textproduct: Pendleton

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot, dry, and breezy conditions persist, allowing elevated fire weather concerns to continue in the Columbia Basin and Kittitas Valley.

- Temperatures peak today, with areas across the basin reaching triple digits.

- Chances of isolated thunderstorms (10-25%) across Central Oregon and the Eastern Mountains.

DISCUSSION

Radar shows dry conditions, with satellite showing cumulus clouds developing across Central Oregon and the Blue Mountains. Worth noting NBM advertises 10-25% chances of thunderstorms developing across there, with HRW NSSL and HRW FV3 advertising isolated cells developing later this afternoon. Precipitable water figures are less than 1.25 inches, suggesting these will be dry in nature. Not expecting these storms to produce an abundant lightning or be severe, with gusty winds and pea size hail being the biggest expected impacts. For the rest of the day, low relative humidities prevail through much of the region with parts of the Columbia Basin reaching the upper 90s to low triple digits. Red Flag Warnings prevail through the Basin and Yakima/Kittitas Valley region through 10 PM as critical fire weather conditions continue.

Temperatures will cool off tomorrow and through the week with an oncoming shortwave allowing high temperatures to drop in the upper 80s to low 90s through much of the lower elevated regions (70-90% chance). Breezy winds will continue with tight pressure gradient formation via shortwaves and on-coming low pressure systems with sustained winds of 10 to 25 mph from the west and northwest. Otherwise, not anticipating precipitation with the lack of moisture and low precipitable water values. Temperatures remain steady in the upper 80s to low 90s through the rest of the week (70-90% chance).

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Based on HRRR model fields surface winds will increase over the evening, maintaining gusts as high as 30 mph at DLS and increasing with time at PDT/YKM through midnight. Ceilings and visibility are not restrictive although a brief window of HZ in the 4 to 6 mile range is possible at PDT around 12-15z due to smoke from a nearby fire.

FIRE WEATHER

Red Flag Warnings are issued for WA690, WA691, and OR691 from now until 10 PM today (Tuesday) due to breezy conditions and low relative humidities. Dry air with breezy winds will persist through the Columbia Basin and Kittitas Valley through at least Friday/Saturday (70-90% chance) allowing elevated fire weather concerns to prevail. Isolated areas across WA690, WA691, and OR691 could reach red flag criteria through the week.

Additionally, slight chances of isolated thunderstorms (10-25%) across Central Oregon and the Eastern Mountains could develop later this afternoon. Guidance advertises low precipitable water values less than 1.25 inches, allowing the assumption that most of the storms will be dry with no wetting rains expected. Worth noting that we're not expecting these storms to produce abundant lightning and that they stay isolated in nature.

Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs

PDT 59 88 55 87 / 0 0 0 0 ALW 65 89 59 88 / 0 0 0 0 PSC 64 93 57 91 / 0 0 0 0 YKM 60 91 57 91 / 0 0 0 0 HRI 63 91 58 90 / 0 0 0 0 ELN 57 82 54 83 / 0 0 0 0 RDM 52 86 48 86 / 0 0 0 0 LGD 59 87 53 87 / 0 0 0 0 GCD 55 89 51 89 / 10 0 0 0 DLS 61 85 58 87 / 0 0 0 0

PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WA...Red Flag Warning until 10 PM PDT this evening for WAZ690-691. OR...Red Flag Warning until 10 PM PDT this evening for ORZ691.