NWS Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 19, 1:33 PM PST, 57 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 19, 1:33 PM PST, 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Medford OR
233 PM PDT Sat Aug 19 2023
.DISCUSSION...A complicated pattern continues to drive our weather
here in southern Oregon and far northern California. A trough has
taken up position to our north, while a closed low meanders just
offshore of central California. This places our forecast area
within the deformation zone in between. Meanwhile, monsoonal
moisture, originating at least partially from Hurricane Hilary,
is being funneled north into our area through California and the
Great Basin. As a result, above normal temperatures will continue
today and into tomorrow, while a modest increase in the coverage
of afternoon and evening thunderstorms is expected this afternoon.
Isolated to scattered convection is expected over northern
California and from the Siskiyou Mountains and Cascades eastward.
The highest probability will be in western Siskiyou County, with a
secondary focus on the Winter Rim and points north along the
Klamath/Lake County border.
Heading into Sunday, cloudiness is expected to increase as Hilary
passes into southern California, and even more moisture streams
north into our area. Temperatures, especially east of the
Cascades, will see some cooling, while rain and isolated
thunderstorms spread across northern California and along and east
of the Cascades through the morning and into the afternoon.
The remnants of what is now Hurricane Hilary will pass into
northern Nevada by Monday morning. While the circulation center
will centered well to the southeast of here, plenty of tropical
moisture (and therefore clouds and precipitation) is expected to
wrap around the north side of the system and arrive in our
forecast area Monday morning into Monday evening. As a result of
the track, as well the circulation and downsloping processes,
rain and embedded thunderstorms will likely be limited to
northern California, the Siskiyous, and along and east of the
Oregon Cascades, but a few showers may make their way over the
Cascades and into the West Side. Under extensive cloud cover,
temperatures in most areas will cool to 5 to 10 degrees below
normal for this time of year, a far difference from the very warm
temperatures seen recently.
Hilary's remnants will track off to the northeast Tuesday.
The trough to our north is expected to dig southward into our
forecast area, and with some lingering moisture, shower and
thunderstorm chances will continue through Tuesday evening,
while temperatures will remain on the cooler side for this time
of year.
A change in the pattern is likely Wednesday, with high pressure
nudging into the area from Nevada as the trough exits to the
northeast. This will allow very warm temperatures to build back
into the region for the latter half of the week, along with a
return to dry conditions. Another trough may approach us late in
the week with additional showers and thunderstorms, but confidence
is low on timing and any details. -BPN
&&
.AVIATION...19/18Z TAFs...Wildfire smoke will be the main concern
through the TAF period, with the addition of afternoon/evening
thunderstorms today. LIFR conditions prevail south of Gold Beach
and just along the coast where the marine layer will likely
persist for much of the day. The marine layer will expand in
coverage tonight, bringing the return of LIFR cigs all along the
coast, including KOTH.
A mix of MVFR/VFR conditions prevail across the region with the
lower conditions due to reduced visibilities from wildfire smoke,
especially across northern California. Smoke model guidance does
show worsening conditions for the Rogue and Illinois Valleys this
afternoon, but general improving conditions east of the Cascades for
a brief period this afternoon/evening. Smoke is expected to return
to areas east of the Cascades this evening, then linger across all
areas south of the Rogue-Umpqua Divide into Sunday.
Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are also expected this
afternoon/evening, mainly focused east of the Cascades and across
far northern California between 23z-03z. There is some potential for
storms to move over the Rogue Valley this afternoon/evening as well.
Expect gusty and erratic outflow winds in the vicinity of any
storms. /BR-y
&&
.MARINE...Updated 230 PM PDT Saturday, August 19, 2023...A thermal
trough will maintain moderate to strong north winds across the area,
with the strongest winds expected south of Port Orford and between 5
and 40 nm from shore. Very steep and hazardous wind driven seas are
expected for most locations through Monday afternoon. The exception
will be within 10 nm from shore and north of Port Orford where
conditions hazardous to small craft are expected. There will be a
brief uptick in winds late Sunday night into early Monday morning
where occasional gale force gusts are possible south of Gold Beach.
Otherwise, conditions will remain fairly consistent through Monday.
