Warm weather returns after a stormy holiday weekend.  Washington & BC will be spared the brunt of the storm, but all will receive rain.  Refill your morn’n bev and come back here for the details. 

 

STORM ALERT - for Patrons in Oregon, mainly south of Salem area and for those traveling / camping in the Cascades.  Today will be calm, with some showers here and there.  Peeks of sunshine are possible, as well.  It will be mild.  The action starts Saturday the 28th.  As mentioned in our last discussion, the system due in tomorrow will be quite a powerful storm for this late in May.  Let’s break it down:

 

 

• RAIN.  Much of western OR could receive up to an inch of precipitation on the valley floor, double that for the coast and coastal mountains.  Patrons in WA & on Vancouver Island will receive considerably less rain; still, umbrella time.  
• WIND.  Strong winds at the coast (gusts could exceed 45 mph) esp south of Newport.  Depending on where the center of the storm makes landfall (could be Lincoln City plus or minus 75 miles north or south), Willamette Valley wind gust around 30-35 mph are probable.  Strongest winds charting for late afternoon into Saturday evening. Gusty overnight, as well.  Secure your gear (even at home, if you will be away)
• SNOW.  As the storm moves east, colder air will arrive, dropping the snow level below the passes.  As much as a foot of snow is possible at the higher elevations, half that at pass level.  Be prepared for winter conditions, which can be just as dangerous if they last several hours as when they last several days.

On Sunday, the storm will have past, but there will be showers & possible mountain thunderstorms lingering behind the front.  Temperatures will be chilly.  Memorial Day is trending mostly DRY and turning warmer by a few degrees for all elevations.  

 

Tue through the end of the short work/school weak looks WARM (could be in the upper 70s, to lower 80s on Wed).  It will turn muggy towards the end of the week; Thu could be damp in the eastern portions of WA.  Fri may present thunderstorms in the Cascades, esp southern districts of OR.  

 

The weekend of June 4,5 is trending mild, with muggy conditions; showers possible, as will be periods of cloudiness.  Actually, typical June weather for strawberry picking, if the berries are ripe yet.

 

The week of June 6 is on track to start out mild & mostly dry, turning WET and turning cooler as the week progresses.  The NW corner of WA & southern BC may get showers on Mod the 6th.  It does look mixed for the second weekend in June, with some precipitation & sun breaks.  Seasonal temps.

 

 

 

The longest dry stretch in months will continue until late Thu.  The upcoming holiday weekend is now trending to present us with a relatively powerful storm.  Better Mug up first.

 

That’s right.  Dry, mild conditions will hold through mid-week.  For Vancouver Island area Patrons, clouds will increase Tue as a weak Low moves across the northern tip of the island.  The rest of the PNW should cool down a bit, but still remain dry.  Thursday presents a slightly more organized system, so showers are possible, primarily north of Portland.  Farm work should be able to continue.

 

Holiday Weekend:  Fri May 27 - Mild & dry.  The system we expected to arrive will be delayed until early Saturday the 28th.  The latest variation of the disturbance takes on aspects of a relatively powerful fall storm.  A deep 990-994 mb Low is modeled to track onshore around Astoria.  WINDS along the coast & inland could be quite notable for this time of year.  Campers will be impacted, if this system actually verifies.  Wind gusts could top 35 mph in the Willamette Valley; stronger along the OR coast.  The strongest winds are likely Saturday afternoon through sunrise Sunday.  We will update details on this in our next report.  Note: hopefully, the whole thing will just end up being a wet system minus strong winds.  Anyway, RAIN & lots of showers will be the rule from around 2 or 3 am Sat morning through mid-day Sunday.  Memorial Day itself is now trending dry and cool, as the winds shift to a westerly flow.  

 

Other than showers in the far NW corner of WA and over Vancouver Is Tue night, June 1st, it should remain mostly dry around the PNW through Fri June 3.  There may be a couple weak systems approaching from the west, only to fizzle out before arrival along the coast.  Temperatures will be seasonal.  

 

The first weekend of June was trending on the damp side, but the last few model runs have that moisture threat slowly fading away.  Let’s hope so, as growers need the better farming weather.  Check here again Fri for an update.  

