Everybody’s Favorite Topic: The Weather

On Friday, January 6th, 2012, John Livingston of the Spokane National Weather Service (NOAA) shared insight into the weather of the Okanogan Highlands and surrounding areas.

The event provided an opportunity for community members to learn more about the local weather. The presentation outlined the tools that are available on NOAA’s website, including some innovative options like the Activity Planner, which allows you to enter your location and a range of weather parameters required for your activity, and gives you information on when your weather requirements may be met over the following 7 days.

The presentation also addressed questions that were posed by local residents, such as how weather changes are predicted, what causes variation in precipitation from one microclimate to another, and discussed forces that affect weather in the Okanogan Highlands and compared and contrasted highland weather with that of the valley. The purpose and function of NRCS SNOTEL sites was also covered.