By Gordon McCraw, Meteorologist for the Tillamook County Pioneer
An upper level trough of low pressure moved across today bringing some actual rain to the area which will help to cool things down some, while increasing the onshore flow. This will even give the valley some cooler temperatures. The trough did cause the marine clouds to break up today, but the flow also became more zonal. This allows the marine clouds to return tonight along with a patchy fog chance in the early morning hours. Winds tonight are westerly 5-10 but diminishing, lows near 51.
Tomorrow the trough is off to the east and the onshore flow eases as another upper level ridge of high pressure start to build in and slowly brings sunny skies. Breezy winds return with northwesterly winds 8-12 gusting to 20, the high around 67. Look for mostly clear skies tomorrow night, the winds die off which may allow the patchy fog to return in the early morning hours, lows near 53.
Wednesday things start to warm up, but with the onshore flow, the temperatures along the coast are moderated. This will give us sunny skies Wednesday with northerly afternoon winds of 8-12, the high near 70, then partly cloudy skies Wednesday night, winds northwesterly 5-10 gusting to 15, lows near 69.
Thursday on the models show a ridge of high pressure resting off to the east of the state with a trough of low pressure out in the northeastern Pacific that inches eastward toward British Columbia. So, Thursday will likely be mostly sunny after some patchy morning fog, the high near 67, then partly cloudy skies that night, a chance of patchy early morning fog again, lows near 54.
Friday on through the weekend looks mostly sunny, some patchy morning fog still possible, highs near 69, partly cloudy nights, lows near 55.
Please note that Oregon continues to be extremely dry leading to there being a total of 12 fires currently active in the state, the largest of which is the Flat Fire in the southwestern part of the state with almost 5000 acres burned. More than 70% of Oregon’s wildfires are human-caused. We all have a role to play in mitigating wildfire. Think before you strike a match, flick your cigarette or use equipment that can cast sparks, and always have tools on hand to put a fire out.