Extraordinary Radar Image

Take a look at a recent image from the Langley Hill radar.   A band of heavy precipitation, oriented SW to NW, is now reaching the NW part of the State and is moving our way.

 In the old days, before the coastal radar we would only seen a bit of this intense band.  Here is the current Camano Island radar image:

 And here is the Portland radar.

The difference was even more dramatic a few hours ago.  The new radar is also showing us the storm total precipitation on the windward side of the Olympics, something we didn't have before.  Here it is! 1.5 to 2 inches already!

To show you have valuable a radar is, here is the latest high-resolution visible satellite imagery.  Hard to tell what is going on offshore.

We have just passed the one-year anniversary of the installation of this radar, the acquisition of which was greatly aided by sustained efforts of Senator Maria Cantwell and her staff.

You may have noticed how warm and humid the air is.   We are now in a subtropical current of warm air from the southwest.   Here are the temperatures at the UW...well into the 60s even with lots of clouds.

Anyway, the rain is coming..it will be a wet afternoon here in Seattle.