Gordon McCraw Weather Report – Friday, December 8, 2023

Things are quieting down now as a ridge of high pressure presses across. The good news is this is allowing the rivers to recede more before the next atmospheric river brings in another round of rain starting tomorrow that persists through Sunday. We will start to see some higher clouds pushing in overnight tonight, associated with the front, with more clouds moving in over the early morning hours. The winds tonight are southeasterly 5-10, lows near 37.

The incoming front, with the associated atmospheric river, has been slowing and looks to now bring in the rain later tomorrow morning. The winds will be increasing to southerly 8-12 gusting to 20, tomorrow’s high temperature near 51. The heavier rain moves in tomorrow night, along with some stronger southerly winds, 25-30 with gusts to 40, gusts up around 45-55 possible at the beaches, overnight lows near 42.

More rain expected on Sunday, still heavy at times, and still windy, highs near 56, then the rain starts to ease Sunday night, the winds becoming southwesterly 5-10, lows near 46. It appears that, as far as rainfall, we are looking at 2 to 4” of rain for Saturday through Sunday with 3 to 5” possible in the Coast Range.

This rain is expected to increase the river levels once again, though the current forecasts have them all staying below Action Stage. The river forecast models still put the chance of reaching Minor Flood Level on the Wilson River at 10 to 25%. Something to watch if you live, work, or travel through flood prone areas.

So, we transition to showers Monday as the front exits, then we see high pressure building in and drying things out, some with mostly sunny skies expected for Tuesday, highs near 55, lows near 39. The models get mixed toward the middle of next week, so we keep a chance of rain or showers for Wednesday and Thursday, highs near 54, lows near 40.

Lastly, the increasing offshore winds (possibly Gale Force) expected over the weekend will drive up the seas that will again add to some increasing astronomically high tides that are building over the weekend, peaking the middle of next week. Add the increased river flows and this brings the chance of Tidal Overflow flooding to some areas. The heavy rain periods could also bring some brief Urban and Small Stream flooding.

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