Weather with Cliff Mass

There has been a lot of talk recently about monsoon moisture influencing the Northwest. You thought that monsoons only influence India? You will learn the truth in this podcast!

I will provide the forecast, which includes the start of meteorological summer!

The radar shows offshore rain, but it is not raining. This podcast explains why. I also give the forecast, with cooling and some showers possible. And I talk about strong winds on the eastern slopes of the Cascades..

My podcast will discuss the origins of our current cool/showery weather and tell you why such cool weather in the west produces strong winds over the eastern slopes of the Cascades.

It's a phrase that puts a shiver down the spine of all Northwesterners: June Gloom. And it's coming. But first we have a delightful Friday and a warm (but not too warm) Saturday. In this podcast, I describe the forecast and why we get June gloom every year.

My podcast will review the heavy rain event predicted for Sunday through Tuesday and then turn to a warm stretch expected from the middle to end of next week. But then is a surprise: the potential for thunderstorms next weekend in eastern Washington and Oregon, the Cascades, and maybe a few boomers drifting into western Wasington.

In this podcast I talk about the weather forecast for this weekend and beyond, and then discuss the validity of predictions of increased chances of western Washington wildfires.

In this podcast, provide the weekend and weekly forecast and describe the cool/soggy pattern we are in. And in the second segment, I describe the limits on weather prediction technology: how far into the future can we forecast and why it has gotten so much better.

I provide the weekend forecast and talk about the major aurora expected tonight.

I will provide the latest weekend forecast and tell you about the major aurora that should be visible tonight

Several of you have asked me about my viewpoint on global warming and climate change. This podcast will outline my thoughts on this important subject and give you a bit of history and perspective.

This week the weather will be near normal and relatively dry, but that changes radically over the weekend, as a strong Pacific low center moves in and sticks around in our area. I will briefly describe this situation before turning to a detailed analysis of the major smoke event that hit the East Coast, including an explanation of why global warming was only a minor player.

This podcast answers the question: where can you get the best weather forecast? Your smartphone?, from the National Weather Service website?, from your local TV weathercasters? or what? The answer may surprise you. And I also talk about the cool weak ahead.

This podcast answers an interesting question: why is freezing at 32°F? Why not 50 or 0? And I talk about a return of moisture to the Northwest, with heavy snow expected in the mountains.

This podcast talks about the recent termination of a 3-year La Nina and the near certainty of El Nino conditions ahead. The weather implications of the change are discussed as well.

Several blog readers have asked whether global warming is increasing West Coast cold waves.  The answer is no, and in this podcast I explain why.  Plus, I talk about an encouraging forecast for more normal conditions in our region.

This podcast answers the question:   how long are weather predictions skillful?   The answer may surprise  you....

This podcast tells the story of a cold, windy, snowy week ahead.  And I provide the basics on the mountain gaps of the region and their influence on our weather.

We are in the tail end of the lowland snow season west of the Cascade crest.  But tomorrow and Tuesday some lowlands locations will see some snowflakes.  This podcast does a deep dive into the event, explaining the complex meteorology that will occur over the next few days.

A series of weather systems will come through this week.  I will provide the details. Major enhancements in mountain snowpack are expected.  And there is the potential for much colder weather in about a week.   In the second half of the podcast I describe the two types of rain we get in our region and tell you why.

Several folks have asked my why high pressure produces low clouds in our region....this podcast explains why.  Plus, a chilly, but sunny forecast.

In the second part of the podcast, I give you a primer on atmospheric pressure, with particular attention to the impact on water levels and the potential for King Tides.  I also provide the forecast:  not much action this week, but the potential for FAR colder air over the weekend.  Yes, even that four-letter word, snow, for some locations.

After a few more days of showers, a big ridge will develop over the eastern Pacific, bring dry conditions and sun to the entire West Coast.  After providing the forecast, I take on the claims of Pacific weather data voids and describe the ability of meteorologists to monitor the weather everywhere in three dimensions.

This week I will take on the topic of atmospheric rivers-- the weather features that are now inundating California.  And I provide the latest forecast for the next week.....not very exciting for the Northwest but threatening for California.

With not much weather action for the next five days in Washington and Oregon, I skip the forecast today and talk about the mildest and coldest places in the Northwest during winter.  Have a good new year!

This podcast describes the nature of Northwest freezing rain events and describes the major shift to warm/wet weather this week.

