#orwx — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #orwx, aggregated by home.social.
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PQR issues A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN CLACKAMASHOOD RIVEREASTERN MULTNOMAH AND SOUTHEASTERN SKAMANIA COUNTIES THROUGH 1115 PM PDT [wind: <30 MPH, hail: 0.50 IN] for Central Columbia River Gorge I-84 Corridor, Clackamas County Cascade Foothills, North Oregon Cascades, Upper Hood River Valley, West Columbia River Gorge of Oregon above 500 ft [OR] and Central Columbia River Gorge - SR 14, South Washington Cascades [WA]
https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/p.php?pid=202605130538-KPQR-WWUS86-SPSPQR
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95.2F [Edit: 95.4F] was today's peak temperature, per the nearest Weather Underground reporting station.
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The updated 10-day forecast for the Portland metro is warmer than the one from yesterday by about a degree across the forecast:
76° | 52° Partly Cloudy
89° | 54° Sunny
74° | 53° Partly Cloudy
72° | 52° AM Clouds/PM Sun
74° | 49° Mostly Sunny
75° | 51° Partly Cloudy
68° | 51° Mostly Cloudy
73° | 48° Partly Cloudy
81° | 52° Partly Cloudy
81° | 52° Partly CloudyI made sure to get a shower in today, because I'm not interested in increasing the indoor humidity when the outside temps are approaching 90F. Yesterday's forecast predicted 88F for today. Might be 90F tomorrow.
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A Portland metro 10-day forecast for the first week of May, 2026:
72° | 50° Partly Cloudy
76° | 52° AM Clouds/PM Sun
88° | 54° Sunny
75° | 52° Partly Cloudy
72° | 51° AM Clouds/PM Sun
73° | 49° Mostly Sunny
74° | 50° Partly Cloudy
71° | 50° Partly Cloudy
75° | 49° Mostly Sunny
79° | 52° Partly Cloudy -
Clouds and peaks: John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Painted Hills) and Yosemite National Park (Half Dome). Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/joda/index.htm and https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm and #nps #nationalparks #interpretation #oregon #publiclands #landscapephotography #photography #fossil #nationalmonument #research Image credit (1) National Park Service and (2) Yosemite Conservancy and National Park Service #yosemite #cawx #california #halfdome #sun #granite #nationalpark #geology #travel #leaves #trees #spring #orwx #color #sky #fence #building #solar #needles #art
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Clouds and peaks: John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Painted Hills) and Yosemite National Park (Half Dome). Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/joda/index.htm and https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm and #nps #nationalparks #interpretation #oregon #publiclands #landscapephotography #photography #fossil #nationalmonument #research Image credit (1) National Park Service and (2) Yosemite Conservancy and National Park Service #yosemite #cawx #california #halfdome #sun #granite #nationalpark #geology #travel #leaves #trees #spring #orwx #color #sky #fence #building #solar #needles #art
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Clouds and peaks: John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Painted Hills) and Yosemite National Park (Half Dome). Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/joda/index.htm and https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm and #nps #nationalparks #interpretation #oregon #publiclands #landscapephotography #photography #fossil #nationalmonument #research Image credit (1) National Park Service and (2) Yosemite Conservancy and National Park Service #yosemite #cawx #california #halfdome #sun #granite #nationalpark #geology #travel #leaves #trees #spring #orwx #color #sky #fence #building #solar #needles #art
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Clouds and peaks: John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Painted Hills) and Yosemite National Park (Half Dome). Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/joda/index.htm and https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm and #nps #nationalparks #interpretation #oregon #publiclands #landscapephotography #photography #fossil #nationalmonument #research Image credit (1) National Park Service and (2) Yosemite Conservancy and National Park Service #yosemite #cawx #california #halfdome #sun #granite #nationalpark #geology #travel #leaves #trees #spring #orwx #color #sky #fence #building #solar #needles #art
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Clouds and peaks: John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Painted Hills) and Yosemite National Park (Half Dome). Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/joda/index.htm and https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm and #nps #nationalparks #interpretation #oregon #publiclands #landscapephotography #photography #fossil #nationalmonument #research Image credit (1) National Park Service and (2) Yosemite Conservancy and National Park Service #yosemite #cawx #california #halfdome #sun #granite #nationalpark #geology #travel #leaves #trees #spring #orwx #color #sky #fence #building #solar #needles #art
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The nearest Weather Underground station reported a peak temperature of 83.7F, which is 4.7F above the forecast high from as recently as yesterday. It should cool off some tomorrow.
