La Nina “Watch” Issued
By Paul | June 21, 2010
The Climate Prediction Center has issued its final advisory for El Nino, as ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific have cooled significantly over the past few months.
The question is: Will they continue to cool enough to drive us all the way to a La Nina pattern? More and more long-range computer forecast models say “yes”.
In fact, the Climate Prediction Center has issued a “La Nina Watch“, which means conditions are becoming more favorable for a La Nina to form later this summer or fall.
Take a look at my latest KOMO 4W webcast on the La Nina watch and what it means for Western Washington’s weather:
Topics: Climate, Pacific Northwest, Winter Weather, la nina | No Comments »
La Nina: Becoming More Likely
By Paul | June 15, 2010
An El Nino winter meant we barely had any lowland snow in Western Washington and the greater Seattle area. It also aided in the warmest January ever in Seattle, and one of the warmest winters we’ve had in a generation.
But El Nino is fading away.
Many times, the equatorial Pacific reverts back to “normal” after an El Nino episode. Normal means the ocean temperatures — and heat content — are not 0.5 degrees Celsius above or below normal. But more and more signs are pointing toward a possible quick return to a La Nina pattern.
In years past, La Nina autumn and winter weather in Western Washington is much wetter and cooler than normal. For many folks, this means one thing: SNOW. Lots of it.
Check out my latest KOMO 4W video on the possible return of La Nina:
Topics: Climate, Extreme Weather, Pacific Northwest, Winter Weather | No Comments »
2010 Emmy Award: Best Weathercaster
By Paul | June 15, 2010
I was hanging out with some friends in Scottsdale, AZ, when I got a call from KOMO4 morning anchor Molly Shen. She let me know that I just won the Emmy Award for Best Weather Anchor in the Northwest Region. What a great phone call to receive while on vacation!
It is an absolute honor to receive recognition for doing my job well. I’ve wanted to be a television broadcaster since I was 10-years-old, and I’ve been Blessed every day since I started working as a meteorologist, news anchor, and news reporter more than 14 years ago.
This is my 3rd Emmy Award, as I’ve won previously in 2004 (Best Weather Anchor/Mid-Atlantic Region) and 2007 (Host Of A Special Report/Suncoast Chapter).
-See The List Of All Emmy Winners
Topics: Pacific Northwest, Paul Deanno | 1 Comment »
Window For Snow Is Closing… FAST
By Paul | February 18, 2010
I know a lot of you love a taste of winter in Seattle… especially after seeing all of the snow back East (which I’m sure grandma back in Virginia would gladly give you some!). Here’s the problem, though: We’ve only had a trace of snowfall officially in Seattle… and the prospect for snowfall anytime soon isn’t looking good.
Matter of fact, the “window” for snowfall in Seattle is closing in just a few weeks. Watch the latest edition of the KOMO 4W webcast for the exact information…
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Warmest January Ever
By Paul | February 3, 2010
Various groundhogs throughout North America were recently asked their opinion as to whether there would be six more weeks of winter. Many of us in Western Washington are wondering exactly when winter will begin.
Seattle just wrapped up its warmest January ever (how long is “ever” — since 1891) with an average temperature in January of 47.0 degrees. That shatters the old record of 46.6 degrees, which was set in January 2006. The average temperature is found by taking the average high for the month and the average low for the month… and then dividing it by two.
Four of the five all-time warmest Januarys have been El Nino years — but this year stands out with some subtle differences. Nearly all month long, upper-level low pressure was just offshore… allowing mild modified tropical air to work its’ way north around the low and into Western Washington. There was not one day all month long where we were below our daily average… and we only dropped into the 30s for overnight lows five times all month long. Last year, we were at or below freezing 15 times!
And you see the result: Plants & trees in Western Washington think it’s spring. For good reason, as this month’s average temperature (47.0) was actually warmer than a typical Seattle March (46.2 degrees).
Even crazier, our January turned out to be warmer than some tropical locations, including Tallahassee, Florida!
So, what can we expect moving forward? Take a look:
As is typical in an El Nino winter, Western Washington (the entire Pacific Northwest, in fact) will likley remain above normal temperature-wise through April. In the short-term, it looks like we may even hit the mid 50s for a few days during the second week of February.
Topics: Extreme Weather, Global Warming, Pacific Northwest, Winter Weather | No Comments »
No Snow? Can’t Say That Yet…
By Paul | January 27, 2010
Many folks have been asking me if we’re going to see any snow in the Western Washington lowlands (Seattle, Tacoma, Everett) this winter. It has been several years since that happened… but here we are at the end of January and we’ve only seen a trace of snow officially at SeaTac airport. Heck, parts of South Florida have seen as much snow this winter as Seattle has!
I did a bit of research, though, and discovered that a super-warm January (like the one we’re having this year) doesn’t necessarily mean we’re done with the snow… or the cold. Matter of fact, you only have to look back as far as 2006 for proof that winter isn’t finished.
