This will be the warmest day of the year by five to eight degrees (the warmest so far in Seattle was 77 degrees on May 6), but well shy of daily record highs.
The daily record for Wednesday in Seattle is 92 set in 1983, and my forecast high is 85.
We鈥檒l cool down a bit for Thursday and Friday with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s, with a chance for rain showers on Thursday morning.
There could be a few isolated thunderstorms early Thursday morning through early Thursday afternoon in the Cascades and east slopes.
Following that slight chance for rain, the weekend looks quite nice with highs in the 70s for many and lows in the 40s to low 50s.
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According to the (NOAA), Wednesday in the Seattle area will hit 80 degrees, with a high near 85 degrees.
NOAA is also predicting above normal temperatures for western Washington over the next week.
Although Wednesday will be quite warm, NOAA forecasts a 20% chance of rain after 11 p.m. that night, with temperatures returning to more typical levels later in the week.
Looking at Seattle weather later in the week
Thursday morning will likely see rain before 11 a.m., which may continue into the afternoon. However, the rest of the day will be partly sunny, with a high near 68 degrees.
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NOAA stated the chance of rain Thursday is 60%, with new precipitation amounting to less than a tenth of an inch. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 49 degrees.
On Friday, the sun will pick back up again, with a high near 74 degrees. The night will be mostly clear, according to NOAA, with a low around 53 degrees.
Those with outdoor weekend plans will be pleased to know there’s no rain in the forecast. Saturday will see a high near 76 degrees and a low around 55.
Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high near 74 degrees and a low around 53 degrees.
NOAA states that in warmer weather, people should try to eat easy-to-digest foods, drink plenty of “not very cold” water, wear light colored clothing, and keep an eye out for infants, pets, and the elderly.
For more hot weather safety tips, .
Follow Julia Dallas on聽 Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.
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There is a tendency to feel it always rains during this three-day holiday weekend. We all remember those soggy camping trips or when our outdoor activities got wet. So I looked at all the Memorial Day Weekends this century, going back to 2001, to learn if that was the case.
More rain or sun historically during Memorial Day weekend
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For the 23-year period, there were 10 entirely dry holiday weekends and 13 that had at least some rain in the Puget Sound area. The wettest year? That was 2010 when it rained all three days, with many places getting close to a total of half an inch of rain that holiday weekend. That鈥檚 the wet Memorial Day Weekend we tend to remember.
Yet in contrast, the 2017 Memorial Day weekend had high temperatures climb well into the 80s under plenty of sunshine.
Last year was one of those cool and wet weekends with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and some rainfall on Saturday and Sunday. The average high temperature during the last weekend of May is in the mid and upper 60s.
Thanks to the influence of the Pacific Ocean, western Washington tends to be temperate in late May. The typical Memorial Day weekend often has a “morning clouds, afternoon clearing” routine. Those morning clouds just might squeeze out a little bit of rain. Half of those 23 years this century had such a weather pattern.
What does this Memorial Day weekend weather look like for western Washington? It will offer plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures as higher pressure aloft takes up residence over the region and keeps incoming Pacific weather systems at bay. Highs are expected to rise into the 70s, with shoreline areas in the 60s, including the outer coast such as Ocean Shores and Long Beach.
Cascades will see mix of sun and clouds
If heading into the Cascades or Olympics for the weekend, expect a mix of sun and clouds with the freezing level hovering around 10,000 feet. Monday has a small possibility of a light shower. Overall though, it will be pleasant conditions for camping and hiking.
East of the Cascades weather will also offer warm sunshine through the holiday weekend. High temperatures each day will climb into the 70s and 80s, the warmest in the central basin, including the Tri-Cities.
Wherever you go this holiday weekend, whether a staycation or elsewhere, have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day Weekend. And on Memorial Day, remember those who paid the ultimate price for our country.
Ted Buehner is the 成人X站 Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on聽听补苍诲听. Read more of his stories聽here.
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NOAA reported that nearly all Western basins, including the Columbia River Basin, are experiencing similar conditions, despite receiving above-average snowfall during the winter. As of May 13, the National Integrated Drought Information System estimated that 3.3 million Washington residents were living in drought-affected areas, an increase of 0.8% from the previous week.