The A/C was so excited, that at one point, it shut off the compressor and threw an error. It resumed working in seconds, but I am casting it suspicious looks.
It's still 83F out there.
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"Today's color is dandelion yellow! They are in bloom. So are trees. Probably all of them! Pollen levels are allegedly moderate. My nasal passages would definitely say that they are at least 'moderate.' We're in the mid-50's here, partly sunny approaching sundown, and I'm reporting from inside of a 'moderate' pollen haze. I am only 65% congested now. I was fine, back in the studio, but no. We had to have a location shot, so a-achoo, here I am, enjoying the lovely flowering everything! I think I've reached 70% congested. Yes. At least. Can you see it raining on me from these lovely... trees? Back to you in the air conditioned studio with its air filtration systems!" - me, if I was a tv meteorologist today
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It should be a lovely start to the month of May in the Portland area! What's that? We're not already at the end of April? You could have fooled younger me.
60° | 42° Sunny
56° | 45° Cloudy
51° | 40° Rain
53° | 38° Showers
62° | 38° Mostly Sunny
69° | 44° Partly Cloudy
70° | 45° Partly Cloudy
68° | 47° Mostly Cloudy
61° | 44° Showers
57° | 41° Showers -
New article: Not all snow is created equally: Understanding snow-water equivalent in the Pacific Northwest ingallswx.com/2026/03/18/n... #weather #snow #WAwx #ORwx #BCstorm
Not all snow is created equall... -
New article: Not all snow is created equally: Understanding snow-water equivalent in the Pacific Northwest
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Not all snow is created equally: Understanding snow-water equivalent in the Pacific Northwest
If you’re a well-traveled skier, you know that not all snow is created equally. Some of it is heavy and dense while other areas experience light and fluffy snow. What matters when resource managers and meteorologists prepare for the summer is not the depth of the snow, but instead how much water this snow will become when it melts.
That’s where snow-water equivalent, or SWE, comes in. This measurement is essential for predicting whether the Pacific Northwest will have enough water to get through the dry season. When water managers in the region look ahead to summer, they’re not thinking about rainfall or reservoir levels directly. Instead, they’re focused on the mountains and how much liquid water is locked up in the snowpack.
Ingalls Weather thanks the support it gets from donors. Please consider making a small donation at this link to help me pay for the website and access to premium weather data.
Snow-water equivalent is the amount of liquid water you’d get if you melted all the snow at that location. It’s measured in inches or millimeters, and it accounts for the fact that snow is mostly air. By measuring SWE instead of snow depth alone, water managers can compare snowpack across different regions and different years on equal footing.
The relationship between snow depth and water content is called the snow-water ratio. The “average” ratio is often cited as 10 to 1, meaning ten inches of snow contains about one inch of water. However, this average masks enormous variability depending on where the snow falls and what type it is.
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In the Cascade Range of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, maritime air masses dump heavy, wet snow that has earned the nickname Cascade Concrete. A foot of Cascade snow might contain two or even three inches of water, giving it a ratio closer to 4 to 1 or 5 to 1.
Head south to Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, and you’ll find the famous light powder that skiers dream about. That snow can have ratios of 15 to 1 or even higher, with a foot of snow containing less than an inch of water.
The snow that falls in places like Minnesota and Manitoba can be even lighter and fluffier. Those continental regions sometimes see ratios of 20 to 1 or more, where massive snowfall totals translate to surprisingly modest water content.
The differences come down to temperature and moisture. Cold, dry air produces light snow. Warmer, moister air creates denser snow that packs down and contains more water. The ratio can even vary widely from storm to storm over the course of a season.
For the Pacific Northwest, SWE measurements matter because they tell the real story of what the mountains hold. A healthy snowpack acts as a natural reservoir, continuing to feed rivers and reservoirs into early summer even after the region’s wet season has ended.
By April, when water managers make their summer forecasts, they’ve analyzed the snowpack across hundreds of mountain locations. Those measurements tell them whether next summer will bring plenty of water or whether restrictions might be necessary to keep water flowing for all users.
#BCstorm #orwx #Snow #wawx #Weather -
I thought the 10-day temps seemed low.
First there is a 70
Then there is no 70
Then there is - 2 of them!It has changed again. A new prediction emerges.
