Just a short written post today as I’m on the road and due to a tooth extraction this morning, I won’t have a US video I’m afraid. Hope to have one tomorrow though!

As your well aware, things are about to get darn hot throughout the Pacific Northwest this weekend with widespread heat records expected to fall. However it’s not just the strength of the upper high but the drought conditions that will help boost surface temps well into next week.

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Spokane WA
300 PM PDT TUE JUN 23 2015

***RECORD LOW STREAMFLOWS FOR LATE JUNE***

Early melt off of our of below average snowpack in the Pacific
Northwest, combined with below average precipitation since April,
has pushed streamflows to record low levels for this time of the
year. The Inland Northwest generally sees its lowest streamflows
of the year in late September or early October. The table below
shows the latest observed streamflow and the previous record low
streamflow for June 23rd. Many more streams that are not listed
in this table are in their lowest 10th percentile of flow on
record for June 23rd. The data comes from the USGS WaterWatch
service.

Some gages may have gaps in the historical record that could include
historic low flows. Gage with an asterisk denotes a significant dam
upstream.

June 23rd       June 23rd
USGS Streamgage    New Low Flow | Old Low Flow (Yr) | Yrs of Record

NORTHERN IDAHO AND EASTERN WASHINGTON
Boundary Creek        58cfs          83cfs(1940)         87
NF Coeur d Alene R   115cfs         149cfs(1992)         64
Coeur d Alene River  576cfs         667cfs(1940)         82
St Joe River         681cfs         940cfs(1926)         96
St Maries River       67cfs          73cfs(1992)         49
Spokane River*       993cfs        1580cfs(1992)        124

EAST CASCADES
Similkameen River   1580cfs        1720cfs(1940)         86
Andrews Creek         17cfs          24cfs(1992)         47
Methow River        1350cfs        1390cfs(2001)         56
Stehekin River      1320cfs        1550cfs(2005)         93
Entiat River         352cfs         377cfs(2005)         57
Wenatchee River     1210cfs        1410cfs(2005)         91
Chiwawa River        401cfs         566cfs(1941)         41
Icicle Creek         235cfs         439cfs(2005)         56

Statistical data for historic streamflow comparison can be found on
the USGS WaterWatch website at www.waterwatch.usgs.gov

River and lake level forecasts and observations can be found on the
Advanced Hydrologic Predicition Service website at
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=otx

Water supply forecasts can be found on the Northwest River Forecast
Center website at www.nwrfc.noaa.gov

Why Does Dry Or Drought Conditions Contribute To Warmer Air Temperatures?

Dry ground can lead to enhanced upper level ridging within the atmosphere and with less ground moisture being released into the air, the sun’s energy almost completely goes into heating rather than evaporation, hence warmer temps with dry rather than wet ground.

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ECMWF 500mb heights by 48 hours or 00z Sunday.

500mb height anomaly.

NWS forecasted highs Sat & Sun

Latest graphic via the NWS Seattle.

While it’s 90s expected over the Washington coastal plain, it’s all about the triple digits further east. 110+ is likely in one or two typical hot spots.

Stormy Break Down To Southeast Heatwave

While the PNW preps for major heat, the Southeast is gearing up for a stormy break down to their heat wave.

These NWS graphics show the temperature drop coming to the Southeast between today and tomorrow and Sunday. Parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will be downright chilly by late June standards this weekend with 60s and 70s!

Cool down is courtesy of a passing of a cold front associated with low pressure up near the Great Lakes.

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