³ÉÈËXÕ¾

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle has dealt with more than 130 days of measurable rain

Apr 18, 2017, 1:29 PM | Updated: 4:31 pm

measurable rain...

(File, Associated Press)

(File, Associated Press)

Tuesday marked the 139th day since Oct. 1 that Seattle has received measurable precipitation.

RELATED: Canada glacier melt rerouted in rare case of ‘river piracy’

The National Weather Service in Seattle reports that the previous highest total between Oct. 1 (the start of the) and April 30 was 137 days. That record was set in 1998-1999 and 2010-2011.

Though it is a lot of rain, there have actually been surprisingly few record-breaking days. posted on University of Washington Climatologist Cliff Mass’ blog shows that while there have been many days with rain, few have reached daily records. Take the month of March, for example, where it rained for the bulk of the month, but hardly at record levels.

Western Washington isn’t alone in its struggle for more pleasant weather. Record-breaking precipitation has been recorded up and down the West Coast, including California, where media outlets have pointed out that the state went from an extreme drought to record rainfall.

Some are blaming climate change on the drastic change in weather. , a water expert and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California pointed out that the state’s dry spells are drier, and rainy periods even wetter.

“That is consistent with what the climate simulations are suggesting would be a consequence for California under a warming planet,” Jeffrey Mount told the Times.

But Cliff Mass argues that this winter was no extreme. There were just plenty of, what he calls, “modest events.”

Mass writes, “… the origin of the persistent precipitation is no mystery — it was due to a very persistent and anomalous upper atmospheric circulation pattern.”

He goes on to argue that if the constant precipitation were caused by global warming, we could expect to see trends in precipitation.

Mass concludes, “there is no scientific evidence or reason to believe that recent variations in precipitation have anything to do with global warming.”

MyNorthwest News

This pickup became wedged between vehicles on I-5 in Fife, after the driver tried to outrun state t...

Tom Brock

Washington State Patrol “Smokey” aircraft tracks down reckless driving suspects

A Washington State Patrol law enforcement aircraft helped arrest two reckless drivers overnight.

5 hours ago

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders says this DUI suspect refused to obey commands and assaulted ...

Tom Brock

Thurston County sheriff assaulted during DUI arrest

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders says he was assaulted by a DUI suspect who threw a drink in his face and grabbed him by the throat.

8 hours ago

Fatal crash involving fire engine...

Frank Lenzi

One dead after crash involving fire engine in North Seattle

One person is dead after a crash involving a vehicle and a fire engine, Seattle Police said. The collision occurred near North 128th Street and Aurora Avenue North. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. According to ³ÉÈËXÕ¾7 News, a Seattle Fire Department ladder truck was making a […]

12 hours ago

Image: Starbucks founder and former CEO Howard Schultz testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C...

Frank Lenzi

Howard Schultz encourages Starbucks workers to support new leadership’s plan

Amid declining sales, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is urging employees to support the company’s new leadership and turnaround plan.

14 hours ago

speed cameras...

MyNorthwest Staff

‘Want more speed cameras?’ Bellevue asks residents for feedback

Bellevue is inviting community members to provide feedback on a proposal to expand its speed safety camera program, aiming to eliminate serious traffic crashes.

14 hours ago

Microsoft...

MyNorthwest Staff

Microsoft lists dishwashers, roofers among jobs least threatened by AI

A recent Microsoft report highlights a growing divide in job security between blue-collar workers and desk-based employees amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). 

15 hours ago

Seattle has dealt with more than 130 days of measurable rain