 

 

Getting excited about a 6-8 day stretch of dry, mild weather seems odd, but we all know that would result in the longest dry period in seemingly forever.  Break out the t-shirts and Mug up for more details.  

 

Indeed, we are at the beginning of what could end up as a 7-8 day dry spell.  There will be a day or two with increased cloudiness (and maybe a shower over the northern portion of Vancouver Is), but overall pleasant farming and outdoor wx is before us.  Finally.  The next period of rain/showers & cool temps could start next Fri or hold off until the middle of the Memorial Day weekend.  Latest models runs are trending for the later.  Temps should range from the 60s into the middle 70s over the next week.  Pollination buzzzzz.

 

Memorial Day weekend:  With either scenario mentioned above, Saturday looks mostly dry & warm.  A wet cycle is charting to return on Sunday May 29.  Memorial Day itself looks damp & unseasonably on the cold side.  Plan accordingly for any outdoor activity.  We will update this on the 23rd.

 

The week following the holiday is trending cool & damp for just about every day.  Crop development will again slow, if the projected temperatures verify; sweaters or jackets will be needed again. 

 

“An expert can take something you already know and make it sound confusing.”  

 

-Rufus

 

A favorable turn toward normal May weather is in the works.  In fact, a 5-to-6 consecutive day dry spell is on the charts.  Read on for the reveal.

 

This week will start dry, although cloudiness will hinder the sunshine, at times.  The next WET system is due to arrive early Wed, so complete any ground work ahead of Wed, if the soil is dry enough.  Thu looks to be quite chilly for May, with showers early.  Fri morning could be the coldest of the week, although temps should hold above freezing (excluding the usual cold spots east of the Cascades).  The turn starts this Friday.

 

Yes.  Model solutions are beginning to agree on a DRY SPELL that could last through the coming weekend on into the middle of next week.  That would be a 6 day run, if it verifies.  For Vancouver Island  NW WA Patrons, an increase in the onshore flow late Sat & Sunday will likely push cool marine clouds inland.  Temperatures in OR should remain mild.  For Monday - Wed, May 23-25, cloudiness over the Puget Sound is possible, with sunny Western OR topping out in the upper 60s to lower 70s.  Thursday May 26 could be one more dry day, or the beginning of the turn back to wet, too early to call.

 

Memorial Weekend approaches with another turn in the weather.  Unfortunately, back to damp, chilly conditions.  Indications are that by Thu or Fri May 26,27 rain will return, on & off, through the holiday weekend.  Sat May 28 may be the drier/warmer day of the holiday.  A second front arrives from the NW on Sunday, ushering in what could be the coldest Memorial Day in recent memory.  Time will tell.

 

June is trending to start out dry & mild.  

 

Topical Tropical:  The 1st tropical storm of the season has been showing on the long-range charts and tracking towards the west coast of FL around Wed May 25.  The system could begin to develop southwest of Cuba, near the Yucatan.  Should this verify, ANA will be the name and the media will get fired up.

 

 

 

A few dry days are showing up.  When?  Let’s review the latest outlook.

 

A mild weekend ahead in regard to temperatures, but it will not be totally dry.  A system will arrive this evening, Fri the 13th, essentially from the west, hence the warmer temps (in the 60s).  Rain will turn to showers later Sat.  Another cooler storm will spin into SW BC on Sunday, so Patrons around the Puget Sound can expect additional precipitation; OR Patrons should be mostly dry.

 

Next week looks to open with a dry, mild Monday & Tue. There is the chance for a weak disturbance to usher in showers later on Tue, but that has been trending away.  Wed will be WET, as a cold front moves across the region; continued showers on Thu with cooler temperatures, yet again.  Here comes some dry.  Fri May 20 and on into the weekend of the 21st & 22nd, we are seeing nice Spring weather on the charts.  Plus, we see dry, mild conditions holding until late Tue night, May 24.  That’s a potential 4-5 day stretch of warm, dry wx.  For our Patrons in the eastern basins and high desert, a weak Low may usher in showers or thunderstorms Mon May 23.

 

Rain & showers are charted to return Wed the 25th over the entire PNW, as will the pesky chilly temperatures to close the week.  We are getting hints that Memorial Day weekend could be dry & very warm, with a muggy warm front possible moving in from the SW late Sunday May 29.