[willamette-fcst] Forecast - Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Tue Apr 6 12:12:59 PDT 2010

Daily Smoke Management Forecast

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

     The daily Willamette Valley Agricultural Weather Forecast will become a seasonal product,
     as of Friday April 16th. The last broadcast and email of this forecast will be Thursday,
     April 15th. This product will return as the \"Willamette Valley Field Burning Weather
     Forecast,\" issued daily via email and broadcast on WPOZ 585, beginning Thursday July 1st.

Issued: 
     Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 at 12:00pm.

Burn Advisory:
     Recommended burn times for agricultural burning are from now until 5:30pm.
     Stack burning is not allowed.

Weather Discussion:
     Shower activity was beginning to taper off this morning across northwestern Oregon, but
     strong onshore flow was still enhancing the showers over the western slopes of the
     northern Cascades and coastal range.  The snow level near is 2500 feet and ODOT road
     cameras showed snow-packed road surfaces over the Cascade passes late this morning, with
     pass temperatures near freezing.

     Southerly winds were also slowly decreasing across northwestern Oregon...generally in
     the 5-15 mph range late this morning. Temperatures were in the mid to upper 40s across the
     Willamette Valley and upper 40s to low 50s along the coast.  Doppler radar and surface
     reports indicated that scattered showers were still falling as far south as Roseburg, being
     fueled by a strong onshore flow.  Satellite imagery showed cloudy skies covering most of
     western Oregon, with some sunbreaks along the coast and in the Medford area.  Their were
     numerous breaks in the overcast east of the Cascades. 

     A building ridge of high pressure will turn the flow aloft northwesterly this afternoon
     and begin to stabilize the air mass over western Oregon.  That should lead to some
     sunbreaks, with the showers ending by this evening.  Slight warming aloft and glimpses
     of sunshine should help temperatures climb into the low to mid 50s this afternoon.
     Partial clearning will allow valley temperatures to drop into the mid to upper 30s
     overnight.  A weak warm front will keep some clouds over the northwest corner of the
     state tonight, with a slight chance of light rain along the north coast.

Surface Winds:
     SW 5-15 this afternoon.
Transport Winds:
     W 15 this afternoon.
Atmospheric Ventilation Conditions:
     Maximum mixing height today will be near 4500 feet.  Ventilation index 90.
High Temperature:
     Salem\'s high temperature today will be near 53.
Humidities:
     Minimum relative humidity will be near 57%.
Sunrise/Sunset:
     Salem sunset tonight: 7:46pm; sunrise tomorrow: 6:42am.

Extended Outlook:
     Wednesday looks dry and warmer, with the possible exception of a weak warm front possibly
     bringing some sprinkles or very light light rain to the north coast in the morning.
     Temperatures could recover close to normal Wednesday afternoon, with some sunshine.      

     The break in the weather will be brief, with another strong cold front forecast to spread
     more rain onshore in the pre-dawn hours Thursday and into the Willamette Valley around
     sunrise.  The cold front will also bring blustery south winds to both the coast and the
     Willamette Valley.

     An upper-level trough will keep a chance of showers over the region Friday.  We will likely
     get a break in the action, on Saturday, with the next weather system moving into the
     region Sunday.  Cool and showery conditions will likely persist into early next week, with
     continued unseasonably low snow levels.  

Tomorrow (07 Apr):  Becoming Partly Sunny and Warmer.  37/61

Thu (08 Apr):  Rain, Blustery, & Cooler.  Snow Level Dropping to 3000 Feet.  42/51

Fri (09 Apr):  Chance of Showers.  Snow Level 3-4000 Feet.  34/53

Sat (10 Apr):  Partly Cloudy.  Chance of Showers.  Snow Level 4-5000 Feet.  33/59

Sun (11 Apr):  Increasing Showers.  Cooler.  Snow Level 4000 Feet.  38/56

Mon (12 Apr):  Showers Likely.  Cooler.  Snow Level 3-4000 Feet.  38/53

Tue (13 Apr):  Showers Likely.  Continued Cool.  Snow Level 3-4000 Feet.  38/53

ODA Meteorologist
weather at oda.state.or.us