This podcast will talk about cold and very high pressure moving south out of Canada.   Will record high pressure be observed in our region?   And a detailed forecast for the cold and snow of the upcoming week.

Clouds way millions of pounds but stay in the sky.  I explain why.  And I provide an interesting forecast for a wet start to the weekend, followed by very dry conditions.

Why is the air so dry inside these days?  I will explain why.  And I will give an updated forecast regarding the potential for snow over our region.

This podcast starts with the forecast for the next week, with a very favorable forecast for Thanksgiving Day.   I then turn to talk about the winter weather of the Columbia Basin, describing the "cold pool" that develops in its lower elevations, bringing low clouds and icy conditions.

La Nina conditions, with high pressure along the coast, will bring dry conditions to the Northwest for 7-9 days.

I start with the forecast, with everything from heavy rain, strong winds, and snow, and then describe the challenges of predicting snow in our region.

My podcast talks about some active weather ahead, with cooler than normal temperatures this week...and the potential for a major snow-producer in the mountains starting next Sunday!  Even the lowlands might see some flakes!

Will global warming increase the chances of westside wildfires in the Northwest?   Was climate change behind the recent fires and smoke west of the Cascade crest?    I provide the answer in this podcast.

When will the autumn rain return to the Northwest?  I will tell you in this podcast.   And I will take on the related issue:  how far in time can meteorologists predict the weather?  How has that changed over the past decades?

Amazingly, the latest forecast models indicate no rain for the next 10 days.  I will tell you the story about that.  And in the second half of the podcast, will tell you why we are in the middle of fog season and why smoke can enhance fog formation.

Hurricane Ian is in the news and this podcast describes how hurricane forecast skill has changed over the year and why.  And I also provide an amazingly warm, dry forecast for the new week.

How could a small, dying fire in the Cascades result in some of the worst air pollution in recent Seattle history.  I will explain how.  And also provide you with a very promising forecast for the weekend.

My podcast will start with a very favorable weather forecast for our region--perfect temperatures, little smoke, and no rain.  The bulk of the podcast will discuss the history of wildfires over the region, noting that summer smoke is our normal condition.

This podcast takes on  Northwest smoke.   I explain how it is highly three-dimensional and why smoke can be visible aloft but never make it to the surface.  I also give you the latest forecast, with warm/smoky conditions on Saturday followed by substantial improvement and cooling on Sunday.

The signs are everything that meteorological fall is here in the Northwest and in the second segment I will tell you about them.  In the forecast segment, I will talk about the upcoming cooldown, the end of heatwaves for the year, and describe the smoke plume moving into eastern Washington.

Tired of warm temperatures?  This weekend will be the one for you with highs in the 70s in the west and 80s east of the Cascade crest. But one last heat event is ahead.   In this podcast, I will not only provide the forecast, but tell you about local microclimates and what causes them.

We have experienced unusual humidity during the past week.  Why?  I will describe what controls the "stickiness" of the air in our region.  But before I do that I will review the forecast, which is quite favorable for this weekend, followed by another warm spell on Wednesday and Thursday.

This has been a below-normal wildfire season over the western U.S., but we should not get complacent!  Historically, the most dangerous wildifre period is about to start, ironically because of cooling temperatures.  I will explain the meteorology of the prime, late-summer wildfire period.  And I will start the podcast with a very pleasant summer forecast for the west, but one with toasty temperatures mid-week in the east.

Weather forecast models are great, but there are potent weather signs in the sky that provide advanced notice of weather changes.  I will talk about a few local weather signs here in the Northwest.  And I also discuss the latest forecast, with warming ahead followed by a cooling crash on Wednesday.   The Northwest weather roller coaster continues!

This podcast explains an apparent contradiction:   the region is slowly warming yet extreme heat waves are not increasing over time.  It is an interesting story not covered in the media.  And I also provide the latest forecast, with the heat wave continuing over the weekend and ending abruptly with a major cool down on Monday.

A storm on the Sun's surface should result in a major aurora event tonight that could well be visible in the Northwest.  My podcast provides the details.  And I also talk about a major warm up this week, that should bring temperatures in the low-90s in the west and over 100F in the Columbia Basin.

