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.