NOAA reported that precipitation across the Columbia River Basin has been below 50% of normal for large portions of the state so far this year.
Early snowmelt, dry conditions heighten drought risks
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The threat of a prolonged drought does not just mean a higher risk of wildfire. It could also deplete reservoirs, specifically those that rely on the Yakima River Basin. Earlier this year, the Washington Department of Ecology for the area, covering parts of Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton counties, after back-to-back droughts in 2023 and 2024.
NOAA also noted that the Middle Snake River Basin, in Idaho, saw its 鈥渟now water equivalent drop from the 70th percentile to the 30th percentile鈥� in late April.
For the rest of the West, NOAA said some basins in Nevada, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico saw record early snow melt.
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The National Weather Service (NWS) recommends that drivers use caution if driving this morning, as showers will scatter out this afternoon with a 20% chance of thunder.
Happy Monday! The next front is working through this morning – it will be a wet commute! Use caution if driving this morning (possible ponding on roads). The showers will scatter out this afternoon with a 20% chance of thunder (best chances on coast/Cascade Foothills).
鈥� NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle)
May was a dry month for Washington, with only 0.04 inches of rain recorded at Sea-Tac. The first “real” rain of the month hit the region Thursday afternoon, carrying through last weekend and, now, into the following week.
“Monday through Wednesday look a little cooler than average鈥攊n the low to mid 60s鈥攂ut overall drier, though models are hinting at chances for rain quickly passing through each day through Wednesday,” 成人X站 7 Chief Meteorologist Morgan Palmer .
NWS Seattle personally recorded a record-high for rain on May 18 when it logged 0.83 inches, beating 0.64 inches from 1989.
Kendrick, SZA perform in the rain
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Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and DJ Mustard performed in Seattle over the weekend at Lumen Field, where the roof was open and the weekend’s rain flooded the arena. The concert soldiered through, giving its audience an iconic performance that fit Seattle’s rain-filled aesthetic.
“I need you all to understand- it was raining and not a single soul was sitting,” one attendee wrote on X. “We was singing every lyric!! This was a masterpiece!”
The rain is expected to last on and off through Wednesday, before a few cloudy days of no rain heading into the weekend.
Follow Frank Sumrall .听厂别苍诲听news tips here.
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Cliff Mass, Atmospheric Sciences Professor for the University of Washington, told “The Jason Rantz” Show on KTTH Thursday that this weekend’s weather will be cooler than normal.
“There will be rain,” Mass said. “By Thursday night, the rain will be coming in. There will be kind of a break on Friday, but then more rain is coming in on Saturday. So there’s going to be a lot of showers, nothing super deluxe, heavy. But we have a series of weak disturbances coming through. So this is going to be a cooler-than-normal period and a wetter-than-normal period through the weekend.”
Mass: ‘No indicator of climate change’
Mass added that temperatures vary every spring and that this weather isn’t out of the ordinary.
“There’s a lot of variability in the weather,” he explained. “Each spring is different than the other springs, so there’s no deep message there about what we’ve seen. There’s no indicator of climate change or something else that could be going on.”
Looking at the amount of rain overall, Mass noted the reservoirs are in good shape.
“Most of the reservoirs, like Seattle, are nice and full,” he said. “On the east side, it’s about, it’s about 75% of normal for the Yakima Basin. So it’s a little bit below normal, but there’s no crisis there. And the fact that we’ve been mild, haven’t gotten hot, means we’re not burning through the water very quickly. So all in all, we’re probably in pretty decent shape for the summer.”
Listen to the full conversation below.
Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3 p.m. -7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the聽podcast here. Follow Jason Rantz on聽,听,听, and聽.
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Is this an effort to “hide” critical information from the public about the impacts of our warming planet? It sure looks like it. This database archives major storms that have impacted the country, including floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes.
Going back to 1980, this database reflects a growing number of costly major weather-related disasters. Since 1980, there have been slightly more than 400 $1 billion disasters in the U.S., totaling nearly $3 trillion in damages.
Weather disasters this decade
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In just this decade, 2020 had 22 billion-dollar disasters, 2021 had 20, 2022 suffered 18 of them, 2023 had the most ever with 28, and last year, there were 27 such disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton that alone are currently estimated at costing more than $50 billion in damages.
