Persistent low pressure to fill Northwest with gloom
Think spring sunshine has finally taken hold in the Northwest? Think again. A deep, cold and unseasonably potent low-pressure system is forecast to drop south and east from northern British Columbia and position itself off the coast of northwestern Washington this week.
Heat benefits plants, Stampede crowds, sales of Natty Boh
Now that your weatherperson has single-handedly derailed the ill-advised Rose Street reconfiguration plan with his hard-hitting commentary in last week’s column, he has been urged by many to tackle other thorny and long-unresolved issues that continue to pester the world: Concerns such as the whereabouts of Jimmy Hoffa, long-standing animosities in the Middle East and the stunning inability of home plate umpires to call balls and strikes in any consistent manner — the last of which is possibly the most annoying of all.
Rainy spell might supplant heat
It was a perfect weekend in the Walla Walla Valley for just about any activity — and there were certainly many of them from which to choose: Spring Release, the season opener of two farmers markets, golf or tennis. Or a quiet stroll down Rose Street in the dappled shade provided by the stately sycamores that line that thoroughfare, several of which are scheduled to be reduced to sawdust if the current nonsensical ‘realignment’ plan for the street comes to fruition.
Friday's 80 gives foretaste of high pressure to come
The Walla Walla Valley was treated to a foretaste of summer this past week as afternoon high temperatures on Friday touched the 80-degree mark. A general rejoicing could be heard throughout the land, and winter-weary citizens — both young and old — welcomed the warmth like a long-lost friend, which indeed it was.
Warmer weather on the way? Depends on whom you ask
Don’t let the door hit you, April bluster.
Feast goes on despite rain, chill
Proving once again the old adage “even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then,” your slightly vision-impaired forecaster appears to have stumbled upon a good-sized nut with his prediction/warning last week of a possible freeze event.
Noteworthy April weather not unusual
The normally staid Walla Walla Valley experienced a couple of wild weather days this past week. April kicked up its heels with a springtime smorgasbord that featured a severe thunderstorm on Thursday evening and heavy rain early Sunday morning, followed by a strong wind event during the day.
Warmer early-season temps due to spring back to normal
Your wandering weatherperson has returned from his pilgrimage to the East a few pounds heavier than he departed, with a renewed appreciation of his Maryland roots — particularly in the culinary realm. If there is anything better in this world than crab cakes and a hot corned beef sandwich on rye (with mustard, of course), your forecaster has yet to encounter them.
Spring still sits on the bench; to get nod soon
Your peripatetic weatherperson has hit the road in search of spring 2013, which has been missing in action over the past several days in southeastern Washington as well as many other parts of our great land.
Weather and politics can drive us buggy
A near-perfect weekend of mostly fair skies and mild temperatures segued into a wetter new week as increasing cloudiness and intermittent showers associated with a warm front moved through eastern Washington on Monday.
Cold stretch brings wine's just dessert
Last week's frigid weather was more in keeping with early January normals, which feature high temperatures of around 37 and lows about 10 degrees less -- ideal for one final harvest of 2012's grape bounty.
Rerun of sun should brighten Turkey Day
During a recent hospital stay, when his attention was not diverted by ancient reruns of “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza” and “I Love Lucy” or his perception clouded by a hydrocodone-induced haze, your weatherperson noticed the small portion of the sky visible to him through a window. Not once did it vary even one iota in its leaden appearance over the course of several days.
Summer gives wine grapes last kiss before fall
Delightful late-summer weather was the rule last week in the Walla Walla Valley, and early morning temperatures on Friday and Saturday spoke loudly of the change of seasons that is fast approaching on the Sept. 22 equinox.
Hints of fall ahead for people, grapes
For those of you keeping score, your slightly overconfident meteorologist had a bit of a mixed bag last week in the couple of swings he took on a supposed imminent and rather dramatic change in our hot and dry August weather.
Valley weather umps make difficult calls
Now that our local weather has settled into the more routine summer pattern of sunny, hot days, clear, mild nights and the generally southwesterly flow that can bring the occasional higher-terrain thundershower, let’s pause to look at models weather forecasters use to make short and longer-term outlooks. It might help you understand the unexpected ripples that visit us.
THE WEATHERVINE - Valley weather umps make difficult calls
Now that our local weather has settled into the more routine summer pattern of sunny, hot days, clear, mild nights and the generally southwesterly flow that can bring the occasional higher-terrain thundershower, let's pause to look at models weather forec
Napa raisins and English syrah, oh my!
The climate summary for June 2012 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration details an historically warm month for the United States. That fact will come as no great surprise to those sweltering Midwesterners and Easterners who’ve seen more than 4,500 daily high temperature records crushed during the course of that miserable 30-day period.
THE WEATHERVINE - Napa raisins and English syrah, oh my!
The climate summary for June 2012 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration details an historically warm month for the United States. That fact will come as no great surprise to those sweltering Midwesterners and Easterners who've seen more
Vines are people, too – in some ways
Grapevines, like many other plants and most people, love heat — to a point. In the early summer, when daily temperatures top out in the upper 80s and low 90s, their rapid progress is palpable. One might even swear it is actually possible to see their bright-green shoots lengthening in the vineyard during what is known as the “grand” period of vine growth.
THE WEATHERVINE - Vines are people, too — in some ways
Grapevines, like many other plants and most people, love heat — to a point.In the early summer, when daily temperatures top out in the upper 80s and low 90s, their rapid progress is palpable. One might even swear it is actually possible to see their brigh
THE WEATHERVINE - Weather change will give grapevine fungus the boot
The June weather review the state climatologist recently issued confirmed a few facts most of us who pay even the slightest attention to such matters already knew: Washington experienced one of its coolest and wettest Junes on record.
THE WEATHERVINE - Wicked hail dings vines in June storm
As if on cue to prove a point made here recently, two Saturdays ago Walla Walla's notoriously changeable weather provided a wildly unforgettable display. Pulling a stunning — but fortunately short-lived surprise — a hailstorm arose out of a perfectly sunn
