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2021 News Archive
02/11/2021 All AgWeatherNet stations reached below freezing Wednesday, Feb 10. How often does this happen?
By Mark Ingalls"Wednesday morning (February 10, 2021) was cold across much of North America, and Washington State was no exception. While the state did not see the extreme cold that the northern Plains and much of Canada saw, morning lows were well below average."...
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01/20/2021 Community weather observation network seeks new weather observers in eastern Washington
By Joe Zagrodnik, Washington State University"The geographic diversity of CoCoRaHS stations make it a resource not only for forecasters and water managers. This research project aims to record how water isotopes (water with extra neutrons) in precipitation changes as storms traverse over the Cascades."...
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2020 News Archive
12/18/2020 AgWeatherNet Fall 2020 Review
By Mark Ingalls, Craig Oswald, Washington State University"Frequent ridging over the North Pacific and American West helped to keep temperatures above average in most of Washington during the fall, particularly in September. This was particularly visible in overnight low temperatures, which were only observed to be below average (as far as monthly means go) in the Tri-Cities during October and November."...
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10/01/2020 Comparison of the Labor Day 2020 cold front and fire event to similar past events
By Mark Ingalls, Washington State University"The Labor Day cold front that moved in from the northeast (rather than the typical westerly/northwesterly direction) and helped to initiate numerous fires in Washington and Oregon was unusually potent – to the point where it may have been a generational event. It was not, however, entirely unprecedented."...
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09/25/2020 AgWeatherNet Summer 2020 Review
By Mark Ingalls, Craig Oswald, and Joe Zagrodnik, Washington State University"This review will be a recap of Washington States weather during meteorological Summer (June, July, and August) 2020 to provide a look at some of the average and extreme weather conditions experienced and how they compare to climatology."...
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08/31/2020 Major network changes underway to provide improved weather data
By Dave Brown, Washington State University"AgWeatherNet is now initiating the systematic installation of meteorological towers at approximately 100 regionally representative locations in Washington. As of this writing, towers have been installed in Sunnyside, Mount Vernon, and Pullman, with Sunrise near Wenatchee scheduled for construction in September. In addition to standard relative humidity, solar radiation, and 2 m wind speed probes, these towers are equipped with aspirated radiation shields for greater air temperature accuracy, duplicate 1.5 m temperature sensors, a 9 m temperature sensor to detect inversions, dual rain gauges shielded by a wind screen, 10 m wind speed and direction, and soil temperature + water potential at 2 and 8 inches. "...
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06/19/2020 AgWeatherNet Spring 2020 Review
By Mark Ingalls and Craig Oswald, Washington State University"This review will be a recap of Washington State"...
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04/01/2020 Rare tornado touches down in Richland
By Mark Ingalls and Craig Oswald, Washington State University"On Tuesday (March 31), a weak tornado touched down on the north side of Richland, Washington at about 2:30 pm. Several people around the Tri-Cities were able to take pictures and video of it, which were shared by local media. The tornado lasted for about 15 minutes before dissipating."...
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02/13/2020 February 2020 Flooding
By Mark Ingalls, Joe Zagrodnik and Craig Oswald, Washington State University"The first week of February brought an atmospheric river event into the Pacific Northwest. This stream of high moisture air originated in the subtropical central Pacific Ocean, roughly around Hawaii."...
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02/11/2020 AgWeatherNet 2019 Washington Weather Year in Review
By Craig Oswald and Joe Zagrodnik, Washington State University"This review will be a recap of Washington State's 2019 weather and provide a look at some of the average and extreme weather conditions experienced this year and how they compare to climatology. There will also be a brief agriculture report included at the end highlighting some of the ag related weather statistics and general agriculture statistics from the year."...
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2019 News Archive
12/20/2019 Special Interest: Rime Ice/Frost
By Craig Oswald and Joe Zagrodnik, Washington State University"In this special interest piece, we'd like to touch upon an interesting weather phenomenon that has been affecting parts of Washington State during the previous week, namely, rime ice/rime frost. Some locations across the interior of the state have been under persistent freezing fog conditions this past week, allowing for the build up of ice on trees, weather stations, fences, and really anything you could name!"...
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04/11/2019 AWN Station Names
David J. Brown, Director, AgWeatherNet"In order to establish additional standards and to enhance the ease of use of the AWN system, effective Monday April 15, 2019, we will implement a station name change. While the station names may change, the location and installed sensors remain the same."...
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2018 News Archive
07/03/2018 Weathercatch: No rain on our 4th of July parade
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"Is there a single day when the weather is more important than on July 4? With its holiday picnics, parades, foot races and fireworks held from Alaska to Maine, the holiday draws more Americans outdoors than any other day of the year. A historical look at Fourth of July weather shows that it typically sparkles in our region. In the eastern half of Washington state, there's a mere 0-10 percent chance of rain probability, ranking it as having "...
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06/26/2018 Weathercatch: Hello, summer solstice! Dog days to arrive later
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"When summer officially begins at 3:07 a.m. Thursday, temperatures will be warm, but not at the heatwave-level predicted until just a few days ago. Originally, a high-pressure system was expected to bring clear skies and push temperatures into the 80s and 90s throughout much of the state. Now there's a chance of showers and thunderstorms, with temperatures running 5-10 degrees cooler than anticipated. What happened? The forecast models changed to reflect a weak weather system moving through the region on Thursday. It's interesting to note that the dog days of summer typically don't arrive until July or even August. This, at first glance, seems to defy logic. If the sun's intensity is highest on summer solstice, why do our warmest days come later in the season?"...
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05/31/2018 June brings 'Sunshine Superman' to Inland Northwest
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"When the '60s British singer Donovan wrote the hit "Sunshine Superman," he must have had the month of June in mind. June brings us the summer solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere dips toward the sun and basks in daylight for longer than any other time of year. What’s more, the month typically glows with bright, sun-filled days in eastern Washington. This June is expected to follow the same pattern."...
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05/16/2018 Weathercatch: Severe weather events — there’s something about May
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"May kicked off with a bang in the eastern United States, the southern and Plains states, bringing a mix of tornadoes, hail, strong winds and violent thunderstorms. In our region, it was more like a soft knock. A few passing thunderstorms but nothing more. Driven by the seasonal rise in temperatures and humidity, the severe weather season arrives each spring. Tornadoes slice across Oklahoma and Alabama; powerful thunderstorms hammer Michigan to Maryland. But our area is pretty much isolated from these kinds of intense weather outbreaks. Most of us have never experienced the ferocity of a tornado or a band of violent thunderstorms."...
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05/04/2018 Weathercatch: Spring heat spell brings 2018’s first 83-degree day to Spokane
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"After having only 11 days of sunshine since Jan. 1, last week looked – and felt – as though a giant lid was yanked off overhead. In a spring marked by clouds and drizzle, everything changed on April 23. Ample sunny skies appeared over the Inland Northwest and stayed for five consecutive days. It was a first for 2018, which, until last week, had been shadowed by cloudy and partly cloudy skies. A nice spring warmup accommodated the run of sunshine. High temperatures lingered in the 70s, topping out at an impressive 83 degrees in Spokane on April 27. Pasco hit 88 degrees and Lewiston-Clarkston, 90."...
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04/05/2018 Weathercatch: Spring fever? Hold off on planting much of your garden
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"When poet T.S. Elliot wrote that April is "the cruelest month," it wasn't because of the dreaded tax-filing deadline. While romanticized as the month of renewal, April is also known as the great fooler. On Monday morning this week, people in Moscow-Pullman, Coeur d' Alene and Colfax awoke to as much as an inch of snow and icy driving conditions. Temperatures across much of the Inland Northwest, including Spokane, ran 10 degrees below normal."...
