Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, OR
Issued by NWS Portland, OR
243 FXUS66 KPQR 222226 AFDPQR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Portland OR 326 PM PDT Wed May 22 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Low pressure is mostly stationary spinning right along the Oregon and Washington border. This low position has maintained showers throughout the region - especially areas that are being orographically lifted by terrain. Weak ridging forms tomorrow while troughing comes right back in on Friday. Minimal change in overall sensible weather through the week. && .SHORT TERM...Now through Friday...The pattern has been unchanging today as low pressure remains nearly stationary over the Oregon and Washington border. This low will be slower to move as it loses momentum and begins to fill. The showers ended up being much more robust than previously thought. Looking at the overall pattern from the upper most levels to the surface, there was a notable coupled pattern with a jet streak set up right over the region, a vorticity maximum at 500 mb, and a trough at the surface. Showers were robust at times with amounts ranging from 0.01-0.25 inch in the last 6 hours. Wind too has been more robust than previously thought. This is evident in the observed pressure gradient between Troutdale and the Dalles which is around 4-5 mb. In some of the more exposed westerly slopes, gusts as high as 50 mph were observed. These conditions are not expected to persist overnight though as conditions ease. Speaking of tonight, weak ridging will cause conditions to improve and clear slightly. Some forecast soundings are suggesting a weak inversion forming right around sunrise. While this is definitely possible, the amount of cloud cover today will make chances limited. Areas in the southern Willamette Valley and the central Cascade foothills have around a 30% chance for patchy fog tonight. Transitioning into Thursday, mild conditions prevail as the ridge shifts inland. More zonal flow follows. Previous models were suggesting a more amplified ridge, however, because the low today was so slow and didn`t dig southward, there isn`t enough momentum to truly build the ridge to warm/clear things out even more. Temperatures will see very little change over the next few days. One thing to note though are overnight temperatures, especially in the valleys of the Coast Range and the Cascade foothills. High resolution models are showing around a 40% chance of low temperatures below 40 degrees F both early Thursday morning and Friday morning. No frost is expected as winds will be too elevated, but something to take note of - especially if skies clear. On Friday yet another low pressure system will drop down from Canada which will bring another round of showers. This appears to be yet again another high probability low accumulation type event, but still something to note. So if you`re wanting to do some yard work and rain is an issue, Thursday may be the better option if you cannot hold off until early next week. -Muessle .LONG TERM...Saturday through Wednesday...Stronger ridging in the long term but even then, onshore flow is the most dominate feature through the weekend. Will see some residual showers on Saturday but they will slowly subside by Sunday afternoon. The modeled clusters have much to be desired in regards to consistence and locking onto an overall pattern. It`s pretty nondescript at this point with a flattened weak ridge popping up in most outputs. Sunday will likely be more of a transition day as a stronger ridge over the Pacific shifts eastward. This ridge will become the dominate feature on starting Monday. Nearly all models are showing a strong trend towards a high pressure solution which would bring clearer skies and warmer temperatures in general. Temperatures will slowly rise during the day but, even though the air will be warmer in general, the clear skies will cause temperatures overnight to fall. In regards to temperature, have maintained a strong push towards the NBM with a bit of climatological models included as these quick transitions are hard to capture in models. -Muessle && .AVIATION...Widespread VFR across the airspace. Expect lingering showers in the postfrontal environment along with a 20-30% probability of MVFR conditions. The MVFR conditions will likely be associated with precipitation. Predominant CIGS will fluctuate between 3500-5500 ft. MVFR conditions likely to become the dominant flight category along the coast around 06Z Thursday. Northerly to westerly winds with gusts up to 25 kt possible at all terminals through around 00Z Thursday. PDX AND APPROACHES...Widespread VFR with light postfrontal showers. CIGs expected to fluctuate between 3500-5000 ft with a 15-25% probability for intermittent MVFR conditions that will likely be associated with passing showers. Westerly winds with gusts up to 20 kt through around 00Z Thursday. -42. && .MARINE...North/northwesterly flow will continue to produce breezy winds through the overnight hours with gusts up to 25 kt across all waters. General seas 10 to 14 ft through the overnight hours, with seas slowly subsiding towards 5 to 7 ft by Thursday. Expect steep and choppy conditions through early Thursday morning across all waters. Therefore have adjusted the current suite of Small Craft Advisories. Thursday, a pattern change is expected as a shortwave ridge, brings a brief reprieve to winds and seas across all waters. However, another low swings into the region from the NNW Friday and Saturday bringing a return of active weather. Seas build towards to 7 to 9 feet at 8 to 9 seconds on Saturday before subsiding towards 3 to 5 feet by Sunday. -42 && .PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...None. WA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Thursday for PZZ210- 251>253-271>273. && $$ www.weather.gov/portland Interact with us via social media: www.facebook.com/NWSPortland www.twitter.com/NWSPortland