Video NPH: April-July-Sept all at the same time

[windfind]

Hi Gang,

The video below for today July 10 shows what a major North Pacific High looks like on a typical April and July and September day.

In April the NPH is often huge and is often interacting with storm systems in the Gulf of Alaska and along the coast of the Pacific Northwest. This tends to kill the Gorge winds and enhance the Southern California and Bay Area winds. As you can see in the video such will be the case in the corridor today in July.

In July wintry storm are a memory and the NPH anchors west of the Gorge keeping the winds strong and the skies blue. In reality this July day brings showers, clouds and weak winds. Meanwhile in July the NW ocean winds are weakening in for Southern California and the Bay Area as fog and milder thermal winds rule. In reality NW winds will rip the Bay Area to Southern California coast today.

In September the North Pacific High is shrinking fast and has departed the Gorge is heading to the SW while being buffeted by passing tropical storms and hurricanes way to the south. In reality today the NPH is spring time huge but its trade winds are encountering a parade of tropical storms.

After getting paid to forecast the North Pacific High 3X daily for 25 years you get a sense of what is within the normal range of variation. It is increasingly common to see patterns that are not within that range. Today is such an example.

And remember last weeks unending powerful winds? The most remarkable factor behind those winds was the deep marine layer compacted into every nook and cranny of the mountains and into the western corridor. There was a time that that this pressure gradient enhancing factor was a frequent happening as were dawn patrol winds. Now it is a rarity. Everywhere along the pacific coast the marine layer clouds and the NPH is changing.

Mike Godsey
iwindsurf.com/ikitesurf.com
Weatheflow.com

[cgoudie1]

Except, of course that, Doug's rocked yesterday afternoon (the 10th)!
Not a howler, but sweet 4.2 for me most of the afternoon under pretty sunny skies.

The Gorge! Windy even when it's not ;*)

-Craig

[windfind]

Hi Craig,

Actually I was talking about why, on a whole pacific ocean scale, the Gorge weather had been cloudy with weak wind the last several days and why at 8AM that morning it was showery with weak winds in the corridor.

I was not trying to do a forecast for specific sites especially those outside of the corridor.

When you are talking forest you don't worry about trees.

Mike

[cgoudie1]

Hey Mike,

My apologies for any offense, none was intended. Weather is a tricky and
sometimes chaotic business, If I ever become 1/2 the guru you are I'll be
twice the forecaster I am. ;*)

Plus the Gorge is a magical place, and sometimes it blows even when it
shouldn't, one of the reasons I love it up here.

See ya on the water,

-Craig