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03/22/2018 Weathercatch: Meteorological madness ushers spring, snow to follow?
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"Hello, spring. Tuesday's vernal equinox marked the start of astronomical spring, meaning that tulips, Canada geese and softball games are on the way. Unlike other parts of the country, the day actually felt like spring, with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s across the Inland Northwest."...
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03/01/2018 Weathercatch: February fools region with weather in reverse
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"February is a transitionary month – a bridge from winter to early spring that typically starts out cold and ends with milder temperatures. This year, however, Mother Nature turned the bridge around, going from spring like conditions to hardcore winter. February's first half gave us temperatures mild enough to prod green daffodil blades from the ground and to hint that cherry blossoms might not be far off."...
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02/15/2018 Weathercatch: Spokane vs. Embarrass: Same latitude, different climates:
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"Who needs a box of chocolates on Valentine's Day when Mother Nature gave us a gift of mild winter? Until this week's temperature dip and blanketing snowfall, we enjoyed a long stretch of unseasonably warm days. With January and early February shedding their cold-weather tradition, little white flowers known as snowdrops – usually a harbinger to early spring – burst into bloom around Groundhog Day. However, that's not the case in the tiny township of Embarrass, Minnesota, which proudly proclaims itself "The Cold Spot" on its website. Located three hours north of Minneapolis,"...
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02/12/2018 AWN User Survey
"The AWN user satisfaction survey is currently under way! The primary purpose of this survey is to identify areas where AWN can improve it's products and services. The survey contains about 30 questions and takes approximately 9 minutes to complete. Your participation will help us understand which products and services are important to you, our valued user, and will also help us focus our future efforts on the improvements that will provide you or your organization the most impact and added value. The survey will be available until February 23, 2018. Thank you for providing your feedback."...read more...
01/30/2018 Weathercatch: ‘Wintermission’ highlights first month of 2018
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"If you enjoy knee-deep snow and a strong shot of cold temperatures, Old Man Winter is raining on your parade. This January in the Pacific Northwest — unlike the blockbuster one we endured in 2017 — has been, in a word, mild. The above-normal temperatures that arrived to the region on Jan. 5 still linger later as the month wraps up."...
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01/17/2018 Weathercatch: Pacific Northwest's 'bomb cyclones' tamer than East Coast's
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"The Pacific Northwest was blissfully insulated from the recent "bomb cyclone" that clobbered the East Coast on Jan. 4, along with the stunning cold spell that followed. Sure, our region experienced some freezing rain, fog and the heaviest snowfall of the year (six inches in the Spokane and Wenatchee areas on Jan.11), but those conditions pale in comparison to the storm that advanced from North Carolina to Maine."...
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2017 News Archive
12/18/2017 Weathercatch: Black ice mystery — how it formed when roads looked dry last week
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"For a few days last week — before Friday’s short but intense snowfall — patches of black ice were reported in the Inland Northwest. Slick and hard to spot, this type of ice often appears unpredictably and can inspire panic among drivers and walkers alike. Black ice gets its chameleon transparency by being thin and containing few air bubbles or blotches of snow, allowing it to blend in with the pavement and appear “black.†Ironically, it recently materialized on roadways during a stretch when we saw miniscule "...
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12/06/2017 Weathercatch: 'River in the sky' brings tropical Thanksgiving to Inland NW
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"A long plume of warm, moist airflow from the tropics to the Western U.S. put record-warm temperatures and intermittent rain on the Thanksgiving Day menu in Eastern Washington. What began as a massive swirling mass of clouds near Hawaii a week earlier evolved into an atmospheric river that swooped in on Washington state on Nov. 22 and lingered throughout much of the next day. Its appearance made Nov. 23 the warmest Thanksgiving since records started being kept in 1881."...
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11/27/2017 Ask Dr. Universe: What are the northern lights? Do they show every night?
"When the northern lights come out, beautiful, colorful patterns stretch across the night sky. But they begin with a star that is millions of miles away: our sun. Not only does the sun give us warmth and light, but it is also so full of energy that it can be outrageously explosive. These explosions often send tiny particles out to Earth. My friend Nic Loyd, a meteorologist at Washington State University, said this is called a “solar wind.â€"...read more...
11/27/2017 Weathercatch: Surprise thundersnow rumbles across the Palouse
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"A rare weather phenomenon flashed and boomed over parts of the Palouse last Thursday night. Lightning and thunderclaps accompanied tumbling snowflakes in what meteorologists call a thundersnow. The Nov. 16 event moved through areas including Moscow and Pullman within a 10-minute time period. Though brief, it presented an enthralling, seldom-seen show. As the thundersnow moved into Pullman at 9:37 p.m., heavy rain was falling and previously calm winds had gusted to 28 mph. By 9:40 p.m., a rain and hail downpour dropped visibility to 1.75 miles, compared"...
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11/08/2017 Weathercatch: Is our early snow an indicator of another rough winter?
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"Three remarkable calendar events unfolded this past weekend - the season's first snow, a Hunter's Moon and the end of daylight saving time."...
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10/11/2017 Weathercatch: Valleys in the sky portend cooler, unsettled weather
By Nic Loyd, Washington State University"A blast of cool, wet weather engulfed the region during the first few days of October. Not only did it dig in over the Inland Northwest, but most of the western U.S. It was caused by a massive trough – a term most people associate with feed containers for farm animals. In the meteorological world, however, it’s a U-shaped curve in the jet stream that often signifies cool, wet weather is on the way."...
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09/27/2017 Weathercatch: It's fall? Cue the pumpkins - and flip flops
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"Hello autumn. Well, sort of. When the first day of fall arrived last Friday, some of us in the Inland Northwest woke up to the first frost of the season. In a week's time, it went from sunny and in the 80s to literally frost on the pumpkins. In between the hot spell and sporadic frost, we got our first significant rainfall since May. In fact, more rain fell in Spokane during a single hour on Sept. 18 than the total amount received since June 28. Higher elevations, including Schweitzer Mountain Resort and 49 Degrees North ski area, got their first snow."...
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09/13/2017 Weathercatch: Why our fire season hit late - and bad
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"We just emerged from the first week of September, and boy, did autumn feel far away: Temperatures in the Inland Northwest ran about 10 degrees above normal, accompanied by desertlike humidity levels. Nine sizable wildfires burned in Washington state. From the Columbia River Gorge to the outskirts of Cle Elum, charging flames and billowing smoke led to evacuation orders of homes and the closure of roads, popular campgrounds and hiking trails. Smoke-filled skies that blotted"...
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8/16/2017 Weathercatch: Thermostat reset and a breather from smoky skies
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityTwo songs best sum up the weather we just left behind - "Heat Wave" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." During a 10-day period, Washingtonians faced heat advisories, air quality alerts and red flag warnings for fire danger. Smoke from multiple wildfires produced a somber haze that came in tandem with peak temperatures ranging from 97 degrees in Spokane to 105 in Goldendale and Vancouver.,".......
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8/2/2017 Weathercatch: In summertime, we're the driest of them all
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University"There's some seriously weird weather out there." So says a recent Weather.com story, referring to near-record cool temperatures in New England, golf ball-size hail in Minneapolis and heavy downpours triggering flash floods in Kansas. All this, in late July,".......
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7/19/2017 Weathercatch: Wet spring produces bountiful fuel source for wildfires
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityRemember all the rain that fell in March and April? One would think a heavy drench would quell this summer's wildfire danger. Not so. Instead, spring's precipitation ramped up the risk by producing a bumper crop of grass, sage and other shrubs east of the,".......
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7/6/2017 Weathercatch: What punched holes in our clouds?
