Match the strongest reported wind gusts with the western Washington location from the 1962 Columbus Day Storm. The answers will appear near the bottom of the Skywarn (TM) Spotter News.

Are you ready for fall and winter? The days are getting shorter, nights longer and temperatures cooling. Fall has arrived, winter is coming, and our storm season is upon us.

October marks the start of our wind storm season and usually goes through early March. Our flood season begins in November and runs through February. Mid November is when our lowland snow season begins and extends into early March. All of these events are infrequent, but most occur during the winter season.

Last winter was very active beginning with a major flood event in early November followed by many wind storms and lowland snow events. So what is ahead? It looks like we are headed into a La Nina period. To review, La Nina is when eastern and central Pacific Ocean tropical waters (not the waters off our coast) are cooler than normal – the opposite of El Nino or warmer tropical waters than normal. Those cooler tropical sea-surface temperatures adjust tropical weather patterns and in turn, adjust how the jetstream and storm track behaves at our latitude.

The storm track usually has a variable position either directly into the Pacific NW or north into Alaska and south into our region. Remember the winter of 1998-99? That was our last significant La Nina winter season, a year that produced above average precipitation and a heavy mountain snow pack. Mt Baker recorded a new world record 1140 inches of snowfall. It also included a number of minor flood events, lowland snow events and a few minor wind events.

With La Nina conditions anticipated for this winter season, what is expected for our region? The latest winter season outlook from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center (web site at www.cpc.noaa.gov/index.html. ) is for increased odds on wetter than normal conditions particularly this fall, and equal chances of temperatures below, near or above normal. It is anticipated that the mountain snow pack will be above normal. For the latest winter season weather outlook, check our web site at www.wrh.noaa.gov/seattle. or the above CPC website.

Even though ‘neutral’ or non-El Nino or La Nina winter seasons like last year, usually produce active weather, La Nina winters also tend to produce active seasons, just not usually as active as neutral winters. So, it is anticipated this coming winter might be one we all need to be prepared for in advance.

As a weather spotter, now is the time to prepare your home and business, and brush up on your winter weather reporting criteria. Ensure your rain gauge is clean, and away from obstructions like trees and structures, and ready to go. Ensure your anemometer is in good operating order. If you do not have an anemometer, have your Beaufort scale handy. In addition, ensure your snow boards and marking flags are ready to be placed in an unobstructed location, usually near your rain gauge. When prepared, you’ll be ready to report any heavy rainfall amounts, strong winds and snow amounts. To top it off, fall is our secondary maximum for thunderstorms during the year.

While you are preparing, do you have your minimum three-day preparedness kit for each person ready in case you need to evacuate for a flood event, or the power goes out for an extended period of time? In the wake of recent major disasters around the world the last few years, having a mobile preparedness kit is essential for each family member and business employee, and you may need those supplies for far more than just three days. For complete information about preparedness kits and what to have in them, refer to redcross.org or emd.wa.gov, or pick up a preparedness kit brochure at your local Red Cross chapter or emergency management office. Have a safe winter and we look forward to your weather spotter reports this season.

Spotter Reports Wanted - Some spotters feel their reports may not be important or needed. Oh, contraire!! If you are experiencing strong winds, accumulating snow, or any other spotter report criteria, contact us! These event-driven reports help support warning messages in effect, are reported by the press, help emergency management officials better determine where to deploy their limited resources, encourage people to take action to stay out of harm's way, and verify our warnings. So, don't be shy to contact us when needed !!