This year, there are four such billion-dollar disasters, including the January Los Angeles wildfires, that will go into the 2025 part of the database. The current estimate of that disaster is now between $250 and $275 billion. However, according to the NOAA announcement and the database being retired, this major disaster will not be a part of the database, along with any future weather-related disasters.
Why is this billion-dollar weather and climate disaster database being sidelined?
This administration does not want American citizens to know about the growing cost of these disasters and their impacts.
There are ongoing research studies outside of NOAA that, thus far, have not yet concluded that any major weather-related disaster was “directly” caused by our warming planet. So this database does not offer any threat to the administration鈥檚 effort to eliminate anything “climate-related,” but the public has a right to know what these disasters cost and how many there are.
The billion-dollar disaster database is unique and cannot easily be replicated. Much of the disaster cost data involves non-public information, such as from insurers who keep their data, techniques, and sources close to the vest, but have shared it with NOAA for this database in the public鈥檚 best interest. Now, the public will be kept in the dark about the actual costs and number of future major weather-related disasters.
To top it off, the White House has plans to cut more out of NOAA within the next year. Those cuts include closing the weather and climate labs and eliminating its research division. The work these small, but quite important, groups do includes updates to the Doppler weather radar network across the nation, further enhancement of weather satellite technology, and additional improvements to weather forecast model guidance.
These cuts to NOAA are going to have adverse impacts on future public safety鈥攊t鈥檚 inevitable. And hiding the costs of the growing number of major weather-related disasters is simply wrong and deceitful.
Ted Buehner is the 成人X站 Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on聽听补苍诲听. Read more of his stories聽here.
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People spotted the green fireball throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and Alberta, Canada.
“I鈥檝e never seen anything quite like this,” a witness from Jackson, Wyoming commented on an American Meteor Society post, obtained by . “It was like a firework falling down from the sky!”
Some initially believed it was a falling aircraft due to its size.
“I鈥檝e seen shooting stars before, but nothing like this. The intensity of the brightness was so much stronger,” another person from Jackson commented. “It鈥檚 a clear night with perfect air quality.”
Experts believe it was likely a meteor, but its vivid color and intensity have sparked curiosity. Some experts believe it could have been part of the . The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is active from April 20 to May 21, but peaks in early May each year, according to NASA.
“I thought I was witnessing end times,” one observer driving through Wyoming鈥檚 Wind River mountains told . “It was amazing to see the colors of it, and the actual fire-like look of the tail burning up!”
But what about the color?
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As for the green hue? The color of a meteor depends on its chemical composition, and some experts believe it could be caused by nickel.
Nickel is “a very common metal to find in objects that are natural from space,” Jason Trump, NASA solar system ambassador, said, according to The Seattle Times.
Follow Frank Sumrall .听厂别苍诲听news tips here.
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These natural disasters, if they occur as forecasted, will lead to an increased power demand across the western U.S., according to .
This comes as Spokane County still continues to recover from the 2023 Gray and Oregon Road wildfires. The city has already experienced a two-degree annual temperature rise since 1950, and August highs have jumped 3.6 degrees since 1979. Current projections show they could climb another 11 degrees by 2100.
鈥淭he time for miracles has passed,鈥� Casey Sixkiller, director of the Washington State Department of Ecology, told The Center Square. 鈥淲e hoped we鈥檇 recover this winter from the compounding deficits of back-to-back droughts. But we鈥檝e simply run out of time for Yakima and nearby areas.鈥�
Although Spokane is not currently experiencing a drought, the county is 22% drier than average. Statewide, more than 40% of Washington鈥檚 population is affected by drought, with the Yakima Valley facing severe water shortages for the third consecutive year.
In response, lawmakers have begun to adapt. This includes passing a law ensuring renters鈥� right to air conditioning鈥攁 vital step following the deadly 2021 heat dome. Dry conditions are expected to continue, while the risk of another “heat dome” is low; it can’t be ruled out.
Limited water supplies remain a concern, especially in mountain-fed rivers and streams, affecting agriculture, drinking water, hydropower, fish habitats, and recreation.
Reduced snowpack and ongoing dryness also raise the likelihood of a longer wildfire season, potentially starting earlier and extending into fall. Since 2017, wildfire smoke has led to poor air quality in western Washington in six of the last eight summers.