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityThe cloudscape threw us a curveball on June 20 when donut-shaped clouds wafted over the Inland Northwest. The unusual display prompted citizen observers to snap photographs and the Spokane office of the National Weather Service to post an explanation with satellite images on social media. What people witnessed that morning were cavums,".......
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6/21/2017 Weathercatch: Temperature seesaw ride wrapping up
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityWe just slipped past the year's longest day and highest sun. Ever wonder why the summer solstice isn't the warmest day of the year? Because it takes time to overcome the chilling effects of winter. Temperatures don't peak at the solstice. If they did, May and the first half of June would have produced steadily increasing warmth. Instead,".......
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6/8/2017 Weathercatch: Weather drives intense wallop of tree pollen levels
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityWe see it and feel it - pollen madness. Trees have been exploding with tiny particles that coat our cars and make our eyes scratchy and our noses run. Blame it on the weather. Rain and cool temperatures during March and April suppressed the early pollinating cycle of many trees in our region. Then came May, when stretches of warm, dry days "led to a rapid burst of pollen being released at once,".......
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5/21/2017 Weathercatch: Desperately seeking sunshine in Inland NW
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityIf you found yourself peering out a window with gritted teeth at another damp, gloomy day this past weekend, join the growing club of sun cravers. Perhaps you're experiencing some weather-related whiplash as well......
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5/2/2017 April fools with above-average rain
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityLast year we enjoyed the warmest April since 1934, a Dust Bowl year. You may recall that, for 25 glorious days, temperatures ran above normal, putting temperatures in the Inland Northwest on par with those in southern California and Florida......
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4/27/2017 What A Difference A Year Makes
By Nic Loyd, Washington State UniversityIf you have been wondering when warmer, late spring-like weather will finally arrive, you are probably not alone. Temperatures in Washington have generally been near or below normal since......
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4/21/2017 Weathercatch: When science slides - wet weather sets off mudslides
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityWhen it comes to precipitation, the Inland Northwest has really been dumped on. Look no further than the pot holes, soggy lawns and tattered rubber boots for proof......
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4/5/2017 Weathercatch: Why it was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad winter
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityNever mind that March was among the wettest on record for the Inland Northwest. Our miserable winter is what still stands out. Just talking about it elicits grimaces and head shakes......
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3/9/2017 Potholes and the groundhog - what they share in common
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityHow fitting that when the groundhog saw its shadow on Feb. 2, signaling six more weeks of winter, it would turn out to be February's coldest day in the Spokane area. With a high of 27 degrees and a low of 9, he shivered in temperatures 14 degrees colder than normal....
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1/27/2017 Worsening freezing fog will create icy threat this weekend
By Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityThe freezing fog that's been coming and going this week in the eastern half of Washington state is expected to intensify, causing slick roads and decreased visibility throughout the weekend....
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1/25/2017 More wacko winter weather - and why
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityIf you're feeling weather beaten or weather whiplashed, you are not alone. In a span of a month and a half, the Inland Northwest experienced...
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1/11/2017 Weathercatch: Frigid temperatures and snow drifts is very Midwest-like
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityIf there's one thing this winter has demonstrated, it's that the weather can still turn very cold and snowy in our region. A combination of frigid temperatures, lots of snow and occasional gusts of wind have left landscapes rippled by snowdrifts......
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2016 News Archive
12/21/2016 Weird wintry mix - the day it graupeled outside
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityWe in the Inland Northwest have been waist-deep in heavy snowfall predictions, but when was the last time you heard a forecast calling for a graupel storm???...
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12/14/2016 Winter Weather Continues in Washington
By Nic Loyd, Washington State UniversityAt long last, Washington finds itself in the midst of an extended period of wintry weather. Although recent and upcoming conditions are not unprecedented in a historical sense, the current spell of colder and at times snowy weather likely seems very unusual given the mild winters of late......
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12/13/2016 Early winter knockout: Frigid, winter storm, frigid again
By Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityIn a 1-2-3 punch, frigid temperatures in the Pacific Northwest are about to give way to another storm front and then even colder weather......
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12/7/2016 Inland Northwest in the thick of peak fog season
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityFog. The Inland Northwest is in the thick of it this time of year. November through January is peak season for this atmospheric marvel and 2016 is no exception......
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10/12/2016 The calendar's most fickle month - October
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityRemember the first two days of October? Brilliantly sunny and warm with fiery-colored leaves on trees. Suddenly a switch got flipped, bringing episodes of rain and a chilly wind that sent leaves skittering to the ground like an angry spirit......
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9/14/2016 Lenticular clouds - the truth is out there
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityA cloud type that spawns tall tales almost as much as Sasquatch is known to linger over peaks in the Cascade Range. Sometimes called 'UFO clouds,' these saucer-shaped formations are likely to become more prominent as we enter autumn and winter......
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8/17/2016 Weathercatch: Compared to 'corn sweat,' wheat is small stuff
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State University'Corn sweat' made big news in late July as the Midwest baked and wilted in heat and humidity. Television reporters standing waist-deep among cornstalks explained how millions of crop acres across the nation's Corn Belt were contributing to a stretch of miserable weather......
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8/3/2016 Weathercatch: Dust devils common in Washington - and on Mars
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityThis time of year, dust devils put on a good show in the flatter, drier parts of the Pacific Northwest. You've probably seen these plumes of swirling dust zipping across farmland, open fields, roadsides and even parking lots......
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7/20/2016 Weathercatch: Mammatus clouds - odd, eerie and very photogenic
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityAnyone lucky enough to see mammatus clouds can't turn away. Reminiscent of bubble wrap sliding across the sky, they're a remarkable sight......
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7/6/2016 Weathercatch: Pacific Northwest no Tornado Alley, but twisters do occur
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityOne afternoon last month, eight separate twisters dropped down on southern Minnesota, earning that day the name 'Tornado Tuesday' in media reports. Fortunately, the twisters touched down in mostly open areas and no one was injured......
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6/22/2016 June offers summer in reverse
The first two weeks of this month could best be described as reverse summer. On June 6, the temperature peaked at 96 degrees in Spokane. By June 10, it had nose-dived to a high of 59......read more...
6/15/2016 What a Difference a Week Makes
By Nic Loyd, WSU meteorologistYou have to love the weather in Washington. If someone had said a few weeks ago that one of our stations would transition from 100+ degrees to frost in only nine days during June, you probably would not have believed it......
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5/18/2016 Weathercatch: Why thunderstorms are uncommon in Pacific Northwest
By Nic Loyd and Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityLast year on May 29, a thunderstorm rolled into parts of Eastern Washington and North Idaho causing sporadic power outages and several reports of minor hail damage to cars. Though the storm caused no significant or widespread damage, the event was big news for residents who witnessed it......
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5/4/2016 Weathercatch: Unusually warm April give plants an early start
By Nic Loyd, WSU meteorologist, and Linda Weiford, WSU NewsThe last time the Inland Northwest saw such a warm April was in 1934. Franklin D. Roosevelt was president and a gallon of gasoline cost 10 cents. Now, with gas costing $2.20 a gallon and the second term of Barack Obama winding down, we just emerged from an April that was almost as balmy......
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4/7/2016 Spring will feel a lot like summer in Yakima in coming days
The record for today's date, April 7, is 84 degrees, recorded in 1977. The record for Friday's date, April 8, is 79 degrees, recorded in 1996. The National Weather Service predicts ?a high of 79 for today and 83 for Friday......read more...
4/6/2016 Miniature heat wave coming our way
By Linda Weiford, WSU NewsA rare, early-April warmup will bring Washington state its first dose of summer, with temperatures surging into the upper 70s and low 80s in the region east of the Cascade Range......