We are just about to enter the climatologically driest time of the year in the Pacific Northwest.  In fact, we are one of the driest locations in the country in late July.  But why?   The reasons are discussed in my podcast.  And I will also review the weekend forecast, which will be a bit cooler and cloudier than normal.  The cause?  That pesky low pressure near our coast.

People were complaining about humidity this week.  I tell you why our humidity is generally low in the Northwest and why it got sticky this week.   I also give the forecast for the upcoming week, which includes a mini-heat wave and no rain.

This weekend will be one of extremes...from warm to rain...and I  provide a detailed forecast.  Some locations will get thunderstorms.  In my second segment, I explain why thunderstorms are infrequent in our region and the secret sauce needed to bring boomers to our region.

This podcast describes the warm weather ahead and tell you about the inner workings of Northwest heatwaves.

Yellowstone Park and its vicinity experienced record-breaking flooding last week and this podcast will tell you why it happened.  And I also provide the weekend forecast and a look into next week.  We will start with showers and then "enjoy" a bad case of June gloom.

Why do planes sometimes bounce around in the air?  What are the causes of the turbulence you experience while flying?  In this podcast, I will explain the several causes of these sometimes unpleasant motions.

It is clear to anyone living here for long that thunderstorms and convective showers prefer the high terrain of our region.  Why?  I will answer the question in this podcast.  And I will give you the soggy forecast, with a month's worth of rain, falling during one week!

This weekend is going to be a mixed bag weatherwise, with both rain and sun.   I will tell you when and where you can escape the murk.   How ofter is Memorial Day weekend sunny and warm in western Washington?  What is the long-term trend in the weekend's weather?   All will be revealed in the second part of my podcast!

This podcast starts with the forecast, which promises sunny, warm weather over the lowlands of both sides of the Cascades.  Showers in the mountains, though.  And then I take on the hype and exaggeration regarding eastern Washington drought, describing the favorable conditions for water supplies in that region.

There are variations in temperatures near the surface and just underground that are both interesting and valuable to know about....in fact, a little knowledge can save your life.  I will explain in my podcast.  And then there is the forecast, which projects a continuation of our dismal spring weather.  Against my will, I give you the details.

It is looking likely that an unusual triple-dip La Nina is in store:  three La Nina years in row.  I will explain about this phenomenon and discuss the implications.  I will also talk about the weekend forecast and the outlook for the next week.    Spoiler:  you won't need your sunglasses. 

Knowing the difference between surface air temperature, found on your smartphone or reported on TV, and the temperatures of the ground can save your life.   I will explain in the podcast.  I also supply the weekend forecast, with lots of rain, but with one day that will be dry and relatively warm.

I am often asked why the Northwest has so little lightning.....so I thought I would answer the question in this podcast.  And, of course, I provide the latest forecast...which is quite favorable for this weekend...so get ready for outdoor fun.

I have been asked many times about my view on climate change, so I thought it might be useful to summarize my thoughts in this podcast.   And I also discuss the latest forecast, with showery, cooler than normal weather continuing.

This podcast will give you an introduction to spring weather over the Northwest.  And I will discuss the amazing weather roller coaster we are on, with 70s on Thursday, but heavy snow in the mountains and even some lowland snowflakes Sunday morning.  Plus, a powerful storm on Sunday night!

Weather forecast skill has gotten much better during the past thirty years and in this podcast, I will tell you why this has happened and roughly how far into the future you can have confidence in the predictions.   Plus, the weekend forecast!

I am often asked:  are the weather folks on TV real meteorologists?  How good are their forecasts?   My podcast will answer such questions and more.  And I will provide the forecast for a soggy weekend ahead, with a front moving through Saturday morning and an atmospheric river pushing into the region late Sunday and Monday.

A strong low-pressure center will cross the northern Oregon coast on Sunday morning, with powerful winds to the south.  But it will be hardly windy in nearby Washington State.  Why?  I will explain in this podcast and talk about the huge differences in winds for different sections of Pacific cyclones.   

And then there is precipitation.  Monday will bring an atmospheric river, with heavy rain and snow in our mountains.  Details in the podcast.

There are so many sources of weather predictions today.  Who has the most skill?  Why do they have the most skill?  What is the best weather app for your smartphone?  All will be revealed in this podcast.  And I  will also provide a very sunny weather forecast for this weekend... so be prepared to enjoy some outdoor activity.

