[willamette-fcst] Forecast - Friday, October 30th, 2009

[Willamette Valley Ag/Burning Forecast]

Daily Smoke Management Forecast




Oregon Department of Agriculture
Smoke Management Program
Weather Outlook and Field Burning Advisory for Willamette Valley Growers and Fire Districts.

Issued: 
     Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 9:00am.

Burn Advisory:
     Agricultural burning is allowed.  Suggested burn times are from now until 4:00pm.
     Straw stack burning is allowed from now until 4:00pm.

Weather Discussion:
     The warm front that brought rain to western Oregon on
     Thursday weakened as it pushed inland Thursday night. 
     Southerly winds continued to warm temperatures overnight, as
     the rain across western Oregon tapered off.  Thursday\'s
     highs across much of the region occurred at midnight, with
     Willamette Valley temperatures climbing into the mid 50s.

     Temperatures were in the mid to upper 50s, at mid-morning,
     under mostly cloudy skies. In the wake of the warm front,
     the ODA surface analysis continued to show southerly
     pressure gradients across western Oregon.  Mild southerly
     winds will locally gust to around 20 mph today, from the
     coast to the Cascades, making for a rather balmy
     late-October day.  Valley highs should climb into the mid
     60s this afternoon, with some sunbreaks.  

Surface Winds:
     S 5-15 G20 this morning, S 5-15 G20 this afternoon.
Transport Winds:
     SSW 20 this morning, SSW 20 this afternoon.
Atmospheric Ventilation Conditions:
     Maximum mixing height today will be near 2000 feet.  Ventilation index 40.
High Temperature:
     Salem\'s high temperature today will be near 64.
Humidities:
     Minimum relative humidity will be near 70%.
Sunrise/Sunset:
     Salem sunset tonight: 6:03pm; sunrise tomorrow: 7:50am.

Extended Outlook:
     A cold front is forecast to bring a pretty good burst of
     rain to western Oregon early Saturday morning, with
     one-quarter to one-half inch possible...especially in the
     northern Willamette Valley.  The front will quickly push
     east of the Cascades, by midday, with some showers will
     likely follow the cold front onshore.  However, the air mass
     behind this front is not very cold, so showers should begin
     tapering off by Saturday evening, with the snow level
     staying above 5000 feet.

     A flat and broad upper-level ridge of high pressure is
     forecast to build into the coastline Sunday, with continued
     drying of the air mass possibly leading to some sunbreaks. 
     A weak weather system may brush the northwestern corner of
     the state, with some light rain, late Monday.  The ridge is
     then forecast to strongly rebuild over the west coast,
     giving Oregon a break from the damp weather for much of next
     week. A chance of light rain returns by next Friday, mainly
     in the north.

Tomorrow (31 Oct):  Rain Early...Decreasing Showers in the Afternoon.  52/59

Sun (01 Nov):  Areas of AM Fog.  Partly Sunny.  40/58

Mon (02 Nov):  Areas of AM Fog.  Mostly Cloudy.  Slight Chance of Rain North Late.  38/58

Tue (03 Nov):  Areas of AM Fog.  Partly Sunny in the Afternoon.  40/60

Wed (04 Nov):  Areas of AM Fog.  Partly Sunny in the Afternoon.  40/60

Thu (05 Nov):  Areas of AM Fog.  Partly Sunny in the Afternoon.  40/60

Fri (06 Nov):  Increasing Clouds.  Chance of Light Rain...Mainly North.  43/57

ODA Meteorologist
weather at oda.state.or.us