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Yet this year, those April showers were fewer than usual. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) finished the month about two-thirds of an inch of rain shy of the average 3.18 inches.
Much of the rest of western Washington was also drier than normal in April. For instance, Everett Paine Field had close to three-quarters of an inch of rain all month, well short of the 2.60-inch average.
Those May flowers will enjoy the warmest day of the year thus far on Thursday, as higher pressure aloft over the Pacific Northwest bumps temperatures well into the 70s across much of western Washington. Some locations south, toward Portland and in the Cascade foothills, could reach 80 degrees. April had four days in the 70s, with the 24th being the warmest at SEA with 72 degrees.
The warmer weather is expected to hang on Friday, providing a fine opportunity to view the tulips in the Skagit Valley, as that festival has been extended through this weekend. High temperatures are forecast to be just a few degrees cooler.
Western Washington weekend weather will bring rain
A change is anticipated for the weekend, though. A Pacific frontal system lurking offshore is expected to swing onshore, bringing some rain inland Friday night. Lingering showers should taper off Saturday, yet it will be much cooler with highs only in the 50s. Sunday is forecast to be the better weekend day with some partial afternoon clearing and high temperatures climbing into the upper 50s and lower 60s.
More sunshine is expected to return next week with high temperatures once again reaching into the 70s. The average high temperature in early May is in the mid-60s.
The spring sunshine and warmer temperatures are usually, always welcome. Yet, the Cascades and much of the Puget Sound region are abnormally drier than average for the year. SEA finished April close to four inches below normal for the year. Olympia has a six-and-a-half-inch deficit, and Everett鈥揚aine Field has had only just over four inches of rain total this year, only 31% of average.
Puget Sound region sees moderate drought conditions
The mountain snowpack also finished the winter season below average. The nation鈥檚 Drought Monitor highlights the Cascades and much of the Puget Sound region as currently abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions.
In mid-April, the Washington State Department of Ecology declared a drought emergency in parts of central Washington through the Yakima River valley basin. That declaration released $4.5 million in emergency relief for communities, people, and businesses in that region. The drought declaration also marks the third year in a row, highlighting the ongoing dry conditions.
Chance of another ‘heat dome’
The drier-than-usual conditions do not look to have any substantial relief forthcoming as well. The latest seasonal weather outlook for the rest of this spring and summer offers good odds on warmer-than-average temperatures, while rainfall is expected to be near or just below average during the driest time of the year. This outlook follows the trend witnessed so far this century. The chance of another “heat dome” is quite slim, yet these days, it cannot be ruled out.
The more limited water situation offers some concerns. Water supplies may be more limited, particularly in mountain-fed rivers and streams. This situation is an issue for water consumption, agriculture, hydro power generation, fish, and recreation.
The reduced mountain snowpack and dry conditions mean the wildfire season has a better chance of being longer, starting earlier, and finishing well into this fall. Since 2017, western Washington has suffered from wildfire smoke鈥攔esulting in poor air quality six out of the last eight summers.
Recommendations for dealing with dry conditions
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What can be done? Prepare to use less water when possible. For example, bathe cars in a car wash as opposed to at home. Consider swapping out the lawn for more drought-resistant yard plants.
With the ongoing dry conditions, avoid outdoor burning and ensure campfires are cold when leaving a campsite. Also, keep all burning materials inside vehicles. Around homes and businesses, create a defensible space. Visit for helpful tips to produce a defensible space and reduce the threat of a wildfire reaching your structure.
The calendar has rolled over into May. More spring-like, warmer weather lies ahead. The sun angle in early May is the same as in mid-August. To avoid sunburn, it is time to lather on that sunscreen and take other sun precautions when outside.
The days continue to get longer. Sunrises are now before 6 a.m., and sunsets will reach 8:30 p.m. on May 7. Safely enjoy the weather as spring marches on toward summer, which starts in just seven weeks.
Ted Buehner is the 成人X站 Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on聽听补苍诲听. Read more of his stories聽here.
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The volcano, Axial Seamount, is聽more than 4,900 feet below the surface of the聽Pacific Ocean. Axial Seamount is approximately 3,600 feet tall, and hasn’t erupted since 2015.
