Well, Kitsap…I knew this day would come, but it has arrived way too fast!

I am leaving for South Africa on Wednesday and will not have the opportunity to run this weather blog while being on the other side of the world for 2 years. My parents have agreed to update a blog following my mission adventures, however. Because this is a “Staff Blog” and the blog about my mission is not affiliated with the Kitsap Sun, I won’t post the link here, but if you’re interested shoot me an e-mail at: forecastingkitsap@live.com

It isn’t all the way finished yet, so some of you who have already requested a link should be getting one in the next day or two.

I have had so much fun tracking the storms and heatwaves that have graced our region with all of you. Sometimes I have found myself very successful and proud of the forecasting I’ve done, and other time I have hung my head in shame But you know what? That’s the life of a weatherman. I only hope to get better from here!

My dream career is to become a Television Meteorologist. When I come back from my mission and go to school, I’d like to continue blogging about Kitsap weather while at the same time getting my broadcasting degree.

Thanks to my supportive parents, Angela Dice (web editor at the Kitsap Sun), Scott Sistek (KOMO-TV Weather Producer who has been my mentor for several years) and all of you who have followed me through this 1 1/2 year string of predictions, videos and amazing weather pictures. I’ll see you all in 2 years!!!

Sincerely,

Matthew Leach

(Copied from the AP)

SEATTLE – Longtime former KIRO-TV meteorologist Harry Wappler has died.

KIRO-TV reports that Wappler, 73, who worked at the station for 33 years, died Wednesday at Overlake Hospital.

Wappler joined the television station in 1969. He was the face of weather coverage there until he retired in 2002.

He graduated from Northwestern University and earned a graduate degree at Yale Divinity School. Wappler was also an ordained Episcopal priest.

“Harry was just a remarkably wonderful person,” said KOMO Weathercaster Steve Pool. “I don’t think that man had a mean bone in his body. He was so supportive of me when I just started. Even though we were across the street, we were kindred that we did the same thing and were both supportive of each other. He will be missed.”

After his retirement in 2002, his son Andy took over as Chief Meteorologist at KIRO until 2008.

Hello, bloggers! It’s been a while. I’ve been busily preparing for my mission to South Africa and have been sick a few days in between, so time hasn’t necessarily been as free as I would like it to be. But, I’m glad I’ve been able to find some time to fill you in on not only the short term, but long term weather, which includes SUMMER!

SHORT TERM

Ok, so what gives? Yesterday was, in my opinion, perfection. Bremerton Airport recorded a very comfortable 68 degrees under partly sunny skies  with a slight breeze. Funny thing is, 65 degrees is about the average winter high temperature in Cape Town! Yeah I’ll miss the snow, but I’m going to be doing a lot of walking and biking, so 60′s every day in the winter is OK with me

Today we’ve slammed on the breaks and introduced some drizzle and cloudy skies, but we’ll clear up a little later on and nice, kinda-warm weather will return tomorrow. The rest of the week will be showery with highs near 60 every day.

LONG TERM

Ready for summer? My favorite long term weather guru, Brett Anderson of AccuWeather, has given his model interpretation on what we should be looking out for this summer season. Here’s what I got from his outlook:

Near normal temperatures and precipitation on the West Coast in May and June, dry and warm in July, though model details are a lot less clear for the West coast during this month for whatever reason, a normally warm and dry August and a wetter, slightly cooler than normal September.

Not bad news at all! It’s looking like a pretty normal summer season is headed our way, though I’d keep my eye on July. Model details are unclear so that means we may have another shot at some more heat records falling?

Have a great weekend!

Matthew Leach

Forecasting Kitsap

Questions? Comments? E-mail me at: forecastingkitsap@live.com

P.S. Figured I might as well mention this too: sadly, I am selling my beloved 2001 Ford Mustang because I don’t want it sitting in the driveway for 2 years being unused. If you are interested in a smokin’ hot ride…let me know!

