[willamette-fcst] Forecast - Friday, February 5th, 2010
Willamette Valley Ag/Burning Forecast
willamette-fcst at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Fri Feb 5 08:55:10 PST 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.
Issued:
Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 9:00am.
Burn Advisory:
Recommended burn times for agricultural burning are from now to 3:30pm.
Straw stack burning is allowed from now until 3:30pm.
...The rules for stack burning have changed. Stack burning
permits must be obtained from ODA Smoke Management Personnel...
Weather Discussion:
A weakening frontal system dropped from about one-tenth to
one-third of an inch of rain across western Oregon
overnight. Between a few hundredths and one-quarter of an
inch of water-equivalent precipitation fell across central
and eastern Oregon. Snow levels were between 4000 and 5000
feet overnight, so areas east of the Cascades saw a mix of
rain and snow. A few inches of new snow fell in the higher
elevations of the Cascades.
The main cloud-shield from this weather system was pushing
into Idaho at mid-morning, with mostly cloudy skies
remaining across Oregon. Some rain and snow showers were
still falling over mainly northeastern Oregon, with Doppler
radar also showing some light rain showers over northwestern
Oregon. It was very mild overnight, west of the Cascades,
where temperatures stayed mostly in the mid and upper 40s.
Temperatures east of the Cascades varied with elevation.
Higher locations stayed near freezing with occasional light
snow, while the lower elevations stayed above freezing with
occasional light rain.
A southwesterly split-flow jet stream pattern, forced by a
strong El Nino event in the tropical Pacific Ocean, will
continue the mild early February weather across western
Oregon. The ODA surface analysis showed offshore pressure
gradients across western Oregon with southeasterly winds in
the 5-15 mph range. Infrared satellite imagery showed some
middle and high clouds circulating across northwestern
Oregon this morning, but the next organized weather system
was still about 200 miles off the northern California coast.
residual low clouds this morning should yield to some sunbreaks
today across western Oregon. The air aloft is warm enough to
support temperatures climbing into the mid 50s this afternoon,
if we get enough mixing of the air mass...which is likely.
Surface Winds:
SE 5-12 this morning, SE 5-15 this afternoon.
Transport Winds:
S 15 this morning, S 18 this afternoon.
Atmospheric Ventilation Conditions:
Maximum mixing height today will be near 2500 feet. Ventilation index 45.
High Temperature:
Salem\'s high temperature today will be near 56.
Humidities:
Minimum relative humidity will be near 59%.
Sunrise/Sunset:
Salem sunset tonight: 5:26pm; sunrise tomorrow: 7:25am.
Extended Outlook:
The next weather system is forecast to split apart, with the
bulk of the moisture moving south, into California, on
Saturday. However, western Oregon will get plenty of clouds
and at least some light rain...mainly south. Weak
southwesterly flow aloft will maintain fairly high snow
levels, for early February, and mild surface temperatures.
A transitory ridge of high pressure will bring drying to
western Oregon Sunday, with continued very mild
temperatures. Snow levels will remain near the Cascade
passes. The next system is forecast to come onshore Monday.
It will also weaken, as it encounters the split-flow jet
stream pattern over Oregon but should be strong enough to
spread some light rain and snow back across the state. Snow
levels are forecast to drop a little lower with this system,
with accumulation snow over the Cascades passes
likely...mainly south.
Another transitory ridge is forecast to move onshore late
Tuesday and Wednesday with precipitation tapering off across
western Oregon. Stronger weather systems are forecast to
come onshore next Thursday and Friday, which could bring
high coastal winds, along with more rain and mountain snow
to western Oregon.
Sat (06 Feb): Rain Likely South. Chance of Rain North. Snow Level 4000 Feet. 37/52
Sun (07 Feb): Showers Ending with Some Sunbreaks. Mild. Snow Level 4000 Feet. 37/54
Mon (08 Feb): Light Rain and Mountain Snow Likely. Snow Level 3-4000 Feet. 36/50
Tue (09 Feb): Mostly Cloudy. Decreasing Chance of Showers. Snow Level 3-4000 Feet. 39/52
Wed (10 Feb): Patchy AM Fog. Partly Sunny. Increasing Clouds in the Afternoon. 34/50
Thu (11 Feb): Rain Likely...Possibly Windy Coast. Snow Level 5000 Feet. 40/53
Fri (12 Feb): Rain Likely...Possibly Windy Coast. Snow Level 4-5000 Feet. 40/51
ODA Meteorologist
weather at oda.state.or.us
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