High Wind in Oregon, January 7, 2009

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
956 PM PST TUE JAN 6 2009

UPDATED FOR WARNINGS LIST

.UPDATE...TIGHT SURFACE GRADIENTS ARE CREATING STRONG WINDS ACROSS
THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND ADJACENT VALLEYS. HIGHER WINDS ALOFT
ARE BRIEFLY MIXING TO SURFACE TO CREATE SUDDEN BURSTS OF MUCH
HIGHER SURFACE WINDS. SURFACE GRADIENTS DECREASE BY 12Z/4 AM AND
850 MB WINDS DECREASE BY 15Z/7 AM. HAVE ISSUED MULTIPLE WIND
WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ENDING AT 6 AM. MODELS INDICATE STANDING
WAVE IN SOUTHWEST KLICKITAT COUNTY WITH TIGHTEST GRADIENT WEST OF
GOLDENDALE...WHERE THE HIGH WINDS WERE FIRST REPORTED AND SOME
DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED.   COONFIELD

&&

.AVIATION...0Z TAFS. STRONG WINDS ALOFT ARE OCCASIONALLY MIXING TO
THE SURFACE AND SUDDENLY INCREASING WINDS. THESE WINDS ALOFT WILL
CONTINUE UNTIL 12-15Z WITH LLWS AT PSC AND ALW. A WARM FRONT
STRETCHES FROM NORTHWEST WASHINGTON TO SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON. ANY
PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE REGION OVERNIGHT WILL BE RAIN WITH BEST
CHANCES OCCURRING AT KALW. CIGS AND VSBYS WILL MAINLY BE VFR
CONDITIONS WITH BRIEF MVFR CONDITIONS FROM PASSING SHOWERS MAINLY
AFFECTING KALW KPDT AND KPSC TAF SITES. WINDS 10-25G35KT OVERNIGHT.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 234 PM PST TUE JAN 6 2009/

SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...THE AREA CONTINUES TO
SEE A MOIST NORTHWEST FLOW AS DISTURBANCES RIDE OVER A RIDGE IN THE
EASTERN PACIFIC. TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE
AND NEARLY ALL LOCATIONS HAVE FINALLY RISEN ABOVE FREEZING. HAVE
ALREADY ENDED THE FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN THE YAKIMA VALLEY AND
THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON. TEMPERATURES IN THE BLUE
MOUNTAINS ARE IN THE MID 30S SO WILL ALLOW THE WINTER STORM WARNING
TO EXPIRE AT 3 PM PST. WITH WARMER AIR STREAMING IN...TEMPERATURES
OVERNIGHT SHOULD STAY ABOVE FREEZING IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S
TONIGHT. THUS THE AREA WILL SEE RAIN TONIGHT WITH A TENTH OF AN INCH
OR SO IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS AND UP TO AN INCH ALONG THE CASCADE
CREST AND UP TO A HALF INCH IN THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS. WINDY
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAIN AND
RIDGE TOP LOCATIONS. THE EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES WILL
SEE VERY STRONG WINDS AT TIMES. A FEW RIDGE TOP LOCATIONS ARE
REPORTING GUSTS TO OVER 70 MPH THIS AFTERNOON AND EXPECT THIS WILL
CONTINUE THIS EVENING. WHILE WINDS THIS STRONG ARE NOT EXPECTED
LOWER DOWN...MAY NEED TO ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY LATER ON AS WINDS AT
GOLDENDALE ARE APPROACHING 30 MPH. TOMORROW WILL SEE THE FLOW TURN
MORE WESTERLY THEN SOUTHWESTERLY TOMORROW NIGHT AS THE RIDGE GETS
FLATTENED AND MOVES ASHORE. THE WARM TEMPERATURES AND RAIN WILL
CONTINUE WITH CONTINUED GENEROUS AMOUNTS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND
LIGHTER AMOUNTS IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. THE COMBINATION OF RAIN ON
MELTING SNOW WILL RAISE SMALLER STREAMS AND RIVERS IN THE AREA AND A
FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED STARTING TOMORROW EVENING FOR PORTIONS
OF THE AREA. BREEZY WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE AREA. ON THURSDAY A
TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA AND
THIS WILL GIVE US ANOTHER SHOT OF RAIN BUT IT WILL ALSO SHOVE THE
RIDGE EASTWARD AND CUT OFF THE MOISTURE TAP WITH ITS PASSAGE. COOLER
AIR WILL MOVE IN THURSDAY NIGHT AND PRECIPITATION WILL TAPER OFF TO
SHOWERS WITH RAIN IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS AND SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS.
PERRY

LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER
PATTERN WILL TAKE PLACE FRIDAY AS A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS
ALONG THE WEST COAST. THIS WILL PLACE THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST UNDER A
FAIRLY DRY NORTHWEST FLOW THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD AND LIKELY
BEYOND. THERE WILL BE ONE WEAK SYSTEM CLIPPING THE REGION ON SUNDAY
THAT COULD BRING A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS TO THE WASHINGTON CASCADES AND
CLIP NORTHEAST OREGON...BUT OTHER THAN THAT THE FORECAST AREA LOOKS
DRY THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD. LIKELY TO SEE INCREASING INVERSIONS
DURING THIS TIME PERIOD WHICH MEANS DEVELOPMENT OF FOG IS A
POTENTIAL AND COLD AIR BEING TRAPPED IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN.

HYDROLOGY...THE VERY WET SYSTEM IS MOVING ONSHORE WITH HEAVY RAIN
TO OVERSPREAD THE REGION.  THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CASCADES SHOULD
SEE CONTINUOUS RAIN...WHILE THE WEST FACING SLOPES OF THE BLUE
MOUNTAINS SEE ONE ROUND OF HEAVY RAIN TONIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY
AND ANOTHER ROUND WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND WITH THE COLD FRONT ON
THURSDAY.  RAIN AMOUNTS COULD BE 5 TO 10 INCHES ALONG THE CREST OF
THE WASHINGTON CASCADES...WITH 2 TO 4 INCHES EASTWARD IN THE CLE
ELUM AND EASTON AREAS.  OVER THE BLUE MOUNTAINS...AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.  THE MODELS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT IN THE
PLACEMENT OF THE PRECIPITATION BULLSEYE OVER SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.
THIS WILL AFFECT THE BASINS INVOLVED AND MAY CAUSE THE HIGHER FLOWS
IN THE COPPEI AND TOUCHET RIVER BASINS VS THE MAIN STEM WALLA WALLA.
SUBSTANTIAL SNOW PACK IS ON THE GROUND IN UNION AND WALLOWA COUNTIES
AND THIS AREA COULD SEE AROUND 1 INCH OF RAIN.  THIS MAY CAUSE
DRAINAGE AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD CONCERNS.   A FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN
ISSUED FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED AREA AND WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY
EVENING. ML

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT  39  51  41  50 /  20  30  40  50
ALW  38  49  40  49 /  30  40  50  60
PSC  37  49  39  48 /  20  30  40  30
YKM  30  43  33  42 /  20  30  40  30
HRI  39  50  39  49 /  20  30  40  30
ELN  34  42  33  42 /  40  40  50  40
RDM  34  52  34  47 /  20  30  30  40
LGD  36  44  37  41 /  40  50  50  60
GCD  35  47  36  43 /  40  40  40  60
DLS  40  52  41  49 /  30  40  40  40

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR ORZ049-050-501-502.

     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 AM PST WEDNESDAY FOR ORZ042.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM PST WEDNESDAY FOR ORZ043-044-501-504.

WA...FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR WAZ029-030-501-502.

     HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 AM PST WEDNESDAY FOR WAZ026>028-502.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM PST WEDNESDAY FOR WAZ029.

&&

TI:YYG
FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON
76/76/76

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
945 PM PST TUE JAN 6 2009

UPDATED TO ADD HIGH WIND WARNING LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON AND
NORTH CENTRAL OREGON AND YAKIMA VALLEY

ORZ041>044-049-050-501>506-WAZ024-026>030-501-502-071415-
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON-NORTH CENTRAL OREGON-
CENTRAL OREGON-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON-GRANDE RONDE VALLEY-
WALLOWA COUNTY-FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
NORTHERN WHEELER AND SOUTHERN GILLIAM COUNTIES-JOHN DAY BASIN-
OCHOCO-JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS-
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF WASHINGTON-KITTITAS VALLEY-
YAKIMA VALLEY-LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON-
NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS-
EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON-
945 PM PST TUE JAN 6 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON
AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

FLOODING
     EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, EAST SLOPES
     OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE
     MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS, GRANDE
     RONDE VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE
     MOUNTAINS OF OREGON, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON

STRONG WIND
     EAST SLOPES OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, LOWER
     COLUMBIA BASIN OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
     OF WASHINGTON, NORTH CENTRAL OREGON, CENTRAL OREGON, LOWER
     COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
     OF OREGON, NORTHERN WHEELER AND SOUTHERN GILLIAM COUNTIES,
     YAKIMA VALLEY, KITTITAS VALLEY