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA 403 PM PDT TUE APR 6 2010 

 …STRONG LOWLAND WINDS AND HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOW POSSIBLE THURSDAY…

ANOTHER VIGOROUS COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH WESTERN WASHINGTON ON THURSDAY BRINGING COOL AND BLUSTERY CONDITIONS TO THE AREA. GUSTY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS MAY DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA AS THE SURFACE LOW PASSES THROUGH SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA THURSDAY MORNING. THE STRONGEST WINDS MAY OCCUR THOUGH THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA AND ADMIRALTY INLET AREA AS A STRONG WESTERLY SURGE DEVELOPS THROUGH THE STRAIT. IN ADDITION…THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO BRING COOLER AIR INTO THE REGION WITH THE SNOW LEVEL LOWERING DOWN TO PASS LEVELS. HEAVY SNOW IN THE OLYMPICS AND CASCADES WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE AND STRONG ONSHORE FLOW. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS MAY RANGE FROM 1 TO 2 FEET BY FRIDAY MORNING…MAKING TRAVEL DIFFICULT ONCE AGAIN ACROSS THE CASCADES.

STAY TUNED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND UPDATES ON THIS SYSTEM.

Updated 12:00 PM

The National Weather Service has issued a statement of concern with this developing windstorm. It appears it has taken an abrupt southerly track, which could result in damaging winds to the area (up to 60 mph):

Says the Seattle NWS:  ”THE CONCERN IS THAT THE SYSTEM HAS ENOUGH EWD MOMENTUM TO FUNNEL THESE STRONGER WINDS THROUGH THE CHEHALIS GAP…REACHING INTO THE PUGET SOUND REGION AS THE BENT BACK LIFTS THROUGH. THIS SCENARIO COULD GIVE A SHORT 1-2 HOUR PERIOD OF HIGH WIND IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION.

Astoria is reporting gusts up to 40 MPH at this moment, which means winds should filter through the Chehalis Gap shortly and stir things up in the Puget Sound area over the next couple hours.

Updated: 9:30 AM

The Leach Family got back from Wyoming last night just in time for another potent spring storm that seemed to develop out of nowhere…especially the wet snowflakes that are falling outside my window right now.

So let’s address that first. We had just enough cold air trapped last night to produce some mixed rain and snow showers this morning as heavier precipitation moves through ahead of the main front. Some folks in Seabeck have reported an inch and half of snow on the ground, while others, like folks in Tracyton, are reporting rain. At my house in Silverdale, it’s snowing heavily with a trace on the grass and bark.

The mixed precip and snow will end later this morning as southerly winds kick up and the big storm arrives. Historically speaking, this could be the strongest late-season storm since March 30th, 1997 when a windy system struck the area and killed 2 people. The National Weather Service has issued a HIGH WIND WARNING for the Hood Canal area with winds gusting as high as 60 mph and a WIND ADVISORY for the greater Seattle area until 6 PM for the main Puget Sound area, meaning sustained winds of 20-30 mph with gusts between 45 and 55 mph.

The heaviest rain will occur this morning, sharing the spotlight with the snow, turning to lighter rain as the day wears on.

The forecast for the rest of the week? Mostly cloudy, chilly, and wet with mountain snow continuing. Wednesday of next week is shaping up to be warmer and drier with each model run, so we’ll see what happens with that. I think many of us wouldn’t mind a break!

Be safe and stay warm during the storm!

Matthew Leach

Forecasting Kitsap

Questions? Comments? E-mail me at: forecastingkitsap@live.com

That will be a good and bad thing in the years to come for me—good because I have grown to love the Northwest in such a unique way as well as build relationships few people growing up get to have the opportunity to do, but when I head off to Cape Town, South Africa next month I will be in for a real shocker. Talk about taking a huge leap out of my comfort zone!

