Strong Wind in Oregon, October 2, 2012

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
655 PM PDT TUE OCT 2 2012

.UPDATE...INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGERY HAS BEEN SHOWING AN AREA OF
BLOWING DUST MOVING SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE COLUMBIA BASIN THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON. THIS AREA OF BLOWING DUST CONTINUES SOUTHWARD AND WILL BE
MOVING INTO OREGON BY 7PM. SPOTTERS IN THE UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN
REPORTED VISIBILITIES DROPPING BELOW 1/2 MILE AND THE ASOS AT PASCO
DROPPED TO 1 MILE. WIND GUSTS HAVE BEEN AROUND 25 TO AS MUCH AS 40
MPH IN THE AREA OF BLOWING DUST. ISSUED A BLOWING DUST ADVISORY FOR
WASHINGTON EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AND HAVE JUST EXTENDED IT INTO
OREGON. THE COLD FRONT WHICH PRECEDED THIS DUST CLOUD HAS ALREADY
MOVED INTO OREGON AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA.
WINDS CONTINUE TO BE GUSTY IN THE COLUMBIA BASIN WITH VISIBILITIES
RANGING FROM 1 TO 3 MILES. EXPECT THESE WINDS TO GRADUALLY DECREASE
THIS EVENING WITH THE DUST SETTLING BY 11 PM.

THE WIND ADVISORY FOR THE KITTITAS VALLEY HAS BEEN CANCELLED AS THE
WINDS THERE ARE ON THE DECREASE. WILL UPDATE THE FORECAST TO REFLECT
THE CURRENT CONDITIONS. DMH

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 449 PM PDT TUE OCT 2 2012/

SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...THE COLD FRONT
ASSOCIATED WITH A SYSTEM IN SOUTHEAST BRITISH COLUMBIA IS CURRENTLY
OVER NORTHERN WASHINGTON, JUST NORTH OF MOSES LAKE AND EPHRATA. THE
FRONT DOES SEEM TO BE ON TRACK TO BE ACROSS SOUTHERN WASHINGTON BY 5
PM. THE FRONT WILL THEN MOVE THROUGH EASTERN OREGON THIS EVENING.
THE FRONT WILL BE MOSTLY DRY, THOUGH A FEW UPSLOPE INDUCED SHOWERS
MAY OCCUR OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE BLUES AND WALLOWAS THIS
EVENING AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH. WINDS IN THE KITTITAS VALLEY ARE
NOW AROUND 30 MPH SUSTAINED AND SHOULD REMAIN IN THIS RANGE UNTIL
AROUND SUNSET WHEN THE GRADIENTS WILL WEAKEN. WINDS ACROSS THE REST
OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN WILL INCREASE BEHIND THE FRONT. THERE REMAINS
THE POSSIBILITY OF A BRIEF PERIOD OF BLOWING DUST IN THE BASIN AS
THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH AND FOR AN HOUR OR TWO AFTER PASSAGE. WILL
CONTINUE TO HOLD OFF ON BLOWING DUST ADVISORIES PENDING UPSTREAM
CONDITIONS. OVERNIGHT TEMPS AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS WILL BE COOLER
THAN HAVE BEEN SEEN RECENTLY, BUT AT THIS TIME EXPECT WINDS TO KEEP
MOST LOCATIONS ABOVE 32 DEGREES TONIGHT. WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
NIGHT WILL BE DRY WITH CLEAR TO MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. WINDS WILL
GENERALLY BE FROM THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST, THOUGH SOME LOCAL
DRAINAGE WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE AT NIGHT AND AROUND SUNRISE
(ESPECIALLY THURSDAY MORNING). OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPS WEDNESDAY NIGHT
AND THURSDAY NIGHT WILL BE QUITE COOL DUE TO THE DRY AIR MASS OVER
THE REGION. SOME LOW ELEVATION AREAS MAY NEED FREEZE WARNINGS
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHTS. 90

LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE
NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS AN AN UPPER HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE IN THE GULF OF
ALASKA WILL BRING NORTHERLY WINDS TO THE REGION ON FRIDAY WHICH WILL
KEEP FRIDAY'S HIGH TEMPERATURES 5-8 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. THE HIGH
PRESSURE RIDGE WILL BUILD EAST AND SOUTHEAST OVER BRITISH COLUMBIA
AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ON SATURDAY THUS PRODUCING DRY CONDITIONS
AND STARTING A GRADUAL WARMING TREND WHICH RETURNS DAYTIME HIGH
TEMPERATURES TO THE MID 60S TO LOWER 70S OVER THE WEEKEND. THE UPPER
LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL PERSIST THROUGH TUESDAY AND WILL
THEREFORE ALLOW DROUGHT CONDITIONS TO PERSIST IN THE FORECAST AREA.
POLAN

AVIATION...00Z TAFS...RECENT SURFACE OBSERVATIONS FROM KMWH AND
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY NWS SPOKANE INDICATES A WALL OF DUST IS
MOVING SOUTH AT 20 MPH INTO THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AT THIS TIME.
A 3-HOUR PERIOD OF IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY
CAUSED BY BLOWING DUST WILL OCCUR AT KPSC, KALW, AND KPDT BETWEEN
00Z AND 04Z THIS EVENING. BY LATE THIS EVENING VFR CONDITIONS WILL
RESUME AS WINDS SUBSIDE AND BLOWING DUST STARTS TO SETTLE. BREEZY
WEST WINDS LATE THIS AFTERNOON WILL RAPIDLY SHIFT TO THE NORTH AND
INCREASE TO AROUND 20 KTS WITH GUSTS OF 30-35 KTS AT KPSC, KALW, AND
KPDT. THESE WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS EVENING AND PRODUCE A
LARGE AREA OF BLOWING DUST ACROSS THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN.
INCREASING PRESSURE GRADIENTS ASSOCIATED WITH PASSAGE OF A COLD
FRONT MOVING SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE COLUMBIA BASIN WILL OCCUR LATE
THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. THE BLOWING DUST AND GUSTY WINDS
WILL POSE A HAZARD TO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AT KPSC, KALW, AND
KPSC.  POLAN

FIRE WEATHER...A DRY COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO PUSH ACROSS THE AREA
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH
LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL BE A CONCERN ACROSS FIRE WEATHER ZONES
631 AND WASHINGTON 675. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE
PREVIOUSLY LISTED ZONES THROUGH 11PM THIS EVENING. PLEASE REFER TO
PRODUCT PDXRFWPDT FOR FURTHER DETAILS. ALL OTHER AREAS CAN EXPECT
BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...BUT SHOULD
HAVE HIGH ENOUGH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TO STAY OUT OF RED FLAG
CRITERIA. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE MAINLY OUT OF THE NORTH THIS
EVENING 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE IN
STORE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS...HOWEVER A PERSISTENT DRY NORTHERLY
FLOW WILL KEEP MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES IN THE 20S TO LOW TEENS
ACROSS MOST AREAS...AND WITH A PERSISTENT NORTHERLY WIND AT
NIGHT...HUMIDITY RECOVERIES ARE EXPECTED TO BE POOR AS WELL. WEBER

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT  38  64  34  62 /   0   0   0   0
ALW  44  65  38  63 /   0   0   0   0
PSC  37  69  32  68 /   0   0   0   0
YKM  36  68  30  67 /   0   0   0   0
HRI  37  68  31  66 /   0   0   0   0
ELN  38  66  32  66 /   0   0   0   0
RDM  26  64  22  65 /   0   0   0   0
LGD  33  62  27  63 /  10   0   0   0
GCD  34  66  30  66 /   0   0   0   0
DLS  42  69  37  69 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...BLOWING DUST ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING ORZ044-507.

     RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING
     ORZ041-042-044-503-507-508.

WA...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING WAZ024-026>029-521.

     BLOWING DUST ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING WAZ027>029.

     AIR QUALITY ALERT UNTIL NOON PDT THURSDAY WAZ026-520.

&&

THREAT INDEX
WEDNESDAY : GREEN
THURSDAY : GREEN
FRIDAY : GREEN

GREEN: NONE OR LIMITED NEED FOR WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES.
YELLOW: A FEW WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT.
RED: NUMEROUS WATCHES, WARNINGS, OR ADVISORIES POSSIBLE OR IN EFFECT.