“Over two-thirds of the Earth鈥檚 surface was formed by volcanic eruptions at these mid-ocean ridges,” said Maya Tolstoy, a marine geophysicist and Maggie Walker Dean of the UW College of the Environment. “So the volcano is formed by these really fundamental processes that shape our planet.”
Axial Seamount, located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, is formed by a hot spot鈥攁n area in the Earth’s mantle where hot plumes of molten material rise into the crust, according to the UW College of the Environment.
UW cited two reasons for believing an eruption is near: The way the volcano is inflating due to magma buildup beneath the surface, and the frequency of earthquakes coming from beneath the seafloor.
“Over time, the volcano inflates due to the buildup of magma beneath the surface,” William Wilcock, a professor in the聽UW School of Oceanography, said. “Some researchers have hypothesized that the amount of inflation can predict when the volcano will erupt, and if they鈥檙e correct, it鈥檚 very exciting for us, because it has already inflated to the level that it reached before the last three eruptions. That means it could really erupt any day now, if the hypothesis is correct.”
An eruption from Axial Seamount is not dangerous
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Axial Seamount is both too deep and too far from shore for people to feel or notice when it erupts. UW stated residents of the Pacific Northwest shouldn’t worry about an eruption triggering a major earthquake or tsunami.
“Three-quarters of all of the volcanic activity on Earth takes place at mid-ocean spreading centers,”聽Deborah Kelley, a professor in the UW School of Oceanography, said. “But people have never directly witnessed an eruption along this mountain chain, so we still have a lot of unanswered questions.”
UW researchers are gearing up to study the unique habitats volcanoes create for sea creatures. The Axial Seamount volcano is home to many species of microbes and marine animals, many of them using the volcano’s hydrothermal vents as an “underwater hot spring,” where seawater migrates deep into the seafloor, is heated by magma, and then ejected back out in superheated, mineral-rich plumes. Many of these sea creatures use dissolved volcanic gases as a source of energy instead of sunlight.
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Changes are already underway. Skies will gradually clear during the afternoons as high pressure begins to build offshore. Overnight, skies will clear further, allowing for chilly lows in the 30s and lower 40s, with a slight chance of freezing temperatures in the South Sound.聽
Spring sun returns to western Washington
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Looking ahead, Tuesday and Wednesday bring a much-needed dose of spring. Under increasingly sunny skies and dry northwest flow, temperatures will climb into the lower 60s by Tuesday, then into the mid-to-upper 60s Wednesday. Some spots could flirt with 70 degrees by Thursday, especially in the interior lowlands.
However, don鈥檛 pack away the umbrella just yet. Another Pacific trough is on the way, bringing rain back into the picture Friday. That pattern looks to stick around into the weekend, with cooler, unsettled conditions likely Saturday.
Sunday may offer a slight reprieve, with drier and more seasonable weather as the low-pressure system shifts eastward.
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Cliff Mass, an Atmospheric Sciences Professor with the University of Washington, told “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH Thursday that wet weather will dampen the weekend.
“This is one of the clearest days that we’ve had, in my memory, I mean, it’s like no clouds in the sky. It’s perfectly blue. So today is the extreme in terms of no weather, but unfortunately, we do have some weak systems coming in over the weekend, so we’re going to cool down, and we will have some showers over the weekend. So I hate to say that today is good, tomorrow will be fine too, but it’ll get back to normal as we get into the weekend. So it’s not gonna last,” Mass explained.
He added that this stretch of sun is not unusual for April.
“I looked at the numbers and we’ve had these kind of dry periods in April. It happens quite frequently,” he shared.
Listen to the full conversation below:
Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the聽podcast here. Follow Jason Rantz on聽,听,听, and聽.
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How a tsunami forms
First, a tsunami, which literally translates to “harbor wave” in Japanese, is a series of waves that inundate coastlines. Tsunamis are generated by an upward lift of waterway bottoms, including oceans and regions like the Puget Sound, via a powerful earthquake, landslide, or even an undersea volcanic eruption. The Tonga tsunami in January 2022 was the result of a strong undersea volcanic eruption that sent tsunami waves across the entire Pacific Ocean basin.