Anyway, while on this trip I have been able to take a couple cool cloud photos that I find are unique to the wide open West. Take a look:

Have fun in the thunderstorms tomorrow! Watch out for the pea-sized hail, gusty winds and downpours you lucky sons of guns. I’m going out four-wheelin’ tomorrow with grandpa and the fam, so I’ll be sure to catch some more cool pictures!

Stay classy, Kitsap,

Matthew Leach

Forecasting Kitsap

Questions? Comments? Cool weather pix? E-mail me at: forecastingkitsap@live.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF: AccuWeather

Naturally one of the strongest winter (or spring now?) storms of the season strikes the Northwest, and I’m in Montana/Wyoming visiting my grandparents looking at gray skies and a soggy ground. Not great timing. But that’s OK I suppose. A little bit of snow is forecasted while I’m here

So how long will this stormy period last? A while, unfortunately. Climatology (and long range data) suggests a colder, stormier April than usual with the significantly warm episodes like last Wednesday much less frequent. El Nino springs typically end up being chilly and wet, and this will also help in last minute snow pack build up.

I know…I’m kinda disappointed too. In the mean time, get ready for unstable conditions today with some thundershowers/heavy downpours occurring throughout the afternoon. The rest of the week will feature the familiar cloudy skies and periods of heavy rain.

Hold on to your umbrellas, Kitsapers! Summer will be here before ya know it

Matthew Leach

Forecasting Kitsap

Questions? Comments? E-mail me at: forecastingkitsap@live.com

For more about our record tying weather, click here.

I typically ignore those big bank thermometers because they are typically very inaccurate, which is what you would expect from a sensor facing the sun. This reminds me of the 116 degree reading  from a Port Orchard bank this past July!

As I was driving home from work, that same bank read “72″ degrees. I rolled my eyes and said, “Yeah right! Not a chance…” and checked the Bremerton National Airport reading when I got home and it read 66 degrees! I thought for sure that bank temperature was over doing it by a mile. Guess they can be accurate…when the sun isn’t shining directly on the sensor. 66 or 72 degrees, either way it was a beautiful day today! But nothing beats 119 degrees and snow

After days of promising the return of clouds and rain (which was a promise thankfully not delivered until now), today looks to be the last really warm and sunny day for a while. Weather models are insisting clouds, showers and cooler air will infiltrate the state by tonight, meaning a return to typical March weather. Later Friday into Saturday, however, we should get a little breather, but highs will remain pretty chilly. Clouds and showers return for Spring Break.

Are you traveling during Spring Break and want to know what the conditions will be like? Let me know in the comment section or e-mail me, and I’ll fire a forecast at you!

Have a great rest of this sunny, warm day!

Matthew Leach

Forecasting Kitsap

Questions? Comments? E-mail me at: forecastingkitsap@live.com

Today is going to be a MARVELOUS day! In fact, it could be the warmest day since…last Monday!

The sun’s influence is much stronger now and can be compared to a mid-September day. High temperatures, after a very chilly start this morning, will rise sharply into the mid and upper 60s with a 70 degree reading in spots. Today is the day to finish what you weren’t able to finish last Monday because the rest of the weekend and next week looks…well, less than ideal.

Well, I’m going out for a walk with my little pup now. We’re both anxious to get out and enjoy the sunshine!

Have fun,

Matthew Leach

Forecasting Kitsap

Questions? Comments? E-mail me at: forecastingkitsap@live.com

Oh, and let’s not forget the hail! A Forecasting Kitsap reader, Steve from the Issaquah Highlands, e-mailed me this photo:

Now choose your favorite weather event from those listed above. Did you pick “sunny and temperatures in the low to mid 60s”? Because if you did, that’s what we have next on the menu as far as dramatic weather goes. And wouldn’t you know it…Saturday is the first official day of spring! How appropriate!

Naturally, the clouds and showers come back later in the weekend through most of next week, so get out and do something productive this weekend!

Matthew Leach

Forecasting Kitsap

Questions? Comments? Cool weather photos? E-mail me at: forecastingkitsap@live.com