Went to see Sean Casey’s new IMAX film Tornado Alley today. Something I’ve been looking forward to ever since the season ending of Storm Chasers. Was kind of cool because Dr Kosiba was there too (http://www.cswr.org/contents/staff-Karen.php). We chatted for a little bit before we had to get out of the DOW, as others were waiting in line.

The movie was worth the admission, but I do have to say that IMAX films are not so good when the camera is bouncing around. I now understand why some people get nauseous in these theaters. While I enjoyed the movie, I do prefer the HD TV version (of the show) better because of the picture quality. Although, some of the images were pretty neat to see at such scale. It gave you the feeling and grandeur of the size.

In all, it was nice to see what Sean put together. I do hope he provides an extended version if/when it gets released to DVD. If you’re an extreme weather nut, you’ll enjoy it.

As for the weather here, what can I tell you. A fairly strong onshore flow is still causing all the clouds and occasional showers. At least there are sun breaks. Don’t count on much of a change for the next few days though. In fact the clouds could increase a bit as a deeper marine layer settles in. Same story, different day. Still waiting for summer.

Only my way home from work I noticed some striking clouds in the sky. These are called altocumulus lenticular clouds.

According to pilotsfriend.com (http://www.pilotfriend.com/av_weather/meteo/clouds.htm), “This occurs due to a wave effect in the air flow. This wave effect normally develops as a result of a mountain range on windy days. The wave effect forces air to rise above the condensation level and hence allows cloud to form. Due to the rise and fall effect (peaks and troughs), the cloud may only exist in areas of peaks and therefore appear patchy. ”

While these normally happen on the lee side of a large mountain range, the coast range is the only range to the west. The coast range is not large at all. So, what could cause such a phenomenon? Perhaps with the air in front of an approaching system off the coast, moving at a relatively fast speed, is being “folded” as it slows down by friction over the not so smooth land mass. That faster air will eventually mix down to the ground later on to provide a bit of breezy conditions. We’ll see what happens.

In the meantime enjoy the sun. The rain returns again for the weekend.

When light enters through a vertical side face of such an ice crystal and leaves from the bottom face, it refracts, or bends, in the same way that light passes through a prism. If a cirrus’s crystals are aligned just right, the whole cloud lights up in a spectrum of colors.”

So no, it wasn’t a UFO or some anomaly.  It’s a real, explainable phenomenon.  Courtesy of mother nature and the unique chemical/physical makeup of earths atmosphere.

We could only wish. Unfortunately the line you see in the radar shot is pretty much stationary as a strong mid level onshore flow develops. Still a chance in the southern willamette valley, but not us in Portland. Temps will begin cooling off overnight while moist cooler air moves in. Yep, back to early spring for a few days this week.

It’s about time. Only took a full day and a half of clouds and dreariness to get here. Don’t get used to it though, an upper level trough is going to move into the eastern pacific. You know what that means. Cool and showery weather.

Storms were in the forecast, but I’ll settle for a pretty sunset. Notice the “lines” perpendicular to the clouds? Those are called crepuscular rays. They’re formed by the blocking of visible light rays by clouds far away towards the horizon.

“…THE CURRENT UPPER LOW JUST OFF THE WA COAST AT 09Z WILL SWING NE…CROSSING THE BC BORDER AROUND 18Z. THE SHARP CIRCULATION AROUND THE LOW CREATED UPLIFT WITH DIFFLUENT FLOW ALOFT OVERNIGHT…FOR BANDS OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS ACROSS NORTHERN ZONES…”

What this means is that a low off the coast spun a piece of energy across northern Oregon.  The energy provided the lifting mechanism, as well, the diffluent flow triggered the band of thunderstorms that ran through the metro area around midnight.

Quite a surprise actually. The only indication yesterday that would have suggested T-storms were the altocumulus castellanus.  However, I still wouldn’t have expected what we got last night.  But, I’m not disappointed at all.

Yep, even at 70* it can be really uncomfortable.  Here’s a current breakdown outside (yes, I just was out there walking back from lunch).  Humidity doesn’t seem to impressive at 68%.  But with a dewpoint at basically 60* (the temperature where if the air cooled enough, you’d have moisture in the form of fog) it’s kinda humid.  In fact, it makes it feel 4* warmer than it actually is.

Yeah, I know… we’re wusses here on the west coast.  But hey, at least WE don’t have to live like this ALL summer like you easterners. LOL

So I decided to check out the satellite to see what patterns are emerging. If you look at the satellite animation from the NWS site, you’ll see the mid-upper flow over the Southern and Central Cascades is southerly. However, once that flow gets north to the border of Washington and Oregon you’ll see it diverge (see arrows).  That’s an interesting feature, which corresponds to the cloud observation outside.  If any conditions were to present itself for Thunderstorm formation, this would be a great start.  Have to keep a close eye on this today, however I don’t think much is going to be likely.  Dewpoint is at 54* right now, so not sure there’s going to be much to fuel anything west of the Cascades.  Watch out over the mountains later though.  Could see some good storms.