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4/4/2016 Understanding, and weathering, those bumpy flights
By Nic Loyd, WSU meteorologist, and Linda Weiford, WSU NewsIf you do much flying, you've probably encountered it as bumps, jolts and sloshed drinks on tray tables. Simply put, air turbulence is the unruly disturbance in air flow......
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3/23/2016 Weathercatch: March mild temperatures likely to linger with some unsettled interludes
By Nic Loyd, WSU meteorologist, and Linda Weiford, WSU NewsThe first day of spring was gentle as a lamb - a welcome change to the surly cat that preceded it. After a stretch of wet and windy weather for much of the Inland Northwest, Mother Nature delivered patches of sunshine with the temperature topping out at 62 degrees on Sunday......
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2/24/2016 Big thaw triggers unusual wintertime alert
By Linda Weiford, Washington State UniversityEver hear about a 'hydrologic outlook' alert? If so, it was probably in spring or summer. Not this time around......
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2/10/2016 Weathercatch: Miss Piggy studies 'sky rivers'
By Linda Weiford, WSU NewsAtmospheric rivers are narrow but long ribbons of condensed water vapor carried by the wind. When a particularly tempestuous one barrels into the Pacific Northwest or California from the Pacific Ocean, it can unleash rain, dump snow and swell rivers for days at a time......
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2/9/2016 78 degrees in Washington state - yes, really
By Linda Weiford, WSU NewsSuddenly, February is April. Remarkably warm weather is embracing the Pacific Northwest, awakening daffodil bulbs and reviving community parks......
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1/27/2016 Weathercatch: January's gray comes with silver lining
By Nic Loyd, WSU meteorologist, and Linda Weiford, WSU NewsEven for a region accustomed to clouds in winter, this month has been a doozy. If you've been sloshing through a case of the winter blahs, you're not alone. Drizzle, snow, freezing rain, fog - only a duck would love the kind of January we're having......
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1/12/2016 Our zigzaggy weather, explained
By Nic Loyd, WSU meteorologist, and Linda Weiford, WSU NewsIf you live in the Inland Northwest, you know about its zigzaggy climate: One week we're dressed in shorts, the next in coats; one day we're opening umbrellas, the next we're shoveling snow; one minute we're wearing a hat, the next it's whipped off by the wind......
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1/12/2016 Warmest year on record for Washington state
Much of the boost in the Pacific Northwest came during an unprecedented heat wave in June, when temperatures in many locations ran roughly 25 degrees above normal. February, March, July and October also saw warmer-than-usual temperatures......read more...
2015 News Archive
12/16/2015 Our chance of a white Christmas - On Dasher!
By Nic Loyd, WSU meteorologist, and Linda Weiford, WSU NewsDreaming of a white Christmas? With only a week to go, whether the Inland Northwest still will have snow on the ground is literally up in the air....
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12/9/2015 Warmth shatters records in state - now, a windstorm
Amid the focus on drenching rains across the Pacific Northwest this week, a different kind of weather record was set in the state of Washington on Tuesday: Abnormally warm temperatures....read more...
12/7/2015 Ask Dr. Universe
How does snow form?...read more...
12/4/2015 From big wind to big chill
On Nov. 17, a giant windstorm roared through the region to a balmy high temperature of 54 degrees. A little more than a week later, temperatures plunged to 7 degrees and we saw barely any wind at all....read more...
11/5/2015 Weathercatch: Warmer, drier weather likely to stick around for a while
During a typical October in Eastern Washington, temperatures dip 4 degrees from one week to the next, making it the month with the biggest temperature drop from start to finish. But this year, we saw something different....read more...
11/3/2015 Here comes the season's first big frost
Many Washington residents will wake up to Jack Frost nipping at their lawns, gardens and windshields tomorrow morning as the first widescale frost of the season descends on both sides of the Cascade range....read more...
10/29/2015 Wind to howl on Halloween across Pacific Northwest
An autumn storm system will blow into the Pacific Northwest on Halloween like an angry spirit....read more...
10/16/2015 Washington Drought Report: October 2015
From the desk of Nic LoydFollowing a thankfully cooler than normal September, it has become the critical climate question of the moment: Is the drought-causing, heat-wielding monster ridge finally history?...
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10/13/2015 AgWeatherNet director leaving WSU
Gerrit Hoogenboom, director of the AgWeatherNet program at Washington State University since 2010, has accepted a position at the University of Florida beginning Jan. 1....read more...
10/7/2015 AgWeatherNet September 2015 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydAlthough September often seems like a time of endings in terms of summer heat and the growing season, last month felt much more like a time of beginnings for healing and renewal. Following a long, parched summer, many locations received their first rainfall and first stretch of cool weather since the spring, as Washington inched closer to the start of the cold season....
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10/2/2015 AgWeatherNet Summer 2015 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydThe already historic summer of 2015 ended with a meteorological curveball from Mother Nature, as a season of record heat concluded with a powerful, autumn-like storm. However, perhaps the major pattern change should not have been surprising, since such long-term environmental imbalances sometimes require a rapid course correction to facilitate a shift toward system equilibrium....
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9/30/2015 Washington the cloudiest state - nope, says weather expert
A top-10 list declaring Washington the cloudiest state in the country may have some residents wondering if the Farmer's Almanac has its head in the clouds....read more...
8/20/2015 Washington Drought Report: August 2015
From the desk of Nic LoydOne needs only to glance out the window to see the undesired effects of the ongoing drought. For folks who live east of the Cascades, the color of even cloudless skies has been transformed into an ominous gray by smoke from numerous raging wildfires....
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8/20/2015 Early wheat harvest produces lower yield because of weather
Combines crawling across the hills of the Palouse, threshing the nation's largest wheat crop, signal an annual end to summer in southeastern Washington...if you plan to observe those hulking machines this year, your luck may already have run out....read more...
8/6/2015 AgWeatherNet July 2015 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydJuly was another scorching and dry month in Washington, as Mt. Vernon experienced their warmest month on record (mean and high temperature). While areas east of the Cascades were rather hot, at least last month was generally not record-breaking....
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7/22/2015 Optimizing productivity & preventing heat-related illness/injury
Contact Jen KranzOur team based out of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington is partnering with AgWeatherNet to develop a new heat awareness system. This alert system will be designed to help agricultural workplaces prepare for heat waves such as we have experienced recently and will take into account temperature, humidity, and other environmental measurements to determine when conditions are not favorable for working....
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7/17/2015 Washington Drought Report: July 2015
From the desk of Nic LoydAlthough it may seem obvious to our readers, the recent weather has not been helpful for the drought situation. June was a record smashing month whose sweltering legacy persisted into early July...
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7/10/2015 Expo shows global impacts of Prosser research center
The first scientific expo at Washington State Universitys Prosser research station hailed advances made in central Washington by scholars from around the globe. 'Science at IAREC', hosted by the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center on July 1 to showcase its contributions to society, featured more than 30 graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and researchers working at the Prosser station....read more...
7/9/2015 AgWeatherNet June 2015 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic Loyd2015 continues to push the climatological envelope by testing the bounds of natural climate variability. Despite the other recent record warm months, June 2015 is in a class of its own in terms of temperatures....
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6/30/2015 100-year weather watching award for Lind Dryland Station
Staff at the Washington State University Dryland Research Station at Lind earned kudos for logging 100 years of official weather data that helps farmers and scientists understand the past and prepare for the future. The National Weather Service presented the station with the '100-Year Honored Institution Award,' for the century of observations made at Lind....read more...
