Becoming an AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
1y ago
Becoming an AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist is no easy hurdle. It requires prior academic success, solid testing and proven usefulness in the field. The first, daunting task in passing the test is simply qualifying to take it. A Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology is required, including specific core weather classes, found on an official collegiate transcript during the application process. A degree in meteorology requires three semesters of calculus, a semester of differential equations, vector calculus and linear algebra, to name a few math classes, altogether about a class away from a m ..read more
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Extreme Winter Weather for Puget Sound 2019-2020?
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
1y ago
Extreme winter weather for Puget Sound 2019-2020: should we anticipate a lot of snow again? Multiple 2019-2020 regional forecasts are available and there is little agreement. Experts Say? NOAA says warmer on average temperatures should be expected throughout the winter everywhere but the upper Midwest and expects precipitation in Washington to be typical. Similarly, Accuweather is calling for a milder winter for western Washington, noting 20-40% less snowfall on average for the Pacific Northwest. The Farmer’s Almanac is telling us to prepare for cold temperatures and typical precipitation. Its ..read more
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Meteorologists and Environmental Laws
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
1y ago
Forensic meteorologists work with attorneys on litigation issues when weather events have an impact on some of the Washington State environmental laws. In particular we are involved with issues in the construction industry, land use, and with stormwater issues. Attorneys often seek expert testimony from experts like a Certified Consulting Meteorologist regarding the weather at the time of an event. Construction projects depend on resiliency to landslides. Slopes are particularly vulnerable to erosion, which can cause dangerous environmental conditions and degradation. Wetlands and aquifer rec ..read more
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Seattle Weather – Snow
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
1y ago
Why is Seattle impacted by any snow Seattle Weather – Snow? Snowstorms in Seattle are a big deal. Why? Lots of hills and the lack of snow removal equipment. Seattle does not get that often thus minimal snow removal equipment.  So an inch of wet snow that forms to ice on steep hills are as difficult to drive in than major snow storms   in the upper Midwest and northern East Coast.  Seattle has a reputation for being rainy but is not misleading as many times Seattle is cloudy with light drizzle. Much of the country, especially out east, regularly sees more. The rainiest place ..read more
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Extended Weather Forecasts
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
1y ago
Extended Weather Forecasts with a focus on the West Coast mountain winter weather outlook 2018-2019 – how will this season’s slopes shape up? While some places may see more snow than others, all of the Pacific Northwest on average will see seasonally dry and warm weather. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is projecting warmer temperatures for California and Oregon than Washington, although the Green Tree State is also expected to be a little warmer than average. Drier weather will be seen across the Pacific Northwest, especially east of the West Cascades. Slightly more precipitation tha ..read more
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West Coast Wildfires and the Monsoon
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
1y ago
Does the southwestern monsoon cause West Coast Wildfires? Monsoons are best known for bringing monsoonal rains but the term specifically refers to a change in a wind pattern, which may enable the presence of inclement weather. A wet monsoon may be a blessing if fighting flames. When winds sourced from the oceans moisten the hot, dry, continental, southwestern air, the atmosphere attempts to resolve the difference by redistributing the air, which can lead to vertical transport and perhaps copious condensation, generating potentially heavy rains. Around the areas that do receive rain, it’s typic ..read more
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Becoming an AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
4y ago
Becoming an AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist is no easy hurdle. It requires prior academic success, solid testing and proven usefulness in the field. The first, daunting task in passing the test is simply qualifying to take it. A Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology is required, including specific core weather classes, found on an official collegiate transcript during the application process. A degree in meteorology requires three semesters of calculus, a semester of differential equations, vector calculus and linear algebra, to name a few math classes, altogether about a class away from ..read more
Visit website
Extreme Winter Weather for Puget Sound 2019-2020?
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
4y ago
Extreme winter weather for Puget Sound 2019-2020: should we anticipate a lot of snow again? Multiple 2019-2020 regional forecasts are available and there is little agreement. Experts Say? NOAA says warmer on average temperatures should be expected throughout the winter everywhere but the upper Midwest and expects precipitation in Washington to be typical. Similarly, Accuweather is calling for a milder winter for western Washington, noting 20-40% less snowfall on average for the Pacific Northwest. The Farmer’s Almanac is telling us to prepare for cold temperatures and typical precipit ..read more
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Growing Degree Days
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
4y ago
The graph below is growing degree days (GDD) for the Walla Walla Airport and Pasco Airport. Walla Walla on the average is warmer than Pasco. The graph below is produced with data from the National Weather Service. The graph below compares GDD for Benton East which represents the Red Mt. AVA. The other data is from Walla Walla Community College which represents the Walla Walla AVA. Red Mt. AVA tends to be warmer than the Walla Walla AVA. This data is from Washington State University The graph below is teh AVA GDD for the major AVA’s in Washington The post Growing Degree Days appea ..read more
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Stormwater Testing: Timing the Rain Events
West Coast Weather
by Michael Fagin
4y ago
Stormwater testing: timing the rain events is the solution for successful missions vs. expensive, wasted opportunities. Big trouble with simply looking at the latest automated forecast is that precipitation timings and amounts are the least accurate of forecast models. Better estimates are made, given a longer-term look at how models have progressed by a seasoned professional with insider knowledge regarding the weaknesses and strengths of forecasting tools. State quotas demand timely stormwater testing but missed events yield costly personnel billing and the usage of equipment that can’t ..read more
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