrous repercussions of […]
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of fishing for sockeye salmon off the shores of Lake Washington. I’ve had the privilege of fishing in many locations throughout the Pacific Northwest, but there’s nothing like catching a salmon in the lake. It’s so cool to be out in the lake and see all the neighborhoods […]