6/17/2015 Snow drought and weather futures
Cate Gable, Chinook ObserverWhen I was a kid in the Yakima Valley, we routinely had several inches of snow for Christmas. And there were many times taking the train through the Ellensburg Canyon from Yakima to Seattle to see our grandparents, we'd have to stop while snow was shoveled off the tracks, especially along Lake Keechelus....
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6/11/2015 AgWeatherNet Spring 2015 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydTo say that April mean temperatures were near normal would not be newsworthy during normal times. But these are not normal times. In light of the five record warm months since last July, April represented a welcome reprieve from the recent trend....
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6/11/2015 Washington Drought Report: June 2015
From the desk of Nic LoydAlthough Washington may not be officially experiencing a meteorological (precipitation) drought, we are certainly suffering from a snowpack drought which is likely to have many varied consequences for Washington growers and residents....
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6/4/2015 Record heat wave to hit Pacific Northwest
Technically, it's still spring, but temperatures are expected to bring record-breaking heat to the Pacific Northwest starting this weekend....read more...
6/3/2015 June Outlook: Heat for the West, more rain in the Plains
The warm waters in the equatorial and northern Pacific off the West Coast and the water-logged soils in the Southern Plains are some of the factors influencing the temperature precipitation outlooks for June 2015....read more...
5/21/2015 El Niño bad for Washington drought, good for California
Gerrit Hoogenboom, WSU AgWeatherNet, gerrit.hoogenboom@gmail.comLinda Weiford, WSU News, 509-335-7209, linda.weiford@wsu.edu
Despite recent rains, the drought settling over Washington state that spurred the governor to declare an emergency last week is likely to grow worse - driven by a strengthening El Nino weather pattern from the Pacific Ocean....
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5/5/2015 AgWeatherNet April 2015 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydTo say that April mean temperatures were near normal would not be newsworthy during normal times. But these are not normal times....
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5/4/2015 Washington Drought Report: May 2015
From the desk of Nic LoydAlthough the weather during the first half of April was a bit better than February and March due to slightly cooler and snowier conditions in the mountains, there was very little improvement in the overall snow drought situation. Unfortunately, we may not only be facing a low water supply issue, but also a higher demand issue (relative to normal), since higher evapotranspiration rates are likely this summer....
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4/15/2015 Case Study: Washington AgWeatherNet
Published in the Campbell Update 2nd Quarter 2015Washington State University's AgWeatherNet (AWN) is a large, automated network comprised almost entirely of Campbell Scientific products. AWN's purpose is to provide current and historical weather observations from across the state....
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4/9/2015 AgWeatherNet March 2015 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydIt has almost become commonplace to report at this point, but March was another record warm month. For those keeping track, March was the fifth record warm month in the last nine months....
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3/26/2015 AgWeatherNet Winter 2014/2015 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydThe last time Prosser experienced a calendar month as warm (relative to normal) as February 2015, many of us were still using typewriters and rotary telephones. A total of 300 months passed between the abnormal warmth of January 1990 and last month....
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3/3/2015 Warm, weird weather puts state's crops ahead of schedule
The calendar still says winter, but grain and fruit crops in Washington may already think it's spring. From the Skagit to the Palouse, observers with Washington State University are noticing that some agricultural crops are several weeks ahead of schedule-thanks to an unseasonably warm winter....read more...
2/20/2015 Fruit trees budding early in warm February
Slivers of green barely peek through clusters of cherry buds, chemical representatives write up spray recommendations for their clients, and growers peruse weather websites for growing degree days and cold hardiness....read more...
2/18/2015 Last year is now warmest year on record for Washington state
'The mid to late portion of the growing season was an unusual and record-breaking time frame of seemingly unrelenting heat,' said AgWeatherNet meteorologist Nic Loyd. 'July was Prosser's all-time hottest month, which was followed by record warm months in August and October.'...read more...
2/17/2015 AgWeatherNet 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydDespite the broad spectrum of weather that was observed last year, the overall climate of 2014 can be summarized in one word: warm. It was, in fact, Prosser's warmest year in at least a quarter-century....
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2/10/2015 Rare 'milky rain' most likely traveled from ancient lake
The mysterious 'milky rain' that hit parts of the Pacific Northwest last Friday was the result of a rarely seen weather phenomenon that began near an ancient saline lake nearly 500 miles away, according to Washington State University meteorologist Nic Loyd....read more...
1/13/2015 AgWeatherNet December 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydDespite a cold and dry beginning and end, the balance of December was unusually mild and rather active, which made the month as a whole notably warmer than normal. In fact, Prosser's mean monthly high of 42.7 degrees was the second warmest on record, and trailed only 1999....
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2014 News Archive
12/23/2014 AgWeatherNet Autumn 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydNovember was a period of wild extremes in temperature. Although monthly temperatures were slightly below average overall, that is hardly illustrative of day to day conditions....
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12/16/2014 November cold may affect orchards - or not
Washington's mid-November cold snap came with well-below-normal temperatures across the central and eastern parts of the state, recalling similar events in 1955 and 1985. However, it is too early to know for certain the extent of 2014 fruit tree mortality, according to AgWeatherNet director Gerrit Hoogenboom and meteorologist Nic Loyd....read more...
12/9/2014 Has it been cold enough to kill my wheat?
By Kim Campbell, Wheat Geneticist and Breeder, USDA-ARSThe good news is that cold snaps in November and December often coincide with the best acclimated winter wheat and with soil that is still relatively warm from the fall. Winter survival depends on both the soil temperature 2 inches below the surface and the available soil moisture....
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11/5/2014 AWN October 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydFor the third time in the last four months, Prosser experienced a record warm month in October. The main difference, however, was that last month's temperatures were even warmer, relative to normal, than July and August....
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10/15/2014 Winter Outlook 2014-2015
NOAA meterologist Mike Halpert recaps the Climate Prediction Center's seasonal climate outlook for December 2014-February 2015....read more...
10/02/2014 AWN September 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydSeptember marks the seventh consecutive month of abnormal warmth in Washington. Although last month's heat was hardly record breaking, conditions were nonetheless appreciably warmer than normal for both the day-time and night-time periods....
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9/25/2014 Special Weekend Weather Outlook for Prosser
From the desk of Nic LoydLooking forward to the Great Prosser Balloon Rally? The weather will remain somewhat unsettled on Friday, as a weak trough of low pressure passes through Washington. There will be light breezes out of the south or southwest around Prosser, and skies are expected to be partly to mostly cloudy, with a slight chance of showers...
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9/10/2014 AWN Summer 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydIt's official. This summer's heat scored a clean sweep. The final numbers on this scorching season have arrived, and they are not disappointing....
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8/12/2014 AWN July 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydIf you thought that the recent weather was scorching, even by summer standards, you're right. July 2014 was Prosser's warmest month since at least 1990, and eclipsed the previous record-holder (July 1998) by more than one degree in terms of both mean and mean daily high temperatures....
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7/10/2014 AWN June 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydThe recent trend away from cool conditions early in the growing season continued in June, with above normal monthly temperatures occurring statewide. Aside from a wet period around mid month, most of June was warm and fairly dry....
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6/16/2014 GEAR UP Visits AgWeatherNet
Washington State University's AgWeatherNet (AWN) program welcomed students from Chiawana and Pasco High participating in GEAR UP to the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser June 16, 2014....read more...
6/11/2014 Yakima Valley cherry harvest may prove fruitful
Growers now forecast a crop of 20.7 million boxes, up from early May's first prediction of just under 20 million, according to the Northwest Cherry Growers of Yakima. Perhaps most importantly, a record 7.6 million boxes of those cherries could come off the trees in June....read more...