The 10-day forecast offers Portland some glorious days of springtime weather. Of course, it's supposed to be winter in Oregon, but still...
-- | 34° Mostly Cloudy
52° | 43° Cloudy
69° | 45° AM Clouds/PM Sun
62° | 50° PM Showers
61° | 50° Showers
66° | 51° Showers
72° | 52° AM Showers
73° | 47° Showers
57° | 40° AM Showers
57° | 39° Partly Cloudy -
Spent a half hour pushing 3" of very heavy, very wet snow off my car just now
Car sits centered on the ridge line of a 2-story condo, hard up against the north side, so it doesn't get any direct sunshine four months out of the year
If I don't get the snow off today while I can move it and it freezes hard overnight (32-33F degrees forecast) I'll have my car entombed in 3" of Cascade Concrete tomorrow
So...
#SeattleBlizzard2026 #SeattleSnow #WAwx #ORwx #BCwx #PNWwx #PNW #KSEA #NWS #WX #Weather #Snow
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Snoqualmie Pass WA I-90 Pass report
Elevation: 3022 ft / 921 m
Travel eastbound
Chains required on all vehicles except all wheel drive, Oversize Vehicles Prohibited.Travel westbound
Chains required on all vehicles except all wheel drive, Oversize Vehicles Prohibited.Conditions: Compact snow and ice on the roadway.
Weather: Light snow
UPDATE: Stevens Pass US Hwy 2 now open, chains required
Last updated Saturday, March 14, 2026 10:25 AM PDT
Here: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/Snoqualmie
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Stevens Pass WA US Hwy 2
Temperature: 27°F / -3°C as of 4:26 PM 03/13/2026
Elevation: 4061 ft / 1238 m
Conditions:
US 2 is currently closed at MP 55, 9 miles West of the summit and at MP 85, at Coles Corner, 14 miles West of Leavenworth, due to heavy traffic and severe winter weather.
The pass will remain closed overnight and will be reassessed in the morning. No detour is available.
Weather: Snow
And no detour *is* available: Snoqualmie Pass I90 is closed, so Eastern Washington is a trip up the Columbia River gorge out of Portland OR on I84
Here: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/stevens
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UPDATE 2:45 pm PDT
And now Stevens Pass US Hwy 2 is closed
Travel eastbound: Pass Closed
Travel westbound: Pass ClosedGotta get to Eastern Washington?
The Colombia Gorge east out of Portland OR looks like about it...
Snoqualmie Pass WA I-90
Pass report
Elevation: 3022 ft / 921 m
Travel eastbound: Pass Closed
Travel westbound: Pass Closed
Weather: Snowing hard
Conditions: Compact snow and ice on the roadway.
I-90 Snoqualmie Pass is closed both directions
Westbound is closed at milepost 106 Ellensburg, Exit 85 Cle Elum, and Exit 70 Easton.
Eastbound is closed at milepost 34, 18 miles west of the summit near North Bend. due to multiple spinouts and collisions this will be an extended closure lasting most of the day.
Here: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/stevens
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I mean, do people have lobotomies when it snows, or what?
Just saw somebody in a very late-model 2-door sporty coupe, maybe an Acura, maybe a BMW 7-series, drive out the dead end street right outside my office windows and turn right onto the road into town.
His entire right-side windows were entirely -- entirely -- covered with snow
Maybe an inch-plus on the roof
He's not going to be able to see *anything* off to the right side of him -- nothing -- no passenger-side mirror either
"I know it's snowing but I'm driving straight ahead and I know exactly where I'm going. Why would I need to see anything out to my right side?"
Good lord...
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Welp…
Hot damn… it's actually *snowing* here
Puget Sound lowlands, at about 250 feet above sea level on an island surrounded by 50 degree salt water 600 feet deep off to the east toward the mainland
Doppler radar on Precip Depiction mode shows a good-sized wedge of cold blue air pointing out to the west, so it looks like it may keep snowing for a while
#WAwx #ORwx #BCwx #PNWwx #PNW #KSEA #NWS #WX #Weather #Snow #HighWinds
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Snoqualmie Pass WA I-90
Friday 03/13/2026 07:03:42 PDT
Pass report
Elevation: 3022 ft / 921 m
Travel eastbound: Chains required on all vehicles except all wheel drive, Oversize Vehicles Prohibited
The pass remains open eastbound with chains required for all vehicles except all-wheel-drive, oversize vehicles prohibited from milepost 34, 18 miles west of the summit near North Bend.