The thermal trough pattern gets disrupted early next week as the
remnants of Hurricane Hilary move into the region. This will bring a
period of relatively improved conditions late Monday into early
Wednesday. Gusty north winds look to return for the latter half of
the week and conditions may become hazardous to small craft at that
time. /BR-y
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Updated 200 PM PDT Saturday, August 19,
2023...Earlier in the day, satellite imagery was showing scattered
cloud cover so...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ABUNDANT
LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
.DISCUSSION...Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to
diminish this evening with most ending between 8-9 pm pdt. Keep in
mind gusty and erratic winds will be part of the equation near any
storms into this evening. Dry weather is expected tonight with
moderate overnight recoveries near and at the ridges. However, winds
won't be strong enough to cause any critical concerns.uth of our
area and was moving north. These clouds are tied in with increasing
instability and mid level moisture. Currently this has moved into
our area in portions of Modoc, southeast Lake and Klamath Counties.
Isolated storms are also developing in portions of Shasta county and
are muffing north towards southeast Siskiyou County. Cumulus
development is also being observed in the mountains in western
Siskiyou county.
All of the above mentioned is basically a sign of things to come
this afternoon into early this evening. There's good agreement
storms will continue to develop over time with most of the action
centered along and east of the Cascades and northern Cal. At this
time, were not expecting scattered coverage of storms, but some of
the CAM (convective allowing models) suggest there could be some an
enhanced area of storms and lightning in the northern Cascades to
include eastern fire zones 617, northern 623, 624 and 280 late this
afternoon into early this evening. It's in these areas where
instability and mid level moisture will be greatest. The Red Flag
Warning remains in effect for fire zone 280 until 8 pm pdt this
evening.
It's also worth mentioning some data also hints at isolated storms
slipping through the cracks into southern Fire zones 620 and 622
between 4-5 pm and 7-8 pm pdt.
Additionally, some of the high resolution models suggest there
could be gusty outflow winds near thunderstorms, especially east of
the Cascades. Therefore we'll need to keep a close watch on gusty
and erratic winds near any storms.
Storms will fizzle out this evening (just before or right around
sunset) with dry conditions expected in the overnight period. The
mid slopes and ridges in western fire zone could experience moderate
overnight recoveries, but winds won't be strong enough to warrant
any critical conditions.
Sunday, the upper low that has been setting up shop off the
California coast will creep northward Sunday. At the same time the
leading edge of what will be the remnants of hurricane Hillary will
begin to move up into our area Sunday afternoon. Various models keep
the best chance for thunderstorms in northern California, and along
and east of the Cascades. However, the one difference from today is
more available moisture. Some models are suggesting PWATS exceeding
over an inch in northern Cal and east of the Cascades Sunday
afternoon, therefore the chance of wetting rains will be higher than
today.
Sunday night into Monday, the remnants of Hillary will move into the
area. The majority of the individual models that show the track of
the center of the storm are in pretty good agreement showing Hillary
tracking through central Nevada Monday afternoon, then in eastern
Oregon Monday night. Thus the best chance for precipitation will be
in fire zones 285, 625 and eastern 624. Thunderstorms that do occur
Monday will be isolated and be the exception and not the rule. The
predominate conditions will be light to moderate steady rain east of
the Cascades, and showery precipitation along the Cascades and
portions of the westside and western Siskiyou County. It will be
much cooler Monday due to the combination of cloud cover and
precipitation.
Tuesday, an upper trough will move towards our area from the
northwest, and as it does will pick up the upper low in California.
Showers and isolated thunderstorms are still expected mainly in
northern California and east ofthe Cascades, with some storms
producing locally heavy downpours.
We'll see some drying Wednesday, then another upper low will set up
off the California coast with a southerly flow aloft over our area
at which time we could be dealing with at least isolated
thunderstorms. It's ways out there, therefore details on location
and timing will vary from day to day. -Petrucelli
&&
.MFR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...CA...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM PDT this evening for CAZ280.
PACIFIC COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM PDT Monday
for PZZ350-356-370-376.
Hazardous Seas Warning until 11 PM PDT this evening for PZZ356-
376.
&&