During the past weeks, the Northwest has been locked in a cold, dry pattern--that will change on Saturday as warm/wet weather returns.  I will describe this change in the podcast and will discuss an interesting subtlety of our cold weather:  the often large air temperatures variations throughout the Puget Sound region.  Why do they occur?  You find out in this podcast.

This podcast will provide a detailed discussion of the upcoming cold and snow event over the Northwest.  The mountains will be hit hard with as much as 1-2 feet and some of you in western Washington may see snowflakes if you are located in just the right place.....northern Seattle and Snohomish County in the Puget Sound convergence zone.

This week, a highly skilled meteorological jury finished their deliberations:  Washington State has a new ALL-TIME maximum temperature record of 120F observed at Hanford on June 29th, 2021.   This podcast will describe how they made the determination and why that location was favored for such extreme warmth.  And I will provide the forecast for the next week, with a very favorable prediction for Saturday, and rain returning on Monday.

The big weather story today is the freezing rain that is hitting the eastern U.S.  How and why does freezing rain occur?  Where the are freezing rain "hotspots" of the Pacific Northwest?  All will be revealed in my podcast.    And I will provide the forecast, which is particularly dry this time of the year.

Since ancient times, mankind has developed and applied weather proverbs and sayings, from Red Sky at Night, to Clear Moon Frost Soon.  In my podcast I will describe a few of these ancient weather proverbs and analyze them with modern meteorological knowledge. Their skill may surprise you!  And I will also give the forecast for the weekend and next week, which includes the return of precipitation on Sunday.

This weekend will be dominated by high pressure over the Northwest.  But such high pressure can produce both cool/foggy conditions and brilliant sum and warmth.   This podcast tells you why and provides the high-pressure forecast for the weekend and beyond.

The forecast for this weekend should be a relief to everyone--mostly dry for most of Washington and Oregon.  In fact, a trend to drier conditions is quite typical for the last half of January, and this podcast will tell you why.  Some super dry conditions are expected for the end of next week....so get prepared for outdoor fun.

During the past week we have been hit by rain, snow, and freezing rain.  Strong warm fronts and cold fronts. Flooding and record-breaking snow.

I will talk about our recent weather and provide the weekend forecast.  And I will also tell you how the atmospheric temperature structure controls the type of precipitation we receive at the surface.

This podcast describes the warming situation this weekend and the potential for snow from Monday morning to Tuesday.  And I examine the causes of the terrible wildfire disaster in Colorado

We are at the time that La Nina starts influencing the weather of our region....and this podcast provides the details.  Interestingly, La Nina may well have influenced the Kentucky tornado outbreak of last week as well.

But before I discuss La Nina, I review the forecast, including LOTS of snow in the mountains, and the potential for lowland snow over Northwest Washington.

I am often asked: How can we predict the climate in fifty to 100 years when we can’t provide skillful weather forecasts more than a week or two into the future?  This podcast will tell you why.   And I will also tell you about the amazing amounts of snow that will fall in the Northwest mountains during the next week.   Get ready for winter fun!

A major weather change will occur over the next few days, with cooling temperatures, large snowfalls in the mountains, and even some snow reaching the western lowlands.  I will tell you what is in store.  And in the second segment, I will describe the meteorological trick that allows the nearly improbable to happen:  lowland snow in western Washington.

My podcast today talks about the biggest meteorological threat faced by Northwest residents....roadway icing.  Sometimes called "black ice."  And I start with the latest forecast, which projects a dry weekend ahead, but more rain during Thanksgiving week and turkey day.

The source of nearly all billion-dollar disasters in the Northwest is flooding.  This podcast will provide you with the essential story about Northwest flooding, with origins from atmospheric rivers to melting snow.  And a look forward to the impacts of global warming  The podcast also provides the latest weekend forecast, which includes everything from heavy rain from atmospheric rivers to a powerful front on Monday.

This podcast begins with the forecast, which includes lots of precipitation, increasing snow in the mountains, and a potential windstorm on Tuesday.  In the second segment, I talk about the rapidly intensifying La Nina in the tropical Pacific and the potential (and snowy) implications for the upcoming winter.

During the past weeks, two major atmospheric rivers have hit the West Coast with heavy rainfall.  What are atmospheric rivers and WHY do they form?    This podcast will provide the answer.   And I will start the podcast with the weekend and next week forecasting, including a highly favorable forecast for Halloween.

