[willamette-fcst] Forecast - Friday, February 12th, 2010

Willamette Valley Ag/Burning Forecast willamette-fcst at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Fri Feb 12 12:10:14 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.

     ...Next Update Scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, 2009 at 9:00am...

Issued: 
     Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 12:00pm.

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:
     After a rainy and blustery night, another Pacific storm system spread more rain back across
     western Oregon this morning.  Satellite imagery showed the main cloud-band had pushed just
     east of the Willamette Valley, over the Cascades, late this morning.  Doppler radar and
     surface reports showed that the steady rain was tapering off across the Willamette Valley.
     
     The ODA surface analysis still showed fairly strong southerly pressure gradients, with 
     winds gusting to around 35 mph along the coast and to about 25 mph in the Willamette
     Valley.  Temperatures were still near the 50 degree mark, much like earlier this morning.

     An upper-level trough will move onshore this afternoon, maintaining shower activity across
     western Oregon.  Colder air aloft will lower the snow level to at or below 4000 feet, so
     several inches of snow are likely over the Cascade passes by this evening.  The air mass
     will also become increasingly unstable this afternoon, with a chance of thunderstorms along
     the coast and a slight chance inland.  Temperatures will not likely climb more than a
     couple more degrees this afternoon, with highs mostly in the low 50s.  Southerly winds will
     slowly decrease during the afternoon but will continue to be gusty at times...especially
     near showers.

Surface Winds:
     S 12-22 G30 this afternoon.
Transport Winds:
     SSW 30 this afternoon.
Atmospheric Ventilation Conditions:
     Maximum mixing height today will be near 2500 feet.  Ventilation index 88.
High Temperature:
     Salem\'s high temperature today will be near 53.
Humidities:
     Minimum relative humidity will be near 70%.
Sunrise/Sunset:
     Salem sunset tonight: 5:36pm; sunrise tomorrow: 7:16am.

Extended Outlook:
     A warm front will bring a chance of light rain Saturday morning, with a transitory ridge
     of high pressure drying things out Saturday afternoon.  Temperatures could become quite
     mild, with some afternoon sunbreaks...mainly south.  Freezing levels will jump well
     above the Cascade passes by Saturday afternoon.
  
     A weak cold front will likely spread light rain back across western Oregon Sunday,
     with snow levels likely remaining above the Cascade passes.  Monday looks to be
     mostly cloudy but mild, with a warm front bringing some sprinkles to northern sections
     of western Oregon by Monday evening.  A cold front is forecast to swing onshore Monday
     night and early Tuesday.  Snow levels may drop back to the Cascade passes Tuesday.

     A building upper-level ridge of high pressure is still forecast to bring mostly sunny
     and mild weather to the region Wednesday through Friday of next week, with offshore flow.

Sat (13 Feb):  Chance of AM Light Rain...Mainly North. Snow Level Rising to 6000 Feet.  44/60

Sun (14 Feb):  Rain Likely.  Snow Level 5500 Feet.  44/55

Mon (15 Feb):  Increasing Chance of Light Rain...Mainly North.  Snow Level 6000 Feet.  38/57

Tue (16 Feb):  Chance of Rain...Mainly North.  Snow Level 4-5000 Feet.  42/53

Wed (17 Feb):  Areas of AM Fog.  Becoming Mostly Sunny & Mild.  36/57

Thu (18 Feb):  Mostly Sunny and Spring-Like.  35/62

Fri (19 Feb):  Mostly Sunny and Mild.  35/60

ODA Meteorologist
weather at oda.state.or.us



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