The large storm system that plagued our region with cloud cover throughout the weekend did more than just block out the sunshine. It also pushed tropical moisture into the Pacific Northwest.

Out ahead of this storm system our wind flow is coming in out of the south and southwest. So moist air is streaming in. That's actually pretty typical with these large storms. But what is so unusual about this storm is its strength, and also the time of year. That combination is allowing this system to pump in deep moisture from hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away.

So tonight in the Pacific Northwest it's not feeling like the Pacific Northwest. It's feeling more like...New Orleans? That's right. Even though New Orleans sits right on the Gulf of Mexico, the atmosphere is more moist here in Portland than in New Orleans tonight! You can see a nice shot of the typically steamy New Orleans below. I know personally, having lived in Florida for several years, it's a pretty amazing thing to see this tropical moisture pushing so far north.

And another thing to think about...the more moist the atmosphere, the warmer it tends to stay overnight. A great example is last night. With all that moisture in place, Portland's overnight low dropped to just 68 degrees...ten degrees above average. And it probably won't be much cooler tonight. Just another 'perk' to this humidity. =)

If you're looking for some relief from the stickiness, you're in luck. As this big weekend storm starts pulling away tomorrow our wind flow will switch to more of a westerly and northwesterly direction...and that will push in drier air from the north!

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