Most tsunamis, though, are generated by powerful undersea earthquakes where the seabed abruptly rises, displacing the water above it. The March 2011 Japan Tohoku earthquake was such a substantial uplift of the seafloor that it generated tsunami waves across the entire Pacific Ocean, including the Washington coast. Fortunately, most of the energy was focused well south of Washington. The outer coastline had tsunami waves of under three feet.
The March 2011 Tohoku earthquake was the result of a subduction zone, where the Pacific plate moves under the Honshu plate. This movement creates building pressure between the two geologic plates until the pressure gives, resulting in a usually large earthquake. In the case of this earthquake, it was measured to be a 9.1 magnitude quake, the fourth strongest in recorded history.
Such a subduction zone resides about 100 miles off the Pacific Northwest coast, stretching from off Northern Vancouver Island south to off Northern California鈥檚 Cape Mendocino. This subduction zone is called the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The last time this earthquake zone gave way was on January 26, 1700, when an estimated 9.0 magnitude quake produced tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean basin. Local tribal legends and Japanese tsunami history reflect this event.
Geologists indicate that the history of the Cascadian Subduction Zone generates a strong earthquake about every 300-500 years. We have now entered that time window.
So, can a tsunami occur in the Puget Sound region? A powerful Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake would produce tsunami waves, not only across the Pacific Ocean basin, but those tsunami waves would work their way into the Puget Sound through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
What NOAA tsunami simulations have revealed
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Simulations created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Pacific Environmental Lab and the showed tsunamis in interior waters reached 10 feet or more along coastlines, particularly in tight or narrow waterways like the Hood Canal, Tacoma鈥檚 Commencement Bay, Seattle鈥檚 Harbor Island or Bellingham Bay.
Not only can a Cascadia earthquake event generate tsunamis in the inland waters of Western Washington, but so can local earthquake faults such as the Tacoma Fault, the Seattle Fault, and the South Whidbey Island Fault. The has a suite of local earthquake fault simulations of tsunamis involving these earthquake sources. The Seattle Fault simulation is based on a strong earthquake that occurred approximately 1,100 years ago.
Recent smaller earthquakes in and around Western Washington over the last few months served as a key reminder that this region is earthquake country. In fact, Washington is the second-most threatened state in the nation, trailing only California.
The Great Shakeout preparation
Earthquakes are no-notice events. Each year, Washington participates in the earthquake drill in mid-October. The drill offers the opportunity to practice readiness for an earthquake at any time of day. Schools use this event as their October monthly emergency drill.
It is crucial to consider earthquake safety actions wherever you may be when a quake strikes. Communication with loved ones and work staff is quite important. Power and phone systems will likely be out of service in the wake of an earthquake.
Having a backup communication plan can be critical. The Great ShakeOut drill offers the chance to practice your backup communication plan. Know in advance how and who to reach in case the phone and power systems go offline.
Being ready for an earthquake and a potential tsunami, and knowing what to do when such an event unfolds, can help save the lives of loved ones.
Ted Buehner is the 成人X站 Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on聽听补苍诲听. Read more of his stories聽here.
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Thanks to relatively clear skies over the Pacific Northwest, the best time to potentially see the aurora borealis will be between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Shawn Dahl of the National Weather Service鈥檚 Space Weather Prediction Center happened to give a planned space weather presentation earlier this week at the , which runs through Thursday. He highlighted the latest burst of energy from the sun that would reach our planet from Wednesday into Thursday, which could produce an aurora borealis visible across much of Canada and the northern tier of the U.S.
Tips for viewing the northern lights
The best opportunity to view the potential aurora borealis is away from city lights in a much darker environment. The moon is slated to rise in the southeastern sky shortly after 12:30 a.m. and will add some light to the night sky.
If you see the northern lights, take a picture and share it with us on MyNorthwest鈥檚 photo page.
Ted Buehner is the 成人X站 Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on聽听补苍诲听. Read more of his stories here.
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The epicenter was recorded about 27 miles northeast of the city and about 123 miles northwest of Spokane.
According to the PNSN regional ShakeMap, people reported feeling the shaking from Oroville to Omak.
Earthquakes in Washington
According to the, earthquakes happen nearly every day in Washington鈥攂ut most are too small for anyone to feel them.