A WARM FRONT MOVING ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT BRING GENEROUS AMOUNTS
OF RAIN TO THE MOUNTAINS...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE CASCADE CREST.
LESSER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. RISING SNOW
LEVELS AND CONTINUING PRECIPITATION WILL RESULT IN INCREASED RUNOFF
INTO STREAMS AND RIVERS SO A FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE
AREAS LISTED ABOVE. SEE LATEST FFAPDT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

STRONG WINDS ALOFT ARE MIXING TO THE SURFACE OVER EASTERN WASHINGTON
AND NORTHEAST OREGON. WINDS WILL SUDDENLY INCREASE BRIEFLY AS WINDS
MIX TO SURFACE. HIGH WIND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE EAST
SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES...LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF
WASHINGTON AND OREGON...YAKIMA VALLEY...NORTH CENTRAL OREGON...AND
THE KITTITAS VALLEY FOR WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 70 MPH.
STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ON EXPOSED RIDGETOPS. IN ADDITION WINDY WEST
WINDS WILL OCCUR OVER CENTRAL OREGON...AND THE FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE
MOUNTAINS OF OREGON AND WASHINGTON TONIGHT WITH SUSTAINED WINDS
BETWEEN 30 TO 40 MPH AND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. SEE PRODUCT PDXNPWPDT FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

FLOODING WEDNESDAY
     EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, EAST SLOPES
     OF THE SOUTHERN CASCADES OF WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE
     MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON, NORTHWEST BLUE MOUNTAINS, GRANDE
     RONDE VALLEY, WALLOWA COUNTY, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
     OF OREGON, NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED FOR STRONG WINDS TONIGHT AND
POSSIBLE FLOODING.

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

GRAPHICAL FORECASTS OF WEATHER HAZARDS OUT TO SEVEN DAYS
ARE DISPLAYED ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT:

WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/PDT/CURRENTHAZARDS/HWO.HTML

ALL LETTERS IN THE ABOVE URL ARE LOWER CASE...EXCEPT THE H IN
CURRENTHAZARDS.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
900 PM PST TUE JAN 06 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0827 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST KENNEWICK               46.20N 119.17W
01/06/2009  E50 MPH          BENTON             WA   PUBLIC

            LARGE TREES DOWN IN KENNEWICK.

&&

VPAPOL

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
913 PM PST TUE JAN 06 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0838 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG PASCO                   46.25N 119.13W
01/06/2009                   FRANKLIN           WA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TREE WAS UPROOTED AND FELL ON
            A HOUSE. ALSO A DOOR ON AN AIRPORT HANGER WAS DEMOLISHED
            AT PASCO AIRPORT.

0825 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 NE ELLENSBURG         47.02N 120.52W
01/06/2009                   KITTITAS           WA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN ACROSS ROAD.

&&

VPAPOL

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
946 PM PST TUE JAN 06 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0815 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 10 NNE YAKIMA           46.73N 120.45W
01/06/2009  M76 MPH          YAKIMA             WA   MESONET

            SOUTH UMTANUM RIDGE WIND GUST 76 MPH. ELEVATION IS 2060
            FEET.

&&

VPAPOL

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1002 PM PST TUE JAN 06 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NACHES                  46.73N 120.70W
01/06/2009                   YAKIMA             WA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WIRES, UTILITY POLES AND TREES DOWN IN THE NACHES AND
            TIETON AREAS.

&&

VESCIO

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1012 PM PST TUE JAN 06 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0900 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST KENNEWICK               46.20N 119.17W
01/06/2009  M63 MPH          BENTON             WA   MESONET

            KENNEWICK VISTA FIELD REPORTED 63 MPH.

&&

VPAPOL

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
1136 PM PST TUE JAN 06 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1105 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST RICHLAND                46.29N 119.29W
01/06/2009  E64 MPH          BENTON             WA   MESONET

            64 MPH WIND GUST AT RICHLAND AIRPORT.

1125 PM     HIGH SUST WINDS  11 N ELLENSBURG         47.16N 120.55W
01/06/2009  M40 MPH          KITTITAS           WA   MESONET

0945 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 10 NNE YAKIMA           46.73N 120.45W
01/06/2009  M71 MPH          YAKIMA             WA   MESONET

            SOUTH UMTANUM RIDGE WIND GUST TO 71 MPH. ELEVATION 2060
            FEET.

&&

VPAPOL