Rod's Weather Headlines

SATURDAY MORNING SNOW IN MARCH!

By Rod Hill on 2020-03-14

UPDATE SATURDAY 5:45 A.M.

A wide shield of precipitation at this hour is being reported as mostly light snow

with valley temps 32-36 degrees and most areas 33-34. Winds are less than

10 mph, except east gusts to 35 mph near the Gorge. Light accumulations are

a good bet through mid-morning with surface temps holding near to just above

32 degrees. Areas up in elevation at 1,000’ and higher may see a few inches

of snow. The Zoo Bridge at 600 feet on hwy 26 reports 33 degrees and Sandy

at 1,000’ reports 32.

Winter Advisories for the valley will likely be dropped after 9:00 a.m. as the moisture

field clears the area and daytime temps start to rise. The Coast Range and Cascades

will continue to see snow accumulations today with snow covered passes continuing

near and above 1,000 feet.

Moving forward, Portland and the valley will see daytime highs near 40 degrees and

possibly into the mid 40s with scattered afternoon rain showers. East winds will increase

and gusts near the gorge will reach 40 mph. Showers quickly end this evening and skies

clear and calm wind areas see low temps in the mid 20s!

Low Snow Levels Friday Night - Saturday Morning

By Rod Hill on 2020-03-13

Friday - Saturday forecast discussion for possible snow accumulation:

Light precipitation becomes possible Friday morning,

but heavier rainfall will hold off until closer to the noon hour as the developing

low pressure center approaches the coast. Look for rainy weather much of this

afternoon and periods of heavier rainfall Friday night. Daytime temps on this Friday

will hold in the 40s and likely go no higher from the noon hour. Morning variable

winds will back to the southeast - east to 15 mph.

As rain picks up overnight, so will the east winds, gusting to 25 mph by morning, to

30 near the gorge. The air mass gets sharply colder Friday night, dropping snow

levels for accumulating snow to near 1,000 feet. Lowest elevations in the valley,

including Portland will see overnight temps near freezing to holding in the mid 30s.

Due to available moisture amounts of .25-.50” Friday night through Saturday morning,

significant snow accumulation will be at least possible and this forecast should be

watched closely. Forecast guidance believes Portland will hold in the mid 30s with

rain and a snow mix in the air, but a few degree drop with east winds blowing and the air

mass could quickly drop accumulation snowfall.

Especially areas near 1,000 feet should watch for snow on the ground.

The threat of snow and winter precipitation quickly ends by noon Saturday as daytime

temps rise to 40 degrees and the moisture field dries up as the surface low drops to

our south. Saturday daytime highs may warm into the mid 40s with gusty east winds

15-35 mph.

Mostly dry weather Saturday evening and overnight and Sunday with partly cloudy skies.

A hard freeze in wind protected areas (blocked from the east wind) is still likely Sunday,

Monday and maybe Tuesday mornings. Coldest temps could drop into the mid 20s.

Rod Hill

This weekend's full snow moon

By Rod Hill on 2020-02-07

Hoping for partly cloudy skies Saturday night to see the full Snow Moon. Native American tribes called the 2nd full moon of each year the snow moon due to typical February snow on the ground.

Low Snow Levels Return This Weekend

By Rod Hill on 2020-01-31

After possible record highs near 60 degrees on this Friday, a Saturday cold front will
bring much colder air with rain at times, chilly northwest winds and falling snow levels
during the day to 2,000 feet.

The cool-off continues Saturday night, as snow levels lower to 1,000 feet, impacting both
the Cascade passes and the Coast Range through the day Sunday with snowy travel.

The 1000 feet snow level could also lead to potential snow on the ground over the high metro
hills and cities such as Sandy.

The cold air aloft will trigger Sunday heavy showers over the Rose City with likely hail at times
and a possible a snow mix in the air.

Monday brings back widespread freezing temps to start the day, but dry weather is expected.
Snow levels will rise during the day Tuesday as moisture returns. If Tuesday moisture returns earlier
than expected, a wintry mix will be possible before all changes to rain.

Rod Hill

EFO Tornado confirmed near Manzanita, Waterspout near Depoe Bay

By Rod Hill on 2020-01-21

NWS also reports a water spout at 11:05 just off the coast from Depoe Bay. These two incidents join a list of severe weather events that have developed along the coast on days where lightning activity was unusually high. Lightning detection showed numerous strikes near the coat from 3:00 am through the noon hour on this Tuesday. NWS reports no injuries with these two events.

Winter Advisory - Portland's final chance to see snow

By Rod Hill on 2020-01-17

WINTER ADVISORY THROUGH 10:00 AM FOR THE VALLEY. SCATTERED MIX OF SHOWERS FROM THE SOUTH MOVING NORTHEAST WITH EARLY TEMPS NEAR 32 DEGREES ACROSS THE REGION. ICY ROADS ARE EXPECTED DUE TO THE TEMPERATURE AND A SNOW MIX OF PASSING SHOWERS.

Winds are calm this morning with fog being reported. The forecast is on track for this morning to be Portland’s

final chance of the week to see flurries to a dusting of snow. Moisture will be scattered, but Clackamas county

may be the best bet for 1-2” of snow in the hills through mid-morning.

