Weather with Cliff Mass

Mass: Half-and-half weekend, then not so pretty next week

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:29:45 +0000

If you liked the light rain falling this morning, you'll get a bit more on Saturday, and possibly Sunday morning, says Cliff Mass, professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.

On the other hand, if you're looking for some good outdoor times, Mass says we should dry out Sunday afternoon.

Mass: Mother Nature to spoil outdoor Mother's Day plans

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:24:17 +0000

All you need is a quick look out the window to see a gorgeous day in store for Friday, with none of those morning clouds we've been seeing all week.

The day is the last “almost perfectly sunny and warm” day we’ll see this weekend, says Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Washington.

Mass: Welcome to a weekend that will get better and better!

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:31:19 +0000

"We have an extraordinary weekend ahead," says KPLU's weather expert Cliff Mass. "And In fact, it's probably not going to rain until at least next weekend as well."

Friday will warm up to lower 70s with “no precipitation anywhere,” says Mass, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Washington. “And it just cranks up over the weekend."

Coming soon to Puget Sound area: 'Extraordinarily warm period'

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:15:17 +0000

Sick of the dreary weather? Fear not—a big change is coming, says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass.

“The cold and rain is going to turn into warmth and sun pretty soon,” says Mass, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Washington.

Cliff Mass investigates landslides, finds possible culprit

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:33:58 +0000

There's more rain in the forecast tonight and this weekend -- with some real downpours expected Saturday in the fabled "convergence zone" of south Everett.

The rain should arrive after 4pm today, for much of the Puget Sound region, says Cliff Mass, professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington (and KPLU's weekly weather expert).

Could that mean more landslides, like the ones that have derailed trains south of Everett, or pulled away a home on Whidbey Island?

Cliff Mass: How video game graphics could help save lives

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:45:57 +0000

What does a weather guy know about video games?

Cliff Mass has watched his kids play them plenty, and they gave him an idea that could help save lives.

“Some of these games have superb graphics. They have weather in them, even—storms and windstorms, and rain, and damage from storms,” says Mass, a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.

Those sophisticated graphics gave him a thought: What if we used them to simulate exactly what the forecast is predicting?

Weekend forecast: Warm April showers to melt snowpack

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:12:37 +0000

Those showers that blew in on Thursday will keep blowing our way through Sunday, says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass, a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.

“And that’s a big change,” he says. “The first real rain that we’ve had in a long time happened last night (Thursday), where a lot of people got about a half an inch. But it’s not the end."

Glorious weekend, then drier-than-normal spring

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:05:33 +0000

First, the good news: enjoy this weekend, which is shaping up to be wonderfully mild and full of sunshine with highs in the 60s across Western Washington.

After that, be ready for plenty of twists and turns. April is the month of frequent weather changes, says Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington.

The two hallmarks of April:

Snow or no snow, Northwest spring began months ago

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:13:12 +0000

Snow on the third day of spring has some people wondering: what gives?

Well, actually, spring here began a long time ago, says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass.

“The problem we have here in the Northwest is spring lasts too long,” says Mass, professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.

Thank the rain shadow, get ready for Gore-Tex weekend

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:12:51 +0000

Expect more of what we've been seeing all week — "clouds, showers, breaks," says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Washington.

"Wear Gore-Tex or some raincoat," says Mass, adding, "There will be plenty of breaks."

The temperatures will remain mild until Saturday evening when colder air will head into the region. The new front will bring some welcome snow to Cascade ski areas, says Mass.

"The freezing level will drop from 4,000 to 5,000 feet, to 1,000 – 1,500 feet," he says. "They can easily get 2 to 6 inches."

Fog burning off leaves classic "Northwest mild"

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:11:49 +0000

Fog burns off, leaving sunshine in its wake, this weekend. That's the forecast for Friday and Saturday, says Cliff Mass, professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Washington and KPLU's weather expert.

Fires, on the other hand, leave us with smoke, and in this week's weather conversation, Mass explains how that can affect the flavor of wine. (Click the "listen" button above, and check-out Mass' blog.)

Winter is over, declares Cliff Mass

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:16:59 +0000

Winter is over, if you consider the threat of snow in the cities of Puget Sound a marker of winter, says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass, a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.

Seattle's boring winter gets zesty this weekend

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:01:08 +0000

It's nothing like the major storms across the midwest and eastern U.S., but western Washington is tasting a little bit of winter, finally.

"After one of the most boring winters that I can ever remember, we are going to be getting heavy rain, good snow. We'll be getting some winds gusting up to 30 to 50 miles per hour, and big waves along the coast," says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass, a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.

Clouds come and go this weekend, with Sunday looking nicer

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:12:22 +0000

Morning clouds should give way to afternoon sunshine Friday in many Puget Sound neighborhoods. But some unpleasant weather is headed our way for Saturday, especially in the Seattle-to-Everett area.

That's the immediate forecast from KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass, a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.

Your smartphone could turn you into a weather station

Keith Seinfeld — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:28:50 +0000

[Feb. 11th Update -- Audio problem fixed]

While the Northeast struggles with a massive snowstorm, the same forces are keeping it mild on the West Coast, says KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass, a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.

What are those forces? High pressure and low pressure. Okay, it's more complicated than that, but there is a high pressure "ridge" over the west, which forces a "trough" toward the east.