By Gordon McCraw, Meteorologist for the Tillamook County Pioneer
Well, after today things start getting a little more interesting at the coast. The high pressure ridge that gave us the cool, sunny days and cold nights is weakening and getting pushed eastward by a series of systems that will bring rain and rainshowers for the rest of the week and into the start of next week. Fortunately, today we just saw some increasing cloudiness that continues tonight. It looks like the rain will hold off until after midnight tonight with light winds, the low down near 45.
Tomorrow we can expect an atmospheric river event with its associated front to bring us moderate rain, winds becoming southeasterly 5-10, the high near 59, more rain tonight and the winds increase, becoming southerly 15-20 gusting to 35 tonight, lows near 51. Gusts to 45 are possible at the beaches.
Thursday will be another cloudy, rainy, and windy day, winds southerly 15-25 gusting to 35, the high near 61. Then we transition over to showers Thursday night, the winds easing, lows near 49. The rain total for this first system is likely in the range of 2-4” for the two-day event, Wednesday and Thursday, though there may be some isolated spots seeing upward of 5”. So far, river flooding is not expected but there may be some Urban and Small Stream Flooding from the prolonged moderate rain.
Friday starts out mostly cloudy with more scattered showers, the high near 62, then we are faced with another front and atmospheric river event that arrives that night so look for another cloudy, rainy, and breezy period to start and this time there is also a chance of thunderstorms, the low around 51.
Saturday, we see more rain with possible thunderstorms, then in the afternoon we transition to showers, chance of some thunderstorms continues, still on the breezy side, the high near 61. The activity continues Saturday night, lows near 51. Now for this event, the models have been sending some mixed signals on the exact timing, if it will be a weak to moderate atmospheric river event, and on the amount of rainfall we can expect. Considering the river flow rates will already be higher from the first event, this one bears a little closer watching. For now, it still does not appear that flooding concerns would be elevated. All things considered; it is worth watching what the next few models show as the picture should come into better focus, so, stay tuned!
As for Sunday and Monday, still cloudy and breezy with scattered showers, highs near 59, lows near 49.
Here is a look at the Wilson River Forecast issued yesterday afternoon:
