Our interesting weather will continue this weekend with possibly some rain and cooler temps coming mid-week. The Pacific High now extends from SE Alaska to almost Hawaii. It remains weak (1027MB) and in its oblong configuration will continue to be pushed around by a series of weak low-pressure systems coming across the Pacific. Today’s surface analysis chart shows a weak thermally-induced low-pressure system with a trough that extends from SE Alaska to the California/Mexican border. This will produce a weak flow of offshore winds through Sunday afternoon. In addition to producing some fairly warm temps, this will also have the effect of drawing more smoke and haze from BC and Eastern WA into the Salish Sea.
There are two satellite pics today. One which shows the North Pacific and one that is just over the Salish Sea. The one showing the North Pacific is interesting because it shows the weak (1010-1013MB), surface low-pressure system off the Oregon coast as well as the cut-off, upper-level low-pressure system seen on the 500MB chart. The sat pic over the Salish Sea shows the weak system that moved over us this morning and brought a trace of rain to the area. Clearing is now occurring over the Salish Sea and that will allow temps to rise the rest of the day and especially this weekend. The downside will be diminishing air quality which we are already seeing as the AQI numbers for Seattle are already just under 100.
For wind this Saturday, the pressure gradient will ease however with the higher pressure inland over Southern BC this will produce 10-20knts of northerly over the central Sound and a lighter breeze over the rest of the Salish Sea. Sunday onshore breeze will start to fill down the Strait of JdF bringing westerly winds of 15-25 knots. This breeze will stay in the Straits.
As we get closer to September, the tropics will also be getting more interesting as hurricane activity seems to be increasing in the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern Pacific.
Enjoy the weekend!
Bruce has raced and cruised the Pacific Northwest his entire life. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Washington in Biological Oceanography and learned meteorology “to keep from getting kicked around on the race course.” Bruce spent nearly two decades as Associate Publisher for Northwest Yachting Magazine, retiring in mid-2015, and was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Northwest Marine Trade Association in 2014. (photo of Bruce driving Playstation is a bit dated, but cool)