The Pacific Northwest can experience great storms, as significant as category 3 hurricanes, and this blog will tell you about them.  And I will discuss the difficult forecast for this weekend when the strongest storm in Northwest history will develop off our coast.  But there is a problem:  we are not sure where it will go!  I will describe the dilemma in this podcast.

This week brought the anniversary of the great 1962 Columbus Day Storm, the most severe weather event in Northwest history.  I will talk about the fascinating origins of the storm and its extraordinary impacts.  And I will provide the forecast, with wet, stormy conditions ahead for Sunday morning

Moisture matters, both due to comfort and the effects on the atmosphere.   In the media, you hear about relative humidity and dew point temperature.  What are they?  Which a more useful?  I will reveal all in the Podcast.  And I will start with the forecast, which includes bring sun, rain, and even snow in the mountains.

The Pacific Northwest has some of the most extreme rainshadows in the world--I will tell their story in the podcast.  Plus, I will talk about the "whale cloud" that is offshore right now, and provide you with the weekend forecast.

Can you tell the weather ahead by observing our local mountains?  You bet.  One potent sign of inclement weather is the development of cloud "caps" over the local mountains.  In my podcast, I will explain how this works.  And I will give you the upcoming weather forecast, featuring a few warm days following by a very wet week.

The Northwest has some of the driest summers in the nation.  Why?   You will learn the answer in this podcast.   

And then there is the major precipitation event today and this weekend.....I will give you the details, telling you how much, and explain why you may hear some thunder before long.

We are about to experience a real change in our weather, including significant rain and much cooler temperatures.  I will give you the latest forecast. And in the second segment, I will explain the details of the jet stream, which is rapidly revving up now.  You will learn why it exists, its profound effects on weather, and how it impacted World War II.

The southeast U.S. and the East Coast can experience tropical storms and hurricanes.....but not here in the Pacific Northwest.  Why?  This podcast explains.   I also provide the latest weekend forecast, which includes both sun and clouds....with a chance of rain tomorrow night.

Virtually all major wildfires west of the Cascade crest occur from mid-August to mid-September.  But why?   I will explain in this podcast.  And I will tell you about some surprising findings regarding the effects of global warming on westside fires in our region.  In addition, I will give you the latest forecast, which includes a beautiful weekend, but a cooling trend on Monday and Tuesday.

La Nina is coming and in this podcast, I will you all about it, including its implications for our summer weather.  And I will also describe the forecast, with near-normal temperature for the next few days.

This podcast provides my take on the new IPCC climate report and the big changes in the weather we will experience during the next week.   The new climate report is actually quite optimistic about future climate change and far less apocalyptic than many media reports.   The smoky weather of today will clear up by Monday, with normal temperatures returning.  I also talk about the wild local heatwave yesterday in Bellingham.

This podcast starts with a dramatically changing forecast, where we go from cool/wet conditions to another heatwave.  In the second, half I examine claims about a dominant global warming origin of the June heatwave.  It simply isn't true and I tell you why.

Be ready for weather whiplash.  In western Washington over the next week, we will go from a minor heatwave to much cooler conditions and some light rain.  East of the Cascades, temperatures over 100F today will transition to a regime of scattered thunderstorms associated with a plume of moisture from the southwest.   In the second segment, I will tell you about the basics of regional thunderstorms and why we are so thunderstorm deficient in our region.

How does wildfire smoke move in the atmosphere?  Why does smoke sometimes travel thousands of miles and what controls whether wildfire smoke reaches the surface?  I will talk about all of these things and more in my podcast.  Plus, the forecast, which can only be described as meteorological perfection.

We are now entering the driest period of the year climatologically.  Amazingly dry.  And in my podcast, I tell you why!   I also review the forecast for the next week, a period that should be relatively cool, with morning low clouds west of the Cascade crest, and clean air for Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland.

This is sea breeze season in the Pacific Northwest and my podcast will tell the story.  In fact, we have some of the strongest sea breezes in the country and they come in a wide variety of sizes and strengths.   My podcast also provides the forecast, including typical weather over the weekend and the potential for a cool/moist period next weekend.

There has been much speculation that the severe heatwave of the past week was the result of global warming.  The truth is that global warming played a very minor role.   I will provide evidence for this in my podcast.  And I will also provide the latest forecast for the July 4 weekend!

My podcast describes the reasons behind the high temperature records expected on Sunday and Monday.