By Gordon McCraw, Meteorologist for the Tillamook County Pioneer
Today was another scorcher as the strong upper level ridge of high pressure continues to dominate our weather. Thankfully, though it might be hard to believe, the coastal area continues to enjoy some marine influence with the onshore winds which kept it about 15 degrees cooler than just across the Coast Range. Some of the high temperatures yesterday included Tillamook at 91 and Astoria at 93. Over in the valley, the temperatures ranged from 101 in Portland to 102 from Salem southward through Eugene with a few spots up around 105. It will be interesting to see what the highs turn out to be today, which should be the peak of the hot temperature this week. The record high temperature for August is 108, and these are in danger of falling.
So, tonight we are looking at mostly clear skies still, though we may be looking at some upper level smoke, the winds becoming light and variable, so there may be some patchy fog around after midnight also.
It appears the onshore winds will increase tomorrow, still with the mostly sunny skies after any fog clears, the winds becoming westerly 8-12 gusting to 20, highs only up to near 80. Look for increasing marine clouds tomorrow night with the winds easing, lows near 58.
Wednesday the increased onshore flow will continue to cool things down, so with partly sunny skies and the winds becoming northwesterly 5-10, the high only near 74, the clouds return Wednesday night, lows near 56.
By Thursday the models get a little mixed as it appears a low pressure area develops west of northern California that will drift southeastward. With little steering currents, the models sometimes have a problem forecasting the movement of these features. Most of the models show us staying with mostly sunny skies with the high temperatures continuing to be seasonable, as in the afternoon temperatures staying in the low to mid 70s, through the weekend, lows in the low to mid 50s.
For today, we remain under a heat Advisory thru 8 PM tonight and a Red Flag Warning thru 11 PM tonight. Attached is this evening’s Smoke Forecast from the National Weather Service.
