EDITOR’S NOTE: Gordon didn’t mention the Coast Range passes – there is a winter storm warning for heavy wet snow (up to 12″) throughout the weekend; and a hazardous seas warning for mariners. So be prepared for winter driving conditions over the passes, and mariners are advised to stay in port until the seas subside. The calendar might say March but Winter still has a grip on us.
By Gordon McCraw, Meteorologist for the Tillamook County Pioneer
Friday, March 3, 2023
The satellite picture clearly shows a low pressure area west of British Columbia and another in the Gulf of Alaska. These will be the weather makers after today as the lows are forecasted to drift southward thru the weekend and settle off the coast of Washington and Oregon where they sit for much of next week. This will bring us showers and cooler temperatures that could give us some low level snowshowers and possibly some patchy ice from late night thru the early morning hours while dumping more snow through the passes.
Today, isolated showers and the forecast for tonight is for more scattered showers and possibly some thunderstorms, and some of these heavier showers could give us some small hail. Winds tonight southerly 10-15 gusting to 25, the low near 36, the snow level 1400’ but falling down to near 1000’ after midnight, but briefly lower in the heavier showers.
Showers persist tomorrow, Saturday, some bringing brief periods of low level snow thru mid-morning, still a slight chance of a thunderstorm, winds southerly 14-18 gusting to 25, the high near 44, the snow level lifting back up near 1500’. Still the showers with possible thunderstorms tomorrow night, the snow level falling to 1000’ again, then down to or below 500’ after midnight, winds southerly 8-12, lows dropping to near 32 so low level snowshowers possible after midnight.
A chance of snowshowers thru midmorning again Sunday, winds southerly 5-10, the high near 46, the snow level lifting to near 1000’. More rainshowers Sunday night, the snow level falling to near 500’ again, the overnight temperatures falling to near 33 so low snowshowers possible in the early morning hours again.
A chance of showers Monday, possibly more low snow showers thru mid-morning as the snow level starts lifting to near 1000’, the high near 45. A little warmer that night, the low down to near 35, the snow level around 1300’.
Mostly cloudy and rainy Tuesday, the snow level around 1500’, highs near 44, the showers continue Tuesday night, the snow level back down to 1000’, lows near 35.
Showers likely still Wednesday, the snow level around 1500’, highs near 44, more showers Wednesday night, the snow level down to 1000’, lows still around 35.
Things look a little warmer Thursday, the high near 48, still that chance of showers, the snow level climbing from 1500’ that morning to 2700’ that afternoon.
Some of the models continue to show an atmospheric river setting up after this, still too far out to offer any credible details just yet.
And this is your first warning, we will be springing forward Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 2:00am. The time change is right around the corner! Also, if things seem to be getting weird, we have a full moon coming next Tuesday, the 7th. One result for sure is slightly higher tides during that period.