Travel westbound: Pass Closed
I-90 Snoqualmie Pass is closed westbound at milepost 70, 20 miles east of the summit near Easton, due to multiple spinouts and collisions.
Conditions: Compact snow and ice on the roadway.
Weather: Snowing hard
Last updated: Friday, March 13, 2026 6:56 AM
Stevens Pass WA US Hwy 2 is open, chains required, but snowing hard and it really doesn't *look* plowed...
Here: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/stevens
#WAwx #ORwx #BCwx #PNWwx #PNW #KSEA #NWS #WX #Weather #Snow #HighWinds
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Welp
5:30 am PDT Mar 12
"Winds, heavy rain leave thousands without power across western Washington
WASHINGTON STATE — Strong winds and steady rain moved through western Washington on Wednesday, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers and toppling trees across the region.
Utilities reported widespread outages as gusty conditions intensified throughout the afternoon and evening."
And there ya have it...
cc @ai6yr
#WAwx #ORwx #BCwx #PNWwx #PNW #KSEA #NWS #WX #Weather #HighWinds #Snow
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Welp
Not something you see every day:
Snoqualmie Pass WA I-90 is closed, snow, eastbound at least
Elevation: 3022 ft / 921 m
Travel eastbound:
Pass ClosedTravel westbound:
Chains required on all vehicles except all wheel drive, Oversize Vehicles Prohibited.Conditions:
Snow and slush Eastbound I-90 at milepost 47, east of the Snoqualmie Pass summit and westbound at milepost 70 near Easton.The roadway is closed due to multiple spinouts and collisions.
There is no estimated time to clear the roadway.
Coming down off the Pass westbound down Franklin Falls looks like a real challenge
Weather: Snowing
Last updated:
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 2:00 PMUPDATED 3:10 pm PDT
Travel eastbound
Chains required on all vehicles except all wheel drive,Travel westbound
Pass ClosedConditions
I-90 is closed westbound at milepost 70 ... due to multiple spinouts and collisions.Weather
Snowing heavilyHere: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountainpasses/Snoqualmie
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High wind warning for the Columbia Basin Wednesday and Thursday
Dynamic weather is forecast for the Pacific Northwest through Thursday with a low pressure system forecast to make landfall on Vancouver Island and continue eastward across Southern British Columbia. This low will drag a cold front along, sweeping through Washington and Oregon to bring strong winds.
These strong winds have prompted the National Weather Service to issue high wind warnings for much of Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon for Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. These warnings cover from the Columbia Gorge through the Columbia Basin up to Spokane and the Palouse.
Ingalls Weather thanks the support it gets from donors. Please consider making a small donation at this link to help me pay for the website and access to premium weather data.
For the Columbia Basin and nearby areas, southwest winds are forecast to be sustained in the 20 to 30 mph (30 to 50 km/h) range with gusts to 60 mph (95 km/h). Around Spokane and on the Palouse winds could gust to 65 mph (105 km/h).
The strongest winds will be on hilltops and outside of towns where trees and buildings do not impede air flow. Things will still be windy in town, we’re just unlikely to see the highest wind gusts in built up areas.
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A few power outages are possible and travel will be difficult on northwest-southeast highways like some parts of SR 240 across the Hanford Site.
It is common for Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon to get windy after rainfall, which we are forecast to see on Wednesday. This is because cold fronts often bring rain to the inland deserts.
Behind the cold front high pressure builds along the coast. It will try to also build into the inland areas but the Cascades block the air from moving in. It does filter through slowly, but only through gaps in the mountains like the Columbia River Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass.
Imagine an inflatable pool filled with water, and then imagine stepping on one of the sides. Water rushes out from where you’re stepping but it takes time to completely reach “equilibrium” on both sides. The gaps in the Cascades are like where we have stepped on the side of the pool. Wind that moves through these gaps is called gap flow.
This is why Boardman, Hermiston, the Tri-Cities, and Ellensburg often observe strong wind after rain while it can be hit or miss in Yakima. While Yakima is downwind of White Pass, White Pass is higher elevation than the Columbia Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass thus the gap flow is less efficient in that region.
The cold front is not just bringing strong winds to the Inland Northwest. Blizzard warnings are posted for the Western Washington Cascades along and north of US 12 (including Snoqualmie Pass) where 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) of snow are forecast with strong winds. Additional winter weather alerts have been posted for other mountainous regions in the Pacific Northwest.