6/10/2014 Washington Water Supply Outlook Report June 1, 2014
USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServiceMay was a tale of two worlds as far as weather was concerned. West of the Cascades we experienced very wet conditions, helping to set a new Feb-July total rainfall record in Seattle, whereas Eastern Washington received well below normal precipitation at most locations, to the point of almost no rain in Leavenworth at only 0.09 inches....
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6/4/2014 AWN Spring 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydTwenty years have passed since Prosser last experienced a spring as warm as 2014. This year also marks the continuation of an exceptional reversal of recent fortunes....
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5/1/2014 AWN April 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydThis year, the weather decided to play its April Fool's trick at the end of the month. The meteorological highlight of April was the rapid warming that occurred at month's end, especially at the coast and in western areas....
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4/3/2014 AWN March 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydDespite a brief period of cold at the beginning of the month, most of March was quite mild. The high temperature on the 1st was only 19 degrees at Green Bluff, but conditions quickly warmed thereafter....
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4/2/2014 Western Governors' Association Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook
Contact Carlee Brown (cbrown@westgov.org)Strong snowpack in Rockies contrasts extreme drought in Southwest....
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3/21/2014 AWN Winter 2013/2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydIt's about time. That tiny phrase has been a common sentiment among Washingtonians in the aftermath of a February during which the state experienced a significant recovery in the mountain snowpack. After a disappointing and relatively inactive fall and early winter, Mother Nature finally began to repay the snow debt owed to the Cascades....
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2/27/2014 AWN January 2014 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydNew Year, same old story. The dry and uneventful winter conditions of late 2013 persisted into January, although Washington's temperatures were much warmer than in December....
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2/19/2014 Heavy snow improves Yakima River summer water outlook
The heavy snow that forced Snoqualmie Pass to close twice this week has almost eliminated the chances of a drought in the Mid-Columbia this summer...read more...
2/18/2014 AWN 2013 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydAlthough annual mean temperatures in Washington were ultimately only slightly above average, the 2013 weather was anything but normal. Below average temperatures in January and again from October to December served to balance out a very warm interim period...
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2/3/2014 Cherry Cold Hardiness
From the desk of Melba SalazarCold hardiness values have been updated with measurements from January 27, 2014...
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1/8/2014 AWN December 2013 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic LoydWhether the goal is baking food or making snow, all of the ingredients have to come together just right to achieve the desired final product. Unfortunately for snow lovers, last month's abundance of cold was met with a regrettable dearth of precipitation...
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2013 News Archive
12/16/2013 AWN Autumn 2013 Weather Review for Washington
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Autumn is normally a time of increasingly active and interesting weather in the Northwest. However, such was not the case in 2013. Paradoxically, most of the autumn's interesting weather happened in September...'
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11/21/2013 No strong climate pattern influence anticipated through upcoming winter season
'Winter is likely to offer little relief to the drought-stricken U.S. Southwest, and drought is likely to develop across parts of the Southeast as below-average precipitation is favored in these areas of the country, according to NOAA's annual Winter Outlook announced today...'read more...
11/13/2013 New WSU weather stations provide wheat data
'Four new weather stations will provide wheat farmers and breeders with insights into the influence of weather patterns on wheat production and yields in eastern Washington...'read more...
11/6/2013 AWN October 2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'The old adage that all good things must come to an end apparently holds true for the weather as well. October temperatures at Prosser were cooler than average, which ended an impressive streak of above normal temperatures during 14 of the preceding 15 months...'
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10/28/2013 Vincent Jones to direct tree fruit decision aid system
'Vincent Jones, professor of entomology at the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, has been named director of the tree fruit decision aid system (DAS). The DAS is an online resource that integrates the latest research-based information into a time-sensitive predictive system to help Washington growers and consultants make better orchard management decisions on a variety of issues including pest management, plant diseases and weather...'read more...
10/18/2013 Growing Degree Days April 1 through September 30, a five year review
'This page compares Growing Degree Days (GDD) from the year 2009 through 2013...'read more...
10/4/2013 AWN September 2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'The September 28 to 30 superstorm was impressive even by mid winter standards. The fact that it struck Washington before October 1st makes it truly remarkable. From heavy rain and high winds to heavy snow, the last 3 days of September featured a plethora of extreme weather...'
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9/20/2013 Valley, Basin cherry harvest yield affected by weather damage
'Mother Nature cut this year's Northwest cherry crop down to 2007 levels, with sporadic, spotty rain hitting orchards hard in the lower Yakima Valley and Columbia Basin...'read more...
9/20/2013 Columbia River Treaty 2014/2024 Review
'The U.S. Entity released its Draft Regional Recommendation for public review and comment on Friday, Sept. 20...'read more...
9/18/2013 Some Crops Migrate North with Warmer Temperatures
'North Dakota is at the leading edge of a shift in North American weather patterns, with more variable weather and rainfall; longer, hotter summers; and warmer winters. USA TODAY visited the state as the seventh stop in its look at how climate change is impacting the way Americans work, live and play...'read more...
9/10/2013 AWN Summer 2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Warm, warmest, and warmer is the best way to characterize the 2013 summer season. Dating back to the spring of 2012, it was the 6th consecutive season featuring near or above average temperatures at Prosser. However, this summer was unusually warm even by recent standards...'
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9/5/2013 NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-6
'Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment, Part 6. Climate of the Northwest U.S...'read more...
9/5/2013 Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios: The Northwest U.S.
'This document provides a brief overview of the observed changes in the climate of the Northwest United States as well as possible future climate conditions as simulated by climate models, based on two scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions. It summarizes the detailed findings presented in one of nine regional and national climate descriptions created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in support of the National Climate Assessment (NCA)...'read more...
8/5/2013 AWN July 2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Scorching temperatures on the 1st served as an early omen of things to come in July. Absent were the severe thunderstorms, large hail, heavy downpours, and weather variability that made last July an historically memorable month. Instead, heat and sunshine were the predominant weather ingredients this year...'
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7/5/2013 AWN June 2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'The trend of warmer than normal conditions in Washington continued during June. Average monthly temperatures at Prosser were more than 3 degrees higher than any of the past three June's, which further distances 2013 from the pattern in recent years of cool weather early in the growing season...'
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6/27/2013 Crazy weather spurs ant invasion, wheat frost
'May, with its promise of begonias and bumblebees, threw a curveball at eastern Washington this year - a rare heat wave, followed by a cold snap. And trouble soon followed...'read more...
6/26/2013 West sees record low temps, persistent drought
'Last year's drought covered two-thirds of the U.S. at its height, but has since receded from the East and remained severe across much of the West, according to the most recent Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook...'read more...
6/26/2013 Another unlucky turn: Rain causes more problems with cherry harvest
'Rain happens every June, and every June growers of all crops stress a little bit. But shower after shower after shower? This year is unusual and it's causing more than the normal amount of headaches...'read more...
6/5/2013 AWN Spring 2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'The weather in May was fit for Goldilocks, with a beginning that was too hot, an end that was too cool, and a middle that was just right. Despite the myriad of unique meteorological occurrences, two episodes stand out as highlights from a remarkable weather month: dry heat and cold rain...'
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5/2/2013 AWN April 2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Little did we know that the early taste of summer that sent temperatures soaring into 70s on April Fools' Day was but a cruel trick from Mother Nature. There were many sleepless nights for growers who were on frost watch for much of last month. In fact, during an impressive stretch from April 8th to 24th, Moxee recorded sub-freezing low temperatures on 15 of 17 days, including 8 consecutive frost mornings from April 11 to 18...'
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4/13/2013 Crops springing up across Mid-Columbia
'Warmer temperatures are what the Tri-Cities needs to really kick off the agricultural season. But the week is expected to start out on the cooler side, with some frost possible in the next few days, said Nic Loyd, Washington State University's AgWeatherNet meteorologist.'read more...