Washington has dozens of active faults and fault zones. DNR says the larger faults typically make larger earthquakes. The largest active fault that impacts Washington is the Cascadia subduction zone. A subduction zone occurs when an oceanic plate moves beneath a continental plate.
To see active faults in Washington,听
DNR said most of the populated areas of Washington have a 40% to 80% chance of having an earthquake in the next 50 years.
Are you prepared?
DNR says it鈥檚 important to always be prepared in case an earthquake hits. Water, electricity, phones and natural gas may not work, so what should you do?
- Have enough food and water to survive for three days
- Create an emergency response plan for you, your family, and pets
- Know what other hazards you might face, such as the potential for landslides
- Participate in yearly earthquake drills
During an earthquake 鈥� what do I do?
- Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck to protect yourself from falling debris, and hold on to any sturdy shelter until the shaking stops.
- Avoid glass doors and windows and anything that could fall on you.
- Do not get in a doorway or use elevators.
- Stay inside until the shaking stops. If you鈥檙e outside, move away from buildings and utility wires.
- If you鈥檙e in a moving vehicle, avoid stopping under buildings, overpasses, and trees and proceed slowly until the shaking has stopped.
The shaking stopped. Now what?
- Be prepared for aftershocks
- Exit the building once the shaking stops, if deemed safe
- Head to higher ground if you鈥檙e near a large body of water
- Check yourself and others for injuries
- Identify and avoid any hazards (downed power lines, gas leaks, etc.)
- Be mindful of pets 鈥� they may be nervous
- Listen for any instructions from officials
The weather through Friday is expected to stay dry and mild, with mostly clear skies and afternoon highs reaching the mid-60s in much of the region, especially south of King County, according to the.
Friday looks like the warmest day of the week, with parts of Western Washington possibly hitting the low 70s.
Nights will stay seasonably cool, and although the skies will stay calm inland, things remain choppy along the coast. Rough seas and strong winds mean small boat warnings are in place through Wednesday.
As we head into the weekend, things might take a turn. A weather system moving in from the north could bring some spring showers and cooler temperatures starting Saturday. That pattern may stick around into early next week, with a chance of light rain and slightly cooler days across the area.
Later sunsets have returned to Seattle
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On Wednesday, April 16, the sun will set at 8:01 p.m., according to NWS. Each day will continue to gain more than 3 minutes of daylight through the end of the month.
Our evenings will keep stretching out鈥攕unsets will get later each day until we hit the summer solstice in June. That鈥檚 when Seattle will enjoy its latest sunset of the year, around 9:10 p.m.,
So, why are the days getting longer? It all comes down to Earth鈥檚 tilt. During spring and summer, the Northern Hemisphere leans toward the sun, which means longer days for us. And until June, we鈥檒l keep gaining a little more daylight with each passing day.
Whether you’re enjoying the sunshine now or getting ready for some weekend showers, one thing’s clear: spring has truly arrived in the Northwest.
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Late sunsets are back in Seattle鈥攋ust in time for a sunny week in the Puget Sound. On Wednesday, April 16, the sun will set at 8:01 p.m., with over three more minutes of daylight added each day through the end of the month.
Dry weather is expected throughout the work week, according to the 聽(NWS). Friday will likely be the warmest day, with temperatures reaching the upper 60s to low 70s.
Next week suggests a slight chance of below-normal temperatures and precipitation across Washington. The also indicates a 20% risk of high winds in southwest Washington during this period.
Seattle sunsets will keep getting longer through June
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Daylight will keep increasing until the summer solstice in June, when Seattle sunsets will peak around 9:10 p.m., .
Why does this happen?
Earth鈥檚 tilt is the reason, according to NWS. In spring and summer, the Northern Hemisphere leans toward the sun, giving us longer days. In fall and winter, it tilts away, shortening them.
Around the equinoxes in March and September, the tilt is neutral, giving nearly equal day and night across the globe.
Imagine water in a stream flowing around a large rock. The water wraps around the rock and meets on the other side. On a larger scale, this is similar to what happens with westerly air flowing off the Pacific. The air flows around the Olympic Mountains and converges just east of them.
South Snohomish County is ground zero for the Puget Sound Convergence Zone. The air flows around the Olympics through the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the north side and the Chehalis Gap on the south side. As the air converges, it rises, producing clouds and often rain.
