Severe storms threaten Seattle as heavy rain swamps South Texas

A transition back to turbulent times is underway across the Lower 48 as a strong storm system targets the Pacific Northwest today and heavy rain slides into Texas. Half a world away, already intense wildfires went nuclear on Tuesday and the toll is catastrophic in South Korea.

Weather Watch

Seattle storms. An unusual threat for severe thunderstorms will focus on the Pacific Northwest today, particularly west of the Cascades. Changing winds with height should foster rotating supercells, which could lead to large hail and perhaps an isolated tornado. Meteorologist Kyle Noel points out it’s the first outlook for significant hail for the region in more than 20 years of forecast data.

Texas rain. Lots of rain is on the way to South Texas the next several days. Many spots should see 2 to 4-plus inches, with maximums around 8 inches. The Weather Prediction Center has a zone of Level 3 of 4 flood threat from the Mexico border to the Gulf Coast the next two days. Parts of the area may also be upgraded to Leve 4 of 4. Much of the Lone Star State is dealing with drought.

Lightning link

NOAA cancels upcoming global monitoring conference.

Wildfire Wednesday

Multiple large blazes are raging in South Korea as the country deals with its worst firestorm in modern history. With two dozen confirmed killed, it is the deadliest such event on record there.

In a story reminiscent of other major wildfire disasters over recent years, powerful gusts rapidly drove flames from rural forestland into the urban interface with unprecedented results. Fires began late last week.

Described as apocalyptic and unlike anything seen there before, conditions turned particularly dangerous as pyrocumulus clouds were observed on weather satellite Tuesday.

Somewhat similar to the development of towering thunderstorms, powered by rising hot air and smoke from the flames, pyrocumulus typically indicate the most intense of wildfire behavior is ongoing. This instance is the first known in the country.

Climate change is leading to increased occurrence of extreme fire behavior in combination with rapidly developing and deeper droughts. Conditions in the region were expected to stay mainly dry, with high fire risk persisting, in the near term.

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Weekday morning newsletter by a journalist/forecaster. Connecting weather and climate change dots while occasionally stirring the pot.

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