4/3/2013 AWN March 2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Washington's weather was like a roller coaster ride during March, as the state see-sawed between temperature extremes. Conditions were generally somewhat warmer than normal, especially during the day, although there were significant week to week temperature swings...'
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3/11/2013 AWN Winter 2012/2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'A mild start and a cool finish turned Washington's weather upside-down last month. February is a month that typically sees steadily warming temperatures thanks to an increasingly powerful sun. This year, however, February was turned on its head. Many southern and eastern areas actually observed very little trend in temperature during February, as colder air masses during the latter half of the month served to balance the solar warming...'
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2/28/2013 AWN 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Washington's climate experienced a rapid course correction from cool to warm in 2012. Last year's above average temperatures contrast sharply with the relative chill of 2011. Overall, Prosser's annual temperature was 1.8 degrees warmer than 2011, and 0.7 degrees above the 1990 to 2012 average...'
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2/20/2013 AWN January 2013 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'January was generally cool and dry due to the calm and stable conditions that persisted for much of the month. For most locations, there were only two active and warm periods during January. The first stormy period occurred around January 6th to 10th, with the second happening near the end of the month...'
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1/18/2013 WSU Irrigated Ag Information Service
'When it comes to irrigated agriculture, you have a unique set of interests. At WSU Extension, we want to provide you with the information that matches your interests, and nothing more...'read more...
1/10/2013 AWN December 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'December was an active weather month, which resulted in seasonally wet and unusually warm conditions across Washington. Temperatures were above average, especially in southeastern Washington, due to the abnormally mild conditions early in the month that resulted from a strong and mild Pacific air flow that kept conditions well mixed east of the Cascades...'
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2012 News Archive
12/21/2012 Low reservoirs, persistent drought, according to WGA, NOAA
'The drought that made 2012 one of the driest years in the past century will likely persist across much of the West into March of 2013, according to the new Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook from the Western Governors' Association (WGA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)...'read more...
12/18/2012 Invest in our agriculture - feed the country and world
'Agriculture is the backbone of our region's economy. And we're fortunate to have a major research facility here in Benton County to help with innovation and information to keep the industry moving forward in the most productive manner...'read more...
12/17/2012 Agriculture in a Changing Climate
'Agriculture not only provides our food, it is also a major component of the US economy and that of many other countries. The recent drought in the Midwest shows that weather has a major impact on agricultural production...'read more...
12/10/2012 AWN Autumn 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Mild and variably active weather was the rule in November, thanks to a lack of any cold arctic outbreaks. In fact, Moxee's average low temperature was 5.5 degrees above average, which makes it the warmest since 1999, and the second warmest since at least 1989...'
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11/2/2012 AWN October 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'October was a time not only for endings, but also for new beginnings. Autumnal variability finally triumphed over the stubborn and stable summer pattern that had controlled Washington's weather since late July...'
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10/18/2012 Elusive El Niño challenges NOAA's 2012 U.S. Winter Outlook
'The western half of the continental U.S. and central and northern Alaska could be in for a warmer-than-average winter, while most of Florida might be colder-than-normal December through February, according to NOAA's annual Winter Outlook announced today from the agency's new Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Md...'read more...
10/4/2012 Drought likely to continue, according to WGA and NOAA
'Drought is likely to persist through December across much of the West, according to the latest regional Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook from the Western Governors' Association (WGA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)...'read more...
10/2/2012 AWN September 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'A dangerous combination of tinder dry fuels and thunderstorms caused massive fires to rage last month, as hot and dry late-summer weather continued through September. Many of the blazes were sparked by a dry lightning storm that passed along the Cascade east slopes on the night of the 8th, and triggered around 90 separate fires in Yakima and Kittitas Counties...'
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9/21/2012
WSU Researchers Create More Accurate Cold Hardiness Measure for Apples, Sweet Cherries
'A more accurate way to measure cold hardiness in apple and sweet cherry buds and blooms during early spring is under development by researchers at Washington State University Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC). The three-year project, funded by the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission this year, will help Pacific Northwest growers better protect their orchards during frosts...'read more...
9/6/2012 AWN Summer 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of northwest weather were all on display during Washington's summer of 2012. Despite a good ending that featured sunny and pleasant late August weather, much of the summer weather ranged from bad to downright ugly...'
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8/23/2012 WSU tests state-of-the-art weather prediction model
'AgWeatherNet, Washington State University's automated weather station network, is testing a national, state-of-the-art weather forecasting model as a possible tool for better predicting weather systems, especially for parts of the state where tree fruit crops are important...'read more...
8/2/2012 AWN July 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Strong thunderstorms, large hail, flash floods, and high humidity made Washington's July weather seem more like summertime in the Midwest than the Northwest. An unusual weather pattern consisting of unstable southerly flow led to an abnormally stormy period during the third week of July...'
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7/31/2012 Drought in the West: An Issue Brief
'The Western Governors' Association has produced an issue brief on the severity of the drought across the Western states. It is available to the public for both general information and planning purposes...'read more...
7/25/2012 Hail Damages Crops, USDA Responds, Growers Alerted to Fire Blight Danger
'While Washington has been spared the devastating droughts and fires that farmers and ranchers in other parts of the nation are contending with, the region has experienced damaging storms. The USDA reports that U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is using his authority to flex programs in order to provide relief for those affected...'read more...
7/24/2012 USDA Responds to Weather Damage
'Farmers and ranchers throughout the nation are dealing with extreme weather situations this year. While Washington State has been spared the worst of the drought and fires suffered in other parts of the country, the region has experienced storms throughout the state...'read more...
7/16/2012 USDA Announces Streamlined Disaster Designation Process
'USDA Announces Streamlined Disaster Designation Process with Lower Emergency Loan Rates and Greater CRP Flexibility in Disaster Areas. Mix of Discretionary Tools and Process Improvements Will Help Producers Suffering Effects of Extreme Weather...'read more...
7/5/2012 AWN June 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'It was déjà vu all over again in June, as Washington's cool and wet weather was eerily reminiscent of last year's cool beginning of the growing season. June featured numerous days of stormy weather, and multiple temperature and rainfall records were set. In arid south central Washington, Station 2 established an all-time (1993 to present) record for daily rainfall on June 4th...'
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6/11/2012 AWN Spring 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Luckily for Washington growers, lightning did not strike twice in the same place this year. The near average March to May temperatures during the spring of 2012 are in sharp contrast to the record cold that was observed last spring...'
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6/08/2012 EL NIÑO/SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO) diagnostic discussion
'There is a 50% chance that El Niño conditions will develop during the second half of 2012...'read more...
5/7/2012 WSU provides precise irrigation recommendations via online program
'With the release of Irrigation Scheduler Mobile, irrigation just got easier for Washington homeowners and agricultural producers. An online tool developed by researchers at Washington State University, Irrigation Scheduler Mobile combines information about soil, crop type and weather to calculate the optimal amount of water to use...'read more...
5/3/2012 AWN April 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'It was a great relief to most Washingtonians that the weather last month was nothing like the weather in April of 2011. In stark contrast to last year, this spring has already featured an abundance of warm and sunny weather...'
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5/2/2012 WSU Scientist Pays It Forward with Agrotechnology Knowledge Sharing
'Knowledge is power, and in data-poor regions of the world, techniques that make data collection more efficient are a boon for local researchers and the stakeholders they serve. That's why WSU agrometeorologist Gerrit Hoogenboom helped lead a series of workshops in Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya to transfer decision-support system technologies to researchers in African nations...'read more...
