By Gordon McCraw, Meteorologist for the Tillamook County Pioneer
LISTEN HERE:
The low pressure area off the coast continues to weaken and appears to be getting absorbed by a larger low pressure area that has formed west of northern California. Because of this, we were left with some light showers this morning then a partly sunny and dry afternoon. By tonight, a high pressure ridge is pushing down from the northwest bringing mostly clear skies with northerly winds 5-10, the low down near 40.
Easter weekend is looking really nice with mostly sunny skies expected for tomorrow and Sunday. The winds still northerly 5-10, highs near 60, and partly cloudy nights, lows near 41. If you by chance live in the higher parts of the Coast Range, know that with radiational cooling, early morning frost is possible in the expected mid 30s temperatures, so watch your plants.
The next Pacific front starts to push the ridge eastward Monday, but we still see the mostly sunny skies with the high up near 60, and a partly cloudy night, the low near 43.
Tuesday also looks mostly sunny to start but the front starts to push in some clouds that afternoon along with a slight chance of rain with a better chance of rain that night, highs near 62, lows near 42. Then, Wednesday looks rainy and breezy with the front, turning to showers by Wednesday night behind the front that persist into Thursday, highs drop into the low 50s, lows into the mid to upper 30s.
And that’s the weather, now for a couple of other things. First, today is a special day! March 29th, 1973, was the day the United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam was dis-established and the day U.S. troops departed Vietnam. In 2017, then President Trump signed into Law an Act that designated every March 29th as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. I will possibly reveal my age by saying that I am considered both a Vietnam War Veteran, and even a Desert Storm Veteran, as I served in the U.S Navy during those periods. If you know any of the brave men or women who served our county during the Vietnam War, today is a good day to say Thank You for your Service to our country!
Next, for the last few weeks, I have been dealing with doctors and have been diagnosed with the number one disease in men over 67, yep, I fall into that category, I have Prostrate Cancer. Hopefully they have found it early enough that by removing the prostrate, I will remain Cancer Free, but that does require surgery. I will go in for this surgery next week so I will be, I guess we will call it, on a Leave of Absence from forecasting for a while. Good news, we are into Spring, and Summer is not that far off, so the weather should be getting better, so no major surprises in the weather should be pending for a while! To the men out there, I now see the benefit of Annual Physicals as that’s how this journey started. My PSA numbers, while still within the “Normal” range, were higher than previous annual tests, so I was sent to a Urologist and after some testing, and a biopsy, the cancer was discovered. Again, being in the early stages we think, we are hoping the prognosis is good, but it does require surgery. Men, if you are over 65 years of age, get that Annual Physical!!! To the citizens I have supported, for about 17 years now, quoting Arnold…I’ll be back! See yall down the road…
EDITOR’S NOTE: Thank you Gordon for sharing your story and journey! We love you and are sending you prayers for good health and healing. We are very thankful that you’ve been proactive with your health care – yes – annual physicals for EVERYONE. So many illnesses and diseases are curable, treatable and preventable. We will keep our readers updated on your recovery and look forward to more of Gordon’s weather updates (and more) in a couple weeks. If readers would like to send Gordon a “get well” note, email to gordon@gamweather.com.