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT...
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PENDLETON

84

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
433 PM PDT TUE OCT 2 2012

ORZ041-042-044-049-050-502-503-505>509-WAZ024-026>030-520-521-
031415-
EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON-NORTH CENTRAL OREGON-
LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF OREGON-GRANDE RONDE VALLEY-WALLOWA COUNTY-
NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-JOHN DAY BASIN-OCHOCO-
JOHN DAY HIGHLANDS-
FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE OREGON CASCADES-
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 OF WASHINGTON-
EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES-SIMCOE HIGHLANDS-
433 PM PDT TUE OCT 2 2012

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

BLOWING DUST
     SIMCOE HIGHLANDS, YAKIMA VALLEY, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN OF
     WASHINGTON, FOOTHILLS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON,
     EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OF OREGON, LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN
     OF OREGON, FOOTHILLS OF THE NORTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON,
     FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE MOUNTAINS OF OREGON

STRONG WIND
     KITTITAS VALLEY

A STRONG BUT DRY COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING BRINGING STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND COOLER
TEMPERATURES. DUE TO THE VERY DRY SOILS THE WIND WILL CAUSE AREAS OF
BLOWING DUST IN THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND SURROUNDING VALLEYS AND
BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS (SEE LOCATIONS LISTED ABOVE). BLOWING DUST
WILL BE THE GREATEST NEAR FRESHLY PLOWED FIELDS DUE TO THE VERY DRY
SOIL SURFACES. SPOTTER REPORTS IN THE LAST HOUR TO THE NORTH AT
EPHRATA, WENATCHEE AND MOSES LAKE ARE INDICATING VISIBILITIES OF
LESS THAN A MILE ARE OCCURRING. A BLOWING DUST ADVISORY FOR
VISIBILITIES OF A HALF MILE OR LESS HAS BEEN ISSUED THROUGH 11 PM
PDT THIS EVENING FOR THE LOWER YAKIMA VALLEY, THE LOWER COLUMBIA
BASIN OF WASHINGTON AND THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS OF WASHINGTON.
SEE PRODUCT PDXNPWPDT FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

IN ADDITION THE COLD FRONT IS NOT EXPECTED TO BRING ANY RAINFALL
WITH IT. VEGETATION IS VERY DRY WITH LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. THIS
COMBINATION WITH THE STRONG WINDS WILL THREATEN THE AREA WITH RAPID
FIRE SPREAD. AS A RESULT A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON
TODAY UNTIL 11 PM THIS EVENING FOR THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN AND THE
ADJACENT VALLEYS, THE BLUE MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS OF BOTH OREGON AND
WASHINGTON, THE EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND PORTIONS OF NORTH
CENTRAL OREGON. PLEASE REFER TO NWS PRODUCT PDXRFWPDT FOR MORE
DETAILS ABOUT THE RED FLAG WARNING.

SUSTAINED NORTHWEST WINDS WILL REACH THE 30 TO 35 MPH RANGE BY MID
AFTERNOON TODAY, THEN DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON. AS A RESULT, A WIND
ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. PLEASE REFER TO NWS PRODUCT PDXNPWPDT FOR
FURTHER DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

SMOKE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY
     EAST SLOPES OF THE WASHINGTON CASCADES, KITTITAS VALLEY

DUE TO THE LENGTHY LACK OF RAINFALL ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THE
VEGETATION WILL REMAIN VERY DRY DESPITE THE COOLER TEMPERATURES. AS
A RESULT EXISTING WILDFIRES WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO BURN ACROSS THE
REGION. WINDS WILL BECOME NORTHEASTERLY ON WEDNESDAY, AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR POOR AIR QUALITY DUE TO SMOKE WILL RETURN TO KITTITAS
COUNTY. AS A RESULT AN AIR QUALITY ALERT WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT
THROUGH AT LEAST UNTIL NOON THURSDAY. PLEASE REFER TO NWS PRODUCT
PDXAQAPDT FOR MORE DETAILS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

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.