All weather in one photo

So here is an illustration of why our weather is to difficult to predict. Everything is going on in this photo - rain, sun, wind, clear skies, cloudy skies, probably no snow but we don't seem to do that anymore (waiting for the skies to open now that I've said that in writing...

--Diane Hettrick

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Layers of land and cloud

 

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

This photo shows clearly the different layers of land and cloud as most photos of the Olympics do not.

In the foreground are the hills of Kitsap county and the ferry headed toward Kingston.

Behind the hills, a layer of clouds collect in Hood Canal. After that you see the jagged foothills of the Olympics, and then the high peaks of the Olympic Mountains.

One year a mid-western friend came to visit and I was touring him around. We were standing on a dock on the Seattle waterfront and talking. He had his back to the water.

I looked over his shoulder and saw an absolutely magnificent view of the jagged Olympics, covered with snow and not a cloud in sight, apparently dropping into the waters of Elliott Bay. 

I was afraid that if I didn't turn him around right then, the clouds would roll in and the mountains would be gone.

He was a talker and was on a roll. I was so stunned at a view I had never seen before, that I just pointed and made inarticulate noises.

He turned around and said "Good Lord! Are those the Cascades?"

No, I said "Those are The Olympics and they are only in Washington state."

That's one way to impress out of town guests.

--Diane Hettrick

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Sky before the rain

 

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

It was a lovely sunny day after the morning fog cleared and before the rain came in. You take the good stuff when you get it!

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WeatherWatcher: Chill in the air arrives, last week's highlights

 

Dramatic clouds during an active Puget Sound Convergence Zone Sunday October 12, 2025
Photo by Carl Dinse

The next couple of days might be sunny and dry, but it's going to really give us that fall crisp feeling. We are currently experiencing a weather pattern, that if it had occurred in the middle of winter would have produced a small snow event and a deep freeze. Instead of arctic air, I'd call this 'continental air' that is rushing in overnight into Monday morning.

Our fresh continental air that is moving in will have low dew points, bringing relative humidity levels lower than we're used to. This air will also bring sunny skies and clear nights. 

Monday through Wednesday will be brilliantly sunny, with temperatures reaching the upper 50's to low 60's, and low temperatures down to the mid 30's to lower 40s. Frost is possible in places during overnight hours, and this might be a good time to unhook any garden hoses to prevent potential freezing.

Our next round of clouds and rain showers starts to move in Thursday, moderating low temperatures to the mid 40's for the remainder of our week. High temperatures are expected to remain near 60°F. As we move through Friday and next weekend you can expect more rounds of clouds and rain to move through the area.

Last week's highlights:

• High temperature: 73.8°F (Tuesday)
• Low temperature: 44.4°F (Monday morning)
• Rainiest day: 0.03 inches (Thursday)
• Average temperature: 54.4°F (1°F above normal)

Daily high and low temperatures compared to normal at the (North Ridge) Echo Lake Weather Station

If it weren't for our warm Tuesday reaching 73°F we would have been below or at a near normal temperature for all last week. It was significantly cooler overall compared to the week before where we came in at 59.2°F for our overall average.

Accumulated rainfall at the (North Ridge) Echo Lake Weather Station

We had a dry start to October but after the week ended, we received 0.66 inches of rain on Saturday. Additional rainfall occurred throughout the region on Sunday but Shoreline and Lake Forest Park sort of fell in the rain shadow. 

Our month total so far is 0.83 inches of rain, currently putting us at three quarters of an inch below average.

For current weather conditions please visit www.shorelineweather.com

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Woven Sky

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

The clouds and light change constantly but I don't recall ever seeing a weave pattern in the sky

--DKH

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Rain incoming

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Barbara Twaddell hoped that she was seeing rain clouds coming in, and apparently she was right.

(See WeatherWatcher)

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Everchanging sunset and clouds

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Three of my regular photographers sent in sunset photos from Sunday evening, which tells me that it was fairly spectacular.

