textproduct: Portland

SYNOPSIS

High pressure continues over the region today with mostly dry conditions expected through Monday. Chilly temperatures expected Monday morning. A weak front will bring chances for light rain Monday night into Tuesday. Dry again on Wednesday. Active weather returns as a series of frontal systems bring increasing chances for rain later Thursday into Saturday. Seasonable temperatures continue through the week.

LONG TERM...Wednesday through Saturday

Models and their ensembles remain in good agreement that an upper level ridge rebuilds over the eastern Pacific on Wednesday. This will maintain dry conditions through at least Wednesday night. Then, precipitation chances increase late Thursday through Saturday as ensemble clusters are indicating high chances of the ridge flattening out, allowing for northerly weather systems to push into the Pacific NW. While this pattern change to more wet weather appears likely, there is fairly high confidence that rainfall amounts are not expected to be too impactful. Snow levels are also expected to start out relatively high around 6,000-7,000 ft before gradually falling to around 5000 ft later Saturday. Concerns for snow at pass levels remains low. /DH

AVIATION

High pressure building offshore will maintain largely VFR conditions through the period. Low stratus over the central and southern Willamette Valley as well as portions of the Lower Columbia Valley will mix out by 21z Sun, yielding VFR conditions. Winds around 5 kt will continue out of the east to northeast for most, with northerly flow expected instead along the Willamette Valley. Some gusts of 15-20 kt are still possible to the west of terrain gaps, most notably including KTTD, into this afternoon before the offshore wind gradient begins to weaken.

KPDX AND APPROACHES...VFR conditions expected through the period with few-sct low clouds at 3-5 kft and sct high cirrus clouds at or above 25 kft. Light winds around 5 kt largely out of the east to northeast expected through the period. -36

MARINE

Benign weather continues across the coastal waters as weak low pressure dissipates near the coast today. Light offshore flow turns northerly as high pressure builds offshore later today through Monday. Winds remain 15 kt or less while seas hold fairly steady around 4 to 8 ft. A weak front will push across the waters late Monday night into Tuesday bringing northwest winds of around 15-20 kt, while a long period westerly swell will build seas toward 10 ft on Tuesday. Winds and seas then ease midweek with another weather system potentially arriving late in the week. /DH

BEACH HAZARDS

A long-period westerly swell is expected along the northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington coasts from late Monday through Wednesday next week. Wave heights increasing to 8 to 10 ft on Tuesday may not appear to present a safety risk to those on area beaches, but these energetic waves will present a moderate to high risk for sneaker waves, waves which can run significantly farther up a beach than normal, including over rocks and jetties. In addition, a period of perigean spring or "king" tides means these waves will have an even easier time reaching high up onto beaches, limiting the areas which may be safe from wave action.

A Beach Hazards Statement has therefore been issued from 7 AM Tuesday to 10 PM Wednesday. Sneaker waves can create potentially life-threatening conditions in the surf zone when beachgoers can be unexpectedly knocked off their feet and pulled out into cold ocean waters. Caution should be used when in or near the water, and those with children should be especially watchful. Never turn your back on the ocean, and be sure to keep an eye on the waves. Those participating in razor clam digs should additionally exercise caution. -36

PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...None. WA...None. PZ...None.