Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Portland, OR

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960 FXUS66 KPQR 162212 AFDPQR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Portland OR 312 PM PDT Sun Jun 16 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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Low pressure maintains cool and showery conditions today, with a chance of thunderstorms across much of the area this afternoon and evening. A few showers linger into Monday then much warmer and drier weather returns Tuesday through the end of next week.
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&& .SHORT TERM...
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Sunday Afternoon through Tuesday...Radar imagery as of 2 PM PST shows showers pushing into western Oregon and SW Washington just east of the Coast Range and Willapa Hills. The center of the positively-tilted upper level trough that has been impacting the PacNW this weekend has moved into southern Washington today with the axis slowly approaching the coast from the eastern Pacific. Instability is building as the trough is impacting the region with SPC mesoanalysis indicating 250+ J/kg MUCAPE across the majority of NW Oregon and SW Washington with an area of 500+ J/kg MUCAPE west of the Coast Range. CAPE will continue to increase over the next few hours with thunderstorm chances into the early evening hours. Expect heavy rain, some lightning, small hail, and locally gusty winds with any strong cell or thunderstorm that forms. Temperatures today will be similar to yesterday under the influence of the trough with inland highs in the mid to upper 60s and 50s along the coast. Low temperatures tomorrow morning will be on the cooler side again with 40s in the lowlands. The trough will finally move through eastern Oregon into the northern Rockies Monday. A few showers are possible throughout the day, mainly over the higher terrain, with temperatures similar or a few degrees warmer than today. By Tuesday, ensembles remain in good agreement that troughing begins weakening, bringing the return of dry weather everywhere with temperatures warming back to near normal for mid June, low 70s for the interior lowlands and 60s for the coast. -HEC .LONG TERM...Wednesday through Sunday...A significant warming trend remains on track for Wednesday through Friday of this week. Ensemble guidance continues indicating a Rex Block type pattern emerging by Wednesday over the West with an upper level ridge over western Canada and a trough over California. Temperatures are forecast to rise into the 80s on Wednesday, with Thursday and Friday peaking as the warmest days. NBM indicates high confidence (80-95% chance) of temperatures over 80 degrees through Saturday for the interior lowlands. Probabilities for temperatures reaching 90 degrees or higher have increased for Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, there`s now a 50-60% chance for most of the Willamette Valley from Salem north and 20-45% chance south of Salem. Probabilities have also increased for 95+ degrees with a 20-30% probability for the general Portland/Vancouver metro area. WPC 500mb clusters continue to indicate an approaching trough will push the upper ridge east into the central US with heights lowering over the PacNW on Saturday, which could lower temperatures by a few degrees to the low to mid 80s. By Sunday, clusters show enough agreement that heights will lower enough to bring temperatures back to near normal in the 70s. However, there is enough uncertainty in the specifics of the trough along with amount of moisture on whether any precipitation will be possible. Current NBM forecast has around a 15-20% probability for the coast and higher elevations, though accumulation seems to be limited at this time. -HEC
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&& .AVIATION...
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Rain showers continuing until 00-06Z Monday as the low moves southeast through our region. Will be predominantly VFR during these showers. Additionally, scattered thunderstorms inland remain a possibility (20-30%) until 00-03Z Monday. With increase in cloud breaks expected to improve afternoon warming, instability should increase enough to maintain thunderstorm development through the afternoon. Could see some hail and brief gusty winds with these thunderstorms. After the showers dissipate around 05-06Z Monday, northwesterly to westerly winds will weaken to below 10 kt and potential for MVFR CIGs will increase. Most terminals will have a 10-20% chance of MVFR CIGs between 06-12Z Monday, with probabilities as high as 40-50% for coastal terminals, primarily north of KTMK. These probabilities will increase between 12-19Z Monday, with nearly all terminals having a 40-50% chance of MVFR CIGs (exception being KONP with still a 10-20% chance). Conditions should return to VFR around 19-21Z Monday. PDX AND APPROACHES...Showers until 03-06Z Monday, with predominantly VFR conditions through the TAF period. A 20-30% chance of scattered thunderstorms is possible until 03Z Monday, with potential to see hail and brief gusty winds. After 06Z Monday, northwesterly winds will weaken and chances of MVFR CIGs will increase to 10-20% between 06-12Z Monday. Probabilities will then increase to 30-40% between 12-19Z Monday. Conditions should improve back to VFR thereafter. -JH
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&& .MARINE...
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Seas around 5 to 7 ft at 9 to 11 seconds for the near future. Northwesterly winds currently strengthening to just under Small Craft Advisory criteria this evening, lasting through the night. A few gusts above SCA criteria may be possible at times. Next chance at more impactful conditions will be Tuesday night, but uncertainty still remains high as it looks to be another marginal wind-driven event. Looking forward, marginal SCA winds look possible from Tuesday evening onward, with breezy marginal winds possible until at least the weekend. -JH/JLiu
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&& .PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...None. WA...None. PZ...None. && $$ www.weather.gov/portland Interact with us via social media: www.facebook.com/NWSPortland www.twitter.com/NWSPortland