Photo by Lee Lageschulte shows the dividing line in the clouds
as they change shape from Barbara's photo to Jan's photo

What always amazes me about the sunset photos I get is how very different they are from moment to moment. Location of the photographer along our part of Puget Sound doesn't matter, but the time matters very much.

These three photos show the progression as the sun sets and the clouds move.

And this evening the clouds were the headliners - "puffy clouds and crepuscular rays." said Barbara.

Photo by Jan Hansen

The final photo from Jan Hansen was after the sun went down and the clouds had moved northeast.

People back into parking stalls at RB Saltwater Park to sit, drink their coffee, and watch the sunset.

--Diane Hettrick

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Signs waving under interesting skies on Sunday at 205th & Aurora

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Sunday’s pro democracy and free speech sign wavers at 205th and Aurora under interesting skies and balmy temperatures, with excellent accompanying music. 

Supporters will be at 205th and Aurora every Sunday from 1-2pm with the exception of August 31 which will be combined with a national protest on September 1, 2025 co-sponsored by Everyday Activists and Indivisible Shoreline to coordinate with "Workers Over Billionaires," the next Nationwide Day of Action.

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Afternoon Sky

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

What do you see? I see an ice wall with high, snow-covered peaks above it. Not sure what to do with that yellow blob in the middle.

--Diane Hettrick

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A study in contrasts

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Daffodils under a dark sky in the Skagit Valley.

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Spaceships seen over Shoreline

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Apparently, the spaceships which usually congregate around Mount Rainier are exploring farther afield because they have been seen over Shoreline near Puget Sound.

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Thanks to Barbara Twaddell for capturing these images. I'm sure the FBI will be interested.

--Editor

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Everchanging Clouds

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

The sky view can change constantly. On this day, it started with slightly ragged white clouds against a mostly blue sky.

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Later the same day, the sky was dressed in layers, just like the typical Northwesterner.

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

With the addition of a sunset, a dramatic close to the day.

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Local weather in one photo

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Really - this is our whole weather forecast in one photo. Take your pick - gray clouds heavy with rain, white fluffy clouds, a mixture of the two. Then glimpses of blue sky in varying shades of blue - and wait! there's even a tiny glimmer of (dare I say?) sun! 

Stand in one spot for 15 minutes and you can have it all.

--Diane Hettrick

 

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Sun slice

Photo by Judie Menz

Photo taken Friday, April 26, 2024 at 7pm from the Edmonds beach, next to the ferry, looking towards Kingston.

The sun appears to be slicing through our cloud cover, taking advantage of a brief opportunity to prove that it is still up there.

 

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Blue skies, sunshine, and interesting clouds

 

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

What more could we want?

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Hole in the clouds and rainbow from the sky

 

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Fun clouds today and possibly a Fallstreak hole usually caused by aircraft flying through a layer of clouds.

--Barbara Twaddell

Photo courtesy KC Air Support

The crew of the King County air support helicopter took a moment to share this unusual view of a rainbow.

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The Fires of Hell?

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

No. Just somewhat normal weather on the Salish Sea

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Clouds before the storm

 

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Gusty winds of 25-30mph pushed the clouds in over the area and brought rain that was the tail end of a violent system that centered over Everett.

It was warm in the afternoon with temperatures up to 65 degrees, which then plummeted to the low 40s in the late afternoon.

All weather in a day.

--Diane Hettrick, in consultation with WeatherWatcher Carl Dinse

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Clouds

Photo by Lee Wolfe

We haven’t had much in the way of colorful sunsets lately, but Friday evening produced an unusual cloud formation. March came in like a lion and continues the trend.

--Lee Wolfe

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Travels with Charlie: Alien landing in Horizon View Park

Photo by Gordon Snyder

During today's cloudy, stormy weather, Charlie and I were wandering around Horizon View enjoying being outside.

 
We arrived back at the Horizon View Park entrance and I spotted this bright break in the clouds. I grabbed a photo of the unique hole in the sky.

The best part… My camera caught what might be a Cloud Alien in the playground. I’m sure it came from that hole in the clouds. Wink, wink.

There were no kids around at the time to verify this event.

--Gordon Snyder

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