During the day, rain showers will increase later this afternoon as snow levels rise to 2,000 feet, ending the threat of low snow levels for the week. Wind will be southeast to 15 mph. with valley high temps in the low 40s and mid 40s at the coast. This evening, a push of steady rain will continue through the night as a low pressure center nears the coast. Overnight temps will hold steady near 40 degrees with breezy southeast winds 10-25 mph. Total rainfall through morning up to .50 inches.

Saturday sees early rain break into showers as snow levels rise to 4,000 feet.

Possible near freezing temps Sunday morning if clouds break. The next period of likely rain arrives Monday night.

Rod Hill

Wednesday early morning update discussion

By Rod Hill on 2020-01-15

Most areas report 28-33 degrees at this hour with a mix of partly cloudy skies and winds

starting to back to the east 5-15 mph. Black ice is a concern with the cold temps. Gorge

temps are much colder at 23 degrees in Hood River. With east wind picking up, the gorge

temps will be watched closely today.

Radar is picking up increasing moisture just offshore and snow showers are expected to

develop mid morning. Possible light accumulations are in the forecast, followed by warming

temps this afternoon and a transition to rain as moisture increases. East winds will become

gusty 15-30 mph and gusty to 45 near the gorge. While much of the valley will warm into the

upper 30s and possibly 40 degrees today, I will be watching for possible cold spots in east

Multnomah county, although forecast models are insistent that even Troutdale sees warming

and a transition to rain.

WINTER ADVISORY for the gorge once you get east of Troutdale, where 3-6” of snow could

accumulate through Thursday morning as east winds blow and temps hold near and below

freezing.

Wednesday night will see valley temps mostly hold above freezing, but as temps drop a bit,

a wintry mix will be possible. East winds will continue to be breezy 10-25 mph.

Thursday will see all rain after an early possible mix. Rain showers will decrease during the day

as valley temps warm to 40 degrees. Most dry weather to start Friday.

Snow levels will rise this afternoon to 2,000 feet and higher, meaning cold air pockets in the mountains

below 2,000’ will see an icy mix of precipitation.

At this point extended models have backed off on any extreme cold over the coming 2 weeks.

Rod Hill

Monday Update / Discussion - Winter Weather This Week

By Rod Hill on 2020-01-13

Colder air is on track to arrive Monday evening as all showers will turn to snow. Overnight winds
will remain from the west, which may hold ground temps in Portland at 32 degrees or slightly
warmer. However, freezing temps for much of the valley is a good bet and dustings of snow
to 2” on the ground at sea level will be a possibility by early Tuesday morning.

Precipitation Monday night and Tuesday will be scattered, meaning snow accumulations will also
be scattered. During the day Tuesday, winds remain from the west and daytime temps will warm into
the upper 30s.

COLD EAST WINDS WILL START TO BLOW EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING, LOCKING PORTLAND
AND MUCH OF THE VALLEY BELOW FREEZING .

Look for Wednesday snow flurries with east gusts to 45 mph near the gorge. Snow will pick up Wednesday
late afternoon or evening and accumulations of 6” or more through Thursday morning are a good bet at this
time.

During the day Thursday, as a big low approaches, wind fields from the south may develop, producing warming
for parts of the valley and a transition to rain, while near gorge locations continue to see east winds and snow
or ice. Complete warming and the “shut off” of gorge east winds is an unknown, but may occur Friday or
Saturday.

Rod Hill

Arctic Air Tracking For Next Tuesday

By Rod Hill on 2020-01-09

ARCTIC AIR IS ON TRACK TO SURGE SOUTHWARD OVER OUR REGION WITH THE MAIN

PUSH OF COLD ARRIVING DURING THE DAY TUESDAY.

Moisture patterns next week continue to be uncertain, but the cold and likely developing east

winds are likely. The coldest American GFS Model (below) shows dew points dropping into

single digits next Wednesday. Notice the potential for lows in the teens and daytime highs

in the 20s. Clouds, snow and east winds would possibly lead to warmer numbers, but it is

going to get cold! First chance of even light accumulations on the valley floor is Monday night -

Tuesday morning. Next Wednesday night through Thursday night warrants watching for a

possible snowstorm event. Well below normal temps show up a times through the end of

January.

Rod Hill

Heavy Rain, Wet Mountain Snow

By Rod Hill on 2019-12-18

A rainy Thursday will be followed by the heaviest rain rates Friday and Friday night. Total rainfall projections at Portland show up to 2.75" of total rain Wednesday night through Friday night. Saturday will see a cold front pass, breaking rain into showers and dropping an additional .40" of rainfall.

Mt Hood Resorts look to be unlucky with snow levels Friday during the heaviest moisture, warming above 5,000 and possibly to 6,000 feet. 36" of heavy wet snow will fall on the upper mountain, but pass level at Skibowl will see inches of rain.

Other headlines include a period of possible high winds at the coast Thursday night, Friday morning when peak south wind gusts may reach 60 mph.

Travelers Thursday morning into the Cascades and the upper Hood River Valley may find areas of freezing rain leading to dangerous ice coated roadways below 3,000 feet.

Rod Hill