If it’s cold enough, snow can even fall鈥攁s it did on April 18, 2008, when parts of southern Snohomish County saw up to 10 inches of snow. Thunderstorms can also develop. When there’s frequent, stronger flow through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the convergence zone can shift southward into King County.
The Puget Sound Convergence Zone can occur at any time of the year, but it happens most frequently in the spring. Ironically, areas to the north and south of the convergence zone often experience breaks in the cloud cover and periods of sunshine. For example, the San Juan Islands and Skagit County to the north and Renton to Tacoma to the south often have clear skies.
Spring marks peak rainbow season in Puget Sound
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Spring also marks the peak of the North Sound’s rainbow season. While rainbows can occur year-round, the combination of spring showers and a higher sun angle results in more frequent rainbows during this season.
Rainbows are formed when sunlight interacts with rain or water droplets suspended in the air. Sunlight enters a droplet, slowing and bending the light as it passes from air to denser water. The light reflects off the inside of each droplet, breaking into its different colors. As the light exits the droplet, it forms a rainbow.
Sunlight consists of a spectrum of colors, each with a different wavelength. Violet has the shortest wavelength and bends the most, while red has the longest wavelength and bends the least. When you see a rainbow, the light reflecting back to you, with the sun at your back, will show all the colors between violet and red, with violet on the bottom and red on top.
If you spot a rainbow, take a picture, and share it with us on MyNorthwest’s photo page.
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The Northwest Avalanche Center released its latest mountain snow depth statistics as of April 1. In the Olympic Peninsula, Hurricane Ridge had 76 inches of snow on the ground, which is close to 75 percent of the average. According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the water in that snowpack was near 95 percent of the normal.
The snowpack in the Cascades varied quite a bit. Mount Baker reported 148 inches of snow, or close to 90 percent of the average, but the water in that snow was only 74 percent of normal.
The central Cascades found Stevens Pass with six feet of snow and Snoqualmie Pass with five feet, both just shy of 75 percent of the average water equivalent.
The southern Cascades fared much better for snowfall. Crystal Mountain had seven feet of snow on the ground, close to 110 percent of normal. Paradise on Mount Rainier had 164 inches, and White Pass had 56 inches, both 95 percent of the average. The water equivalent in this region鈥檚 snowpack was between 80 and 110 percent of normal.
With mountain snowpack seasons below average two years in a row, greater strain will be placed on water supplies for the upcoming summer and fall.
Drought status
According to the latest Drought Monitor, the Cascades and much of the Puget Sound region are abnormally dry or in moderate drought status. In the Puget Sound area, most locations, including Olympia and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), are about three to five inches below average for the year thus far, despite March being wetter than normal.
The coastal region is also drier than normal. Hoquiam is about four inches below average for the year, while Forks is nearly a whopping 13 inches below average.
The state of Washington has not declared a drought emergency at this point, yet the situation is being closely monitored. By state law, a drought emergency is when a lower-than-average precipitation and water supply condition threshold is reached.
For a part of the state to be considered in a drought, that area must be below or projected to be below 75% of normal. This water shortage is likely to create undue water supply stress.
Unless the remainder of spring is cool and wet, mountain snowpack will be depleted much earlier than usual, leaving a smaller water supply for agriculture, power generation, fish, and water consumption later this year.
Spring weather outlook
The latest outlooks for the rest of this month fail to point toward cool or wet conditions.
Starting later this week, temperatures are expected to climb above average, with some locations cracking the 70-degree mark.
By Sunday and into next week, rain is forecast to return with mild temperatures and relatively high mountain snow levels.
This trend is expected to continue for much of the rest of the month.
Wildfire and smoke concerns
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A less-than-average mountain snowpack usually means it melts off sooner than typical. What is called 鈥榞reen-up鈥� follows as ground vegetation grows. By mid-summer however, that vegetation dries out, setting up an environment more conducive to wildfires.
In 2023, Western Washington had more fire starts than Eastern Washington for the first time ever, according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Since 2017, the Puget Sound region has experienced poor air quality from wildfire smoke in six of the last eight summers.
The weather in April and May could help adjust the outcome of this dry situation, but the upcoming summer and fall are pointing towards concern as low water supply, wildfires, and wildfire smoke are on the horizon once again.
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