As you’ll see in the video below, that record-setting January was followed by two bursts of winter weather. So if you’re a fan of snow, don’t fret: There’s still a chance we’ll see some of the white stuff in your backyard before winter is finished!
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
January: Warmer Than March?!?
By Paul | January 26, 2010
We’re less than a week away from setting another record in Seattle: Warmest January Ever. Back in January 2006, we set that record (also during an El Nino winter) with an average temperature of 46.6 degrees. This year — through the 25th — we’re averaging 47.2 degrees. It would take a decent cool-down (which I’m not forecasting) this week to not break this record.
What’s more telling, however, is how THIS January compares to a NORMAL March. In a typical March in Seattle, the average temperature is 46.2 degrees. This month we’ve been one full degree warmer than that. Amazing!
That’s why some plants, bulbs, and trees are blooming way early — they don’t have a calendar… so they’re confused and thinking it’s spring already. Not a good thing if we do get a frost/freeze event over the next several weeks (which is still possible)…
Here’s the KOMO 4W on this topic:
Topics: Climate, Extreme Weather, Pacific Northwest, Paul Deanno, Winter Weather | No Comments »
KOMO 4W: A New Weather Webcast
By Paul | January 15, 2010
I’ve been thinking of a way to reach people who like to consume their news & weather information “on the go”. The YouTube generation is expanding… and I want to be able to get them more than just a bunch of weather numbers and icons on their cell phones.
Here’s what I’ve come up with: The KOMO 4W. The four W’s stand for the Western Washington Weather Webcast. All the weather info you need in less than 4 minutes… take a look:
I’ll be updating it several times a week… and it is my goal to have this be a permanent fixture on the komonews.com weather webpage.
You can find all past webcasts by doing a YouTube search for “KOMO4W”.
I’d love to know what you think… so take a look and give me some feedback — good or bad!
Also, if you like what you see… become a “subscriber” and you’ll get an e-mail whenever I upload a new webcast.
Welcome to “Weather Forecasting In 2010″!!! 
Topics: Climate, Pacific Northwest, Paul Deanno, Winter Weather | No Comments »
Puget Sound Name Change???
By Paul | December 11, 2009
Is the Puget Sound getting a new name??? The answer is YES… and NO.
Here’s the deal: Geographic bodies from both Canada and the United States have recently approved renaming all inland bodies of water in Western Washington and SW British Columbia under a new “umbrella name”…
The name: THE SALISH SEA.
Huh? So what is it… the Puget Sound or the Salish Sea? Technically, it’s both. For example, if you’re sailing on Lake Michigan, you’re technically on Lake Michigan (the specific name) and you’re also technically on The Great Lakes (the umbrella name). Maybe that clears up any confusion… I hope so!
So how big is this shiny new Salish Sea? It stretches from the rivers feeding Desolation Sound in British Columbia… south to include all of the Strait of Georgia… further south (and west) to include the entire Strait of Juan de Fuca… and then south to include the Puget Sound and all of the rivers feeding it.
Although approved by all government organizations involved, the new Salish Sea isn’t being welcomed with open arms from many folks. Some residents of both British Columbia and Western Washington say the name change is “needless”, “confusing”, and “just plain wrong”. Supporters of the name change say it properly pays respect to the Salish people, thought to be the original inhabitants of the area.
The Salish Sea will incorporate more than 2600 miles of coastline & more than 400 islands… and be home to 128 species of birds and 219 types of fish.
-Media Coverage Of The Name Change
-Unfavorable Opinion Of Salish Sea
-Awesome timelapses on the newly-named Salish Sea:
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Washington Super-Volcano?
By Paul | October 28, 2009
A new study just released promotes a new theory of what’s going on literally under our state. The study, published this week in the journal Nature Geoscience, suggests that three Washington volcanoes literally share a huge pool of magma. If correct, this theory means that Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens could constitute what is known as a “super-volcano”.
Since this is not widely accepted at all — and many scientists quickly made themselves available for a public rebuke of this report — the question is: Where did this theory come from? Here’s the deal: Magma (or molten rock) has a different electrical conductivity than “regular” rock. The researchers for this study found this lower conductivity under the entire three-mountain area… not just near the actual mountains. Thus the theory that they all share the same “magma pool”.
If true, the “super-volcano” theory would have a big impact here… as super-volcanoes have historically had some pretty major eruptions. It is well documented that the super-volcano in Yellowstone could create a huge eruption… impacting the entire United States.
It is my belief that many more studies would need to be conducted before this new theory becomes widely accepted in the study of volcanoes.
-Read More About The Study
-Here is the CBS News Report back in 1980 of the Mt. St. Helens eruption:
Topics: Extreme Weather, Pacific Northwest, Volcanoes | No Comments »