Crazy Stormy (Seattle, Woodinville, Pacific: 2015, yard, flooding)

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Does this mean the drought is over?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Maybe yes, maybe no. Mother Nature does as she pleases.

[Sheldon87]

Crazy wind storm the other day. I was watching a plastic lawn chair scurry from one side of the yard to the other in frantic tumbles.

[IheartWA]

I do hope these storms can melt "the blob" out in the Pacific.

[notnamed]

Meh, these are still just mild rainy days compared to back east.

Drought is still expected to return next year. Going through the strongest El Nino on record now. Though exactly what that means for our weather depends on who you ask it seems.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Well, when I can see them, it looks like the snowline on the Olympic Mtns. is pretty low...which is great, as they were devoid of snow from mid-spring of this year. But the wind for the past few days...wow! Currently enjoying a small, brief patch of sun...

[notnamed]

El Niño threatens to derail Oregon crops | Local & Regional | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather and Breaking News - Portland, Oregon

Despite our recent rainfall, the water shortage continues.

“Snowpack runoff is our biggest contributor to summer stream flows,” hydrologist Scott Oviatt said. “And this year we had very little of that because our middle- and low-elevation snow melted out in February.”

He added: “We’re going into this year with most reservoirs and streams being at less than 30-percent statewide. A lot of sites remain bare that historically have always had snow.”

Oviatt said it will take multiple years to re-establish normal snowpack conditions.

Yeah, but what about all this rain we’ve been getting?

This year’s rain pattern fits one we’ve seen in other strong El Niño years: typical wet fall weather, followed by a drier-than-usual winter.

[analogkid84]

Originally Posted by TurquoiseOne

Does this mean the drought is over?

Cliff Mass Weather Blog: How can we be in a drought if there is flooding?

[rockyinyourradio]

Originally Posted by notnamed

El Niño threatens to derail Oregon crops | Local & Regional | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather and Breaking News - Portland, Oregon

May not be far off on this.. I posted on the Seattle weather forum about the upcoming week involving Thanksgiving.. In short, a respite from the high winds and heavy rain. A chance of snow is a possibility next Tuesday or so for area's down to almost the I-5 corridor. I see maybe an inch of snow possible but if a Puget Sound Convergence Zone sets up, area's around Woodinville to Duvall and Carnation may pick up enough to affect driving. Afterwards, a cold spell where temperatures could fall into the low 20's in the traditionally colder spots and highs only in the 40's. Next good chance of rain is around the December 1-3rd period but could wait until the end of the week.

Further ahead..I'm beginning to think this winter will not be as dry as the last two. We could see some active periods of stormy weather weather for much of December. Potentially January and especially February may feature long stretches of dry and relatively mild weather punctuated by stormy, wet conditions.

[rockyinyourradio]

Originally Posted by IheartWA

I do hope these storms can melt "the blob" out in the Pacific.

I think starting this spring, we should see a gradual alleviation of the temperature anomalies across the northeast Pacific Ocean. These cycles of unusually warm ocean temperatures have been well documented in the past, although this has been one of the longest lasting cycles ever observed. The last time the "blob of warmth" appeared like this was in the late 1950's.

This will eventually pass but it will be interesting to see how climate change may affect (if it will at all) future surges of anomalous warmth.