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By Gordon McCraw, Meteorologist for the Tillamook County Pioneer
A relatively dry day today, Monday January 29th so there is only a slight chance of rain which is allowing all the rivers to recede. I did see some reports of a few of the non-gauged rivers spilling out of their banks, but nothing substantial other than some water in fields. A few roads thoughout the county did end up closing Saturday into Sunday, Alderbrook Loop, Fraser Road, and This short break won’t last long though as another active week is expected.
So, we are watching the next front off our coast today that is pushing rain into Washington, and should bring a chance of light rain here starting this evening after another warm, and somewhat muggy day where the high again climbed into the mid 60s. Tonight the front and rain moves in, and so do some southerly winds 14-18 gusting to 30, the low near 53.
The rain eases tomorrow during the day under mostly cloudy skies, the winds easterly 5-10, and the high up near 61. The rain chances start to increase again tomorrow night as a low pressure area is approaching the coast and pushing another round of rain and winds into the area, the easterly winds becoming 14-18 gusting to 30 again, the low near 54.
The rain and winds continue Wednesday with southerly winds 14-18 gusting to 35, the high topping out at 59, more rain for Wednesday night, the winds ease a little to southerly 8-12 gusting to 25, the low near 48. The expected rainfall totals for this event are around ½ to 1” which means the rivers should continue to stay well below Action Stage.
The previously mentioned low pressure area should be drifting west of northern Vancouver Island by Thursday as a trough of low pressure across our area moves east and ushers in some colder air, and of course, brings us some more rain. So the high Thursday is expected to be around 54, and the low down near 42.
We see more rain on Friday, and we are also seeing the snow level falling to around 2700’, the high near 49. Then with the low dropping to near 37 degrees, the snow level continues to fall down to near 2100’.
By Saturday morning, the snow level has fallen to near 1700’, and it is still raining. The higher Coast Range passes could be seeing some flurries or a rain/snow mix, the high temperatures here Saturday only up near 47. With the temperature falling to near 36 degrees overnight, the snow level will be very close to, or just below, the Hwy 6 and Hwy 26 summits.
Look for the rain to continue Sunday morning with the snow still falling on the summits, the afternoon high near 49, the overnight low down near 38. And speaking of 38, that will be near the highs up at the summits over the weekend, with nighttime lows there dropping into the upper 20s so travelers over the hill during the weekend should be alert for some slick, icy roads.
