Weather with Cliff Mass

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 r...

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...

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 abo...

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 re...

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.