By Rod Hill on 2010-04-06
The low pressure center I have been tracking moved more slowly than I anticipated and also pushed a little farther inland. The result was severe afternoon thunderstorms at the central coast and high damaging south winds here in the valley. South wind gusts Monday afternoon and early evening reached 49 mph at Aurora, 54 in Salem, 53 in Forest Grove, 46 in Kalama and close to 50 mph at PDX. The valley metro areas had no lightning detected during the time of the strong winds. Several reports of down trees and power outages were scattered. Monday was a reminder to be on alert when a forecaster talks about tracking a low pressure center close to shore. Monday's forecast did call for possible thunderstorms. The magnitude of the storms and development of strong gusty south winds was not expected by this forecaster. We all know now, it takes only a slight change in position and movement for a a low center to produce high valley winds and severe thunderstorms. A severe thunderstorm is defined as a storm with either 3/4" hail and or wind gust of 58 mph or higher. The criteria does not include lightning, although strikes are typically associated with said thunderstorms. Next strong cold front is on tap for early Thursday.
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