Northwest mudslide season begins

[D T Nelson]

Via Publicola:

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that the epidemic of landslides that have repeatedly halted Amtrak, Sounder, and freight rail service between Seattle and Everett will likely get worse as the climate heats up and rainfall—which stresses soil and causes landslides—increases.In Washington, climate change is likely to lead to wetter winters—meaning more landslides even as Sound Transit tries to ramp up Sounder service and lawmakers consider the aforementioned coal terminal, which would dramatically increase train traffic along the landslide-prone route.

The above is actually a KUOW report (public radio in Seattle) but I can't find it on the KUOW website.

University of Washington meteorology professor Cliff Mass comments today on his blog about the rash of slides. He documents that the amount of rain falling in the Everett area has been declining over the past century.

 

[CHamilton]

This isn't rail-related, but I thought (hoped!) it would make a nice ending to this depressingly-long thread.

Bellingham school closes because of nice weather
Friday is a "sun day" of sorts for the 205 students at Bellingham Christian School, a small private Christian school in Bellingham, Wash., about 90 miles north of Seattle.

"SCHOOL CANCELLED DUE TO GREAT WEATHER! WAHOOO!" the school's website announced Thursday night. "Yeah! It's a Sun Day today and everyone gets the day off from school."

Principal Bob Sampson said he wanted to give students some time to re-energize and enjoy the weather, adding that he wanted to re-create the excitement snow days get among the kids.

 

[yarrow]

This isn't rail-related, but I thought (hoped!) it would make a nice ending to this depressingly-long thread.

Bellingham school closes because of nice weather
Friday is a "sun day" of sorts for the 205 students at Bellingham Christian School, a small private Christian school in Bellingham, Wash., about 90 miles north of Seattle.

"SCHOOL CANCELLED DUE TO GREAT WEATHER! WAHOOO!" the school's website announced Thursday night. "Yeah! It's a Sun Day today and everyone gets the day off from school."

Principal Bob Sampson said he wanted to give students some time to re-energize and enjoy the weather, adding that he wanted to re-create the excitement snow days get among the kids.

good job, charlie. hopefully one of these years you can retire from being master of the mudslide thread

 

[montana mike]

A good chuckle and smile out of that one!