Are there thunderstorms in washington state

This, according to local meteorologist Cliff Mass, is because "thunderstorms need a large change of temperature with large amounts of water vapor near the surface.

Our low-level air comes off the relatively cool Pacific Ocean, which, ironically, cannot put much moisture into the air because the temperatures are so cool and the amount of water vapor that air can hold depends on temperature. This extraordinary storm was thanks in part to the reappearance of "the blob," a wave of warm water that formed off the West Coast in and This new blob, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , stretches from Alaska to California, and is on track to be as strong as the previous blob.

This could be a serious problem—and not just for dogs and people scared of thunder. The last time the blob showed up around here, it decimated sea life, including salmon runs, as marine temperatures peaked at nearly seven degrees Fahrenheit above average. No one knows how long the blob will stick around this time.

According to NOAA, it could dissipate nearly as quickly as it formed. In the meantime, will we see a repeat of the weekend's fireworks? Though the storm caused no significant or widespread damage, the event was big news for residents who witnessed it. Loud rumbles and spectacular lightning bolts get far more notice in Spokane than in Chicago or Miami. Where the Windy City gets an average of 39 thunderstorms each year, our Lilac City gets On multiple days this May, severe thunderstorms struck from Tennessee to Texas and tornadoes swept parts of Oklahoma and Colorado.

In comparison, shorted-lived, feeble-sounding thunder rumbled over the Inland Northwest on May 4. In the central and eastern U. A key ingredient missing here is humidity, or plenty of water vapor in the low levels of the atmosphere.

Unlike breezes from the warm Gulf of Mexico, air blowing off the chilly Pacific waters is cool. A gust of 60 mph was recorded around 6 a. Downed trees and scattered power outages were reported throughout the region through the night and more are expected Tuesday. A line of heavy rain along the cold front will bring strong west winds behind it down the Strait of Juan de Fuca for the next hour. Winds 55 to 60 mph possible over the open water.

The risk of landslides is elevated due to soaked earth from the last rounds of heavy rain, the current expected rain and the high winds that knock down or loosen the roots of the trees and make the land unstable, the weather service said. On Wednesday, we are likely to see some lingering showers and and breezy conditions, but it should overall be a much clearer day, Butwin said.

We were busy during the overnight. A lot going on today.