textproduct: Pendleton

DISCUSSION

Current radar shows mostly dry conditions across the region with most of the activity secluded to the Cascade region receiving light to moderate snow over the next few hours. Winter Weather Advisory continues for those areas, with up to 3 to 7 inches of additional accumulation through 4 AM tonight. Columbia Basin region will continue its clear and dry conditions through Tuesday afternoon, before light to moderate precip returns for the entire PDT CWA region. Chances for trace amounts of snow up to a tenth of an inch for Central OR and parts of the Foothills of the Blue Mountains increase slightly (5 to 15 percent chance) heading into Wednesday and Thursday with snow levels dropping to 3500 to 4500 feet by Wednesday morning. This is part of a trough just off the PacNW digging further south, allowing for cooler air to traverse along with unsettled weather across the region.

Snow rates are poised to peak this afternoon and tomorrow night before dropping down to less than two inches an hour for the remainder of the week (50 to 70 percent chance). Snow rates will remain fairly light to moderate by Christmas Eve, although lower level elevation may see a tick in rain rates through mid week. The trough will slowly moves its way onshore through the rest of the week, bringing periods of light to moderate rain showers through the valleys and other low lying areas & light to moderate snow shower rates over the mountain regions. As the trough moves over by the weekend, current trends point to a drier pattern starting by late Friday to early Saturday.

Winds remain light to locally breezy, with a peak strength Wednesday morning to Wednesday evening with an elevated jet expected and mixing to bring winds to the surface. We'll more widespread 15 to 25 mph gusts (50 to 70 percent chance) with higher values at the Wallowa's and parts of the Blue Mountains. Not enough signal to worry about Wind Advisory, but it is a trend to monitor currently.

AVIATION...00Z TAFs

VFR conditions are expected through the TAF period with a few exceptions. The main system has passed the area leaving most TAF sites free of precipitation. CIGs have increased and will continue to stay VFR through much of the period before YKM begins to see a chance of _SN and lower CIGs around 02Z. Bnd will have a period of 4SM due to some lingering BR around 02Z as well. Winds will be below 10 kts with the exception of BDN when winds there will increase to near 11 kts after 08Z. AWL will see 6SM due to light rain and BR. However, VSBY will remain VFR. Of course timing of the precipitation will be the most difficult through this forecast. 90

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

PDT 33 50 32 46 / 80 10 0 20 ALW 36 50 36 46 / 90 20 10 30 PSC 33 49 31 44 / 70 10 0 10 YKM 25 42 28 41 / 50 10 30 0 HRI 33 49 31 45 / 70 10 0 10 ELN 23 36 24 36 / 70 10 50 0 RDM 27 47 26 45 / 70 10 0 20 LGD 32 43 32 44 / 80 30 10 60 GCD 32 46 33 46 / 80 20 10 70 DLS 34 45 36 44 / 90 30 60 10

PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Monday for ORZ509.

WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Monday for WAZ522.