4/4/2012 AWN March 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'In contrast to the conventional wisdom, March ended with a continuation of the stormy conditions that dominated the weather during the middle and latter part of the month. Temperatures were slightly below normal overall thanks to cloud cover and periodic intrusions of cold, upper level air from the Pacific Ocean...'
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3/15/2012 AWN Winter 2011/2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'The 2011/2012 winter featured near normal conditions and temperatures overall, although December was abnormally quiet and nearly precipitation free through Christmas. The dry weather and lack of storms, especially during the early part of the winter, contributed to below normal winter precipitation for much of Washington...'
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2/17/2012 AWN January 2012 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'January behaved much like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as unseasonably calm conditions for the first half of the month quickly transitioned into active winter weather for 7 to 10 days during the middle to latter part of January. This period of active weather began on January 14th and included heavy rain, heavy snow, ice, wind, flooding, and extreme low temperatures....'
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1/31/2012 AWN 2011 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'2011 was a remarkable year in which unusual weather events were commonplace and even expected. The year began with warmer than normal conditions and relatively little mountain snowfall during January. And although the presence of a moderate to strong La Niña during the autumn of 2010 led to the expectation of a cool and wet spring, no one could have predicted that central Washington would experience the coolest and windiest spring in recent memory.'
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1/30/2012 Cantwell Announces Emergency Support for WA Farmers After 2011 Losses
'WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that farmers in 15 Washington state counties are now eligible to apply for emergency assistance and ongoing disaster assistance programs for losses suffered as a result of extreme weather conditions during the first seven months of 2011.'read more...
1/04/2012 AWN December 2011 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'December of 2011 was one of the driest Decembers on record thanks to a persistent and anomalous ridge of high pressure that blocked strong storms from reaching the Northwest for most of the month. In fact, heavy rain in parts of western Washington during the last week of the year prevented western Washington from experiencing the driest December on record. Poor air quality and low clouds were the greatest weather concerns for much of the month through Christmas.'
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2011 News Archive
12/02/2011 AWN Autumn 2011 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Washington experienced fairly normal late autumn conditions, or at least typically variable weather, during November of 2011, although there were several periods of interesting weather during the month. '
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11/30/2011 Grapevine Cold Hardiness Tool Launches
'Just in time for winter, WSU researchers have launched a web-based Grapevine Cold Hardiness tool. Based on mathematical simulations of how grapevines respond to cold temperatures throughout the winter, this tool provides estimated low temperature thresholds for bud damage of over 20 wine and juice grape cultivars.'read more...
11/02/2011 AWN October 2011 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Mild temperatures and periodic weak weather systems were the common themes during the month of October. Although temperatures were near or slightly below average during the day, overnight low temperatures were well above average, making October the third consecutive month of warmer than normal conditions in central Washington after six months of cooler than average conditions.'
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11/02/2011 Wind from East, Snowy Weather from the West
'The crack weather observers employed by WSU Discovery noticed an odd phenomenon this morning: a biting wind blowing from the east outside our Pullman field station, while forecasters say our first snow of the year could come out of the west.'read more...
10/31/2011 19th Annual Winter Weather Forecast
by Steve Pierce'Is it a trick or a treat? Either way, La Nina is back and she may be handing out plenty of adverse weather across the Pacific Northwest again this winter.'
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10/26/2011 AgWeatherNet: Weather monitoring in Washington
Webinar presented by Gerrit Hoogenboom, Ph.D. Director of the Washington Agricultural Weather Networkread more...
10/03/2011 AWN September 2011 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Many Washington locations experienced the third warmest September on record this year, and Prosser (WSU IAREC) recorded five consecutive days with temperatures of 90 degrees or higher from September 9th to 13th.'
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09/20/2011 Washington Apple, Pear Growers Approve Largest Gift in WSU History
'Apple and pear growers throughout the state have agreed to make a historic investment of $27 million over the next eight years to support tree fruit research and extension at Washington State University. It is the largest single gift in the university's history.'read more...
09/02/2011 AWN Summer 2011 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'The middle of 2011 has featured a tale of two summers, with a very warm August following a notably cool June and July. August was seasonally hot and dry in Central Washington, as the region returned to a more typical late summer weather pattern featuring high temperatures generally in the upper 80s to lower 90s.'
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08/17/2011 Above & Beyond
by Hannelore Sudermann'In the spring of 1792, George Vancouver praised 'the delightful serenity of the weather.' A few years later, William Clark complained of a dour winter that was 'cloudy, dark and disagreeable.' How right they both were. Weather patterns determined by mountains and ocean grant the Pacific Northwest a temperate climate that also has a dark and unpredictable side.'
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Related: Watching the weather...
08/15/2011 Gov. Gregoire requests farm disaster assistance for all 39 Washington counties
'OLYMPIA - Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she has asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to determine whether to designate the entire state of Washington a farm disaster area due to weather-related productions delays and crop losses.'read more...
08/02/2011 AWN July 2011 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'Central Washington finally experienced several days of typically hot summertime weather during July, with temperatures climbing above 90°F at Prosser seven times during the month. However, a more active storm track than is normal for July worked to periodically deliver cooler Pacific air to the region and provided numerous breaks from the brief hot spells. The region remained cooler than normal, and none of our highlighted weather locations experienced 100 degree weather during July.'
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07/14/2011 AWN June 2011 Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'After an unusually cool spring, temperatures began to climb to near normal in central Washington during the month of June. The lingering impacts of La Niña that were experienced during winter and spring appeared to be fading away with the arrival of summer and ENSO neutral conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Despite the warming conditions, however, June temperatures remained slightly below average.'
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06/23/2011 AWN 2011 Spring Weather Review
From the desk of Nic Loyd'After a wild winter of weather extremes, the springtime weather in Central Washington was equally unique. Following periods of unusual warmth in January and February, a large scale pattern change occurred in late February and yielded one of the coolest spring (March to May) periods in central Washington in twenty years. The most notable aspect of the anomalous spring weather was not extreme cold spells but rather the longevity of the cool weather and the consistency of the large scale pattern.'
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04/02/2011 WSU has 135 weather stations in farming communities
'Many of the decisions that are made by growers and producers are directly or indirectly affected by either past weather conditions, current conditions, or future conditions and forecasts. Although the NWS provides a wealth of weather information, it does not always address current horticultural issues. As a result, many Land-Grant Universities have developed automated weather station networks to specifically support the local agricultural and horticultural industries...'read more...
03/01/2011 Watering the Seeds of Peace
'Washington State University's world-renowned agrometeorologist Gerrit Hoogenboom is not waiting for water to be worth its weight in gold before taking action. Hoogenboom is the leader of an international NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) team working in the former Soviet republic of Georgia to teach peace - and water conservation - through agriculture...'read more...
01/27/2011 The fruits of peace
'Because peace depends on stability, there is a NATO programme that focuses on scientific environmental cooperation, for example over water management across borders. In the southern Caucasus region, agriculture is bearing diplomatic fruit...'read more...
01/10/2011 New AgWeatherNet director explores farmers' needs
'Dr. Gerrit Hoogenboom, director of AgWeatherNet, last week talks with growers at the monthly grape fieldman's breakfast at Prosser's Barn Restaurant...'read more...
2010 News Archive
08/01/2010 Agrometeorologist from Georgia To Direct WSU AgWeatherNet
'Gerrit Hoogenboom, a professor of agrometeorology and crop modeling, is the new director of Washington State University's Agricultural Weather Network...'read more...
02/15/2010 New WSU AgWeatherNet Products and Monitoring Locations to Aid Agricultural Industry
PROSSER, Wash. - In an effort to provide valuable data to their technologically savvy clientele, the Washington State University AgWeatherNet development team has released two new weather products, as well as a third product developed by 4Quarters, Inc.'read more...