314
FXUS66 KPDT 261016
AFDPDT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
316 AM PDT Wed Aug 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Above normal temperatures again today.

- Low pressure approaching the coast will breezy conditions
  today and Thursday, increased fire weather concerns, followed
  by cooler more seasonal temperatures.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
The Pacific Northwest will remain under southwest flow aloft,
which will strengthen today, as the area is between strong high
pressure near the four corners and approaching low pressure from
the Pacific Ocean.

As a result, today looks to be one last day of above normal
temperatures with highs in the low to mid (and possibly upper)
90s across much of the area. Additionally, expect winds to
increase, especially during the afternoon hours across the
Kittitas Valley, Simcoe Highlands, Columbia Basin and Gorge.
Wind gusts in these areas should reach 25 to 35 mph. NBM
probabilities of wind gusts >=25 mph are all well over 80
percent, while wind gusts >= 39 mph are fairly low (<20
percent) except for some local areas >40 percent.

The low off the coast will move inland in British Columbia on
Thursday. The associated trough will generally stay to the north
but a front will come through, and a second, stronger trough
will move through on Friday. Behind this second trough, a more
westerly zonal flow will develop through the weekend, before
southwesterly flow develops ahead of another upper low early
next week. With the low early next week, there could be some
mountain showers.  Could the weather pattern be shifting to
fall?

Winds on Thursday look to be very similar to Wednesday, but a
bit more widespread. However, with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees
cooler on Thursday, With the cooler temperatures RH values will
be anywhere from 1 to 2 to 7 to 10 percentage points higher.
This will help with fire weather concerns on Thursday. Winds
will remain breezy on Friday, in the 10 to 20 mph range.

Winds will increase again in the 20 to 30 mph range, possibly as
high as 35 mph as the next trough moves through. NBM
probabilities of wind gusts >=25 mph are greater than 80
percent in the normally breezy locations, but NBM probabilities
of wind gusts >= 39 mph are generally less than 40 percent.

Wind gusts could increase again early next week with the next
system.



&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...
VFR conditions are expected at all TAF sites, for the most
part. However, BDN, RDM and ALW have all had MVFR early this
morning due to smoke. Can not rule out additional MVFR around
sunrise, or potentially at other sites.

Winds have already increased at DLS and will increase this
afternoon at all other sites except ALW and PSC. Winds should
gust in the 20 to 25 kt range before decreasing to 10 kts or
less during the evening or overnight. At ALW and PSC, winds
should remain 10 kts or less through the period.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Winds will increase across the region today, but especially over
the Columbia basin and Gorge. THese winds coupled with very warm
temperatures and low RH values will create localized critical
fire weather concerns. On THursday, winds will be similar to
today, but temperatures will be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than
today, which will allow for a rise in RH. Therefore, while fire
weather conditions will be elevated there should be a decrease
from today.

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...
PDT  92  57  84  51 /   0   0   0   0
ALW  94  64  87  57 /   0   0   0   0
PSC  96  61  89  51 /   0   0   0   0
YKM  95  60  88  54 /   0   0   0   0
HRI  94  61  86  52 /   0   0   0   0
ELN  91  56  80  50 /   0   0   0   0
RDM  91  48  84  40 /   0   0   0   0
LGD  97  57  90  50 /  10   0   0   0
GCD  96  57  92  52 /   0   0   0   0
DLS  89  62  82  57 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WA...Air Quality Alert until noon PDT today for WAZ026-028>030-522-
     523.
OR...Air Quality Alert until noon PDT today for ORZ044-502-503-507.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...77
AVIATION...77
FIRE WEATHER...77