By Gordon McCraw, Meteorologist for the Tillamook County Pioneer
Thursday, February 16, 2023
As expected, a trough and front took a pause offshore today as part of the energy went north into Vancouver Island and part of the energy went south and is developing into a closed low pressure area that will impact southern California. For us, it continues to bring a slight chance of some spotty rain this evening. The rain threat is a little better tonight with light winds, lows tonight drop to near 35 but the snow level climbs to near 3500’ as the upper level winds are from the southwest.
The low off of southern California continues to develop tomorrow which puts us under a more northwesterly flow bringing partly sunny skies and a chance of rain during the morning hours. The surface winds will be light, from the northwest, the high near 50. Any rain chance ends tomorrow night under mostly cloudy skies, and with calm winds, the lows drop to near 32 again.
A weak disturbance gives us some clouds and another slight chance of rain by Saturday afternoon. The snow level starts out at 1900’ but increases to 3200’ during the afternoon, winds northwesterly 4-8, highs near 48. Mostly cloudy but dry Saturday night, lows near 39.
The northwesterly flow continues Sunday and we have another chance of rain starting in the afternoon under mostly cloudy skies, the high up near 50, the rain is likely late Sunday night as a trough of low pressure drops down towards the area, lows near 42.
We are looking at a chance of a stronger system bringing us some rain Monday for Washington’s Birthday/Presidents Day, that eases that evening, highs near 50, then the rain returns late Monday night with that stronger system, also becoming breezy, lows near 38.
Tuesday looks rainy and windy, the high near 47, the snow level falling to around 2400’. We see more rain and winds Tuesday night, the lows dropping to near 33, the snow level also dropping to near 1500’ or near the tops of the Coast Range passes again.
Things continue to cool with Wednesday being cloudy and rainy still, the snow level down to near 900’, highs only near 42. The rain hopefully eases Wednesday night with the lows possibly falling into the upper 20s again.
Bottom line, we need to keep an eye on the forecast for the middle of next week as, at this point, there is a chance of some lower level snow with heavier snow impacting the passes once again. And, at this point, we will also keep the other eye on the river levels also, though current forecasts are not alarming. Just something else to watch. Old Man Winter is not done with us yet!