Active weather continues in the region beyond the Wednesday-Thursday storm. The jet stream will continue to be parked on top of the Pacific Northwest which will keep sending in moisture and storms. We will be adding to regional snowpack but it won’t be nearly enough to make up for the deficit so far this season.
#orwx #Spokane #TriCities #wawx #Weather #wind -
High wind warning for the Columbia Basin Wednesday and Thursday
Dynamic weather is forecast for the Pacific Northwest through Thursday with a low pressure system forecast to make landfall on Vancouver Island and continue eastward across Southern British Columbia. This low will drag a cold front along, sweeping through Washington and Oregon to bring strong winds.
These strong winds have prompted the National Weather Service to issue high wind warnings for much of Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon for Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. These warnings cover from the Columbia Gorge through the Columbia Basin up to Spokane and the Palouse.
Ingalls Weather thanks the support it gets from donors. Please consider making a small donation at this link to help me pay for the website and access to premium weather data.
For the Columbia Basin and nearby areas, southwest winds are forecast to be sustained in the 20 to 30 mph (30 to 50 km/h) range with gusts to 60 mph (95 km/h). Around Spokane and on the Palouse winds could gust to 65 mph (105 km/h).
The strongest winds will be on hilltops and outside of towns where trees and buildings do not impede air flow. Things will still be windy in town, we’re just unlikely to see the highest wind gusts in built up areas.
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A few power outages are possible and travel will be difficult on northwest-southeast highways like some parts of SR 240 across the Hanford Site.
It is common for Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon to get windy after rainfall, which we are forecast to see on Wednesday. This is because cold fronts often bring rain to the inland deserts.
Behind the cold front high pressure builds along the coast. It will try to also build into the inland areas but the Cascades block the air from moving in. It does filter through slowly, but only through gaps in the mountains like the Columbia River Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass.
Imagine an inflatable pool filled with water, and then imagine stepping on one of the sides. Water rushes out from where you’re stepping but it takes time to completely reach “equilibrium” on both sides. The gaps in the Cascades are like where we have stepped on the side of the pool. Wind that moves through these gaps is called gap flow.
This is why Boardman, Hermiston, the Tri-Cities, and Ellensburg often observe strong wind after rain while it can be hit or miss in Yakima. While Yakima is downwind of White Pass, White Pass is higher elevation than the Columbia Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass thus the gap flow is less efficient in that region.
The cold front is not just bringing strong winds to the Inland Northwest. Blizzard warnings are posted for the Western Washington Cascades along and north of US 12 (including Snoqualmie Pass) where 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) of snow are forecast with strong winds. Additional winter weather alerts have been posted for other mountainous regions in the Pacific Northwest.
Active weather continues in the region beyond the Wednesday-Thursday storm. The jet stream will continue to be parked on top of the Pacific Northwest which will keep sending in moisture and storms. We will be adding to regional snowpack but it won’t be nearly enough to make up for the deficit so far this season.
#orwx #Spokane #TriCities #wawx #Weather #wind -
High wind warning for the Columbia Basin Wednesday and Thursday
Dynamic weather is forecast for the Pacific Northwest through Thursday with a low pressure system forecast to make landfall on Vancouver Island and continue eastward across Southern British Columbia. This low will drag a cold front along, sweeping through Washington and Oregon to bring strong winds.
These strong winds have prompted the National Weather Service to issue high wind warnings for much of Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon for Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. These warnings cover from the Columbia Gorge through the Columbia Basin up to Spokane and the Palouse.
Ingalls Weather thanks the support it gets from donors. Please consider making a small donation at this link to help me pay for the website and access to premium weather data.
For the Columbia Basin and nearby areas, southwest winds are forecast to be sustained in the 20 to 30 mph (30 to 50 km/h) range with gusts to 60 mph (95 km/h). Around Spokane and on the Palouse winds could gust to 65 mph (105 km/h).
The strongest winds will be on hilltops and outside of towns where trees and buildings do not impede air flow. Things will still be windy in town, we’re just unlikely to see the highest wind gusts in built up areas.
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A few power outages are possible and travel will be difficult on northwest-southeast highways like some parts of SR 240 across the Hanford Site.
It is common for Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon to get windy after rainfall, which we are forecast to see on Wednesday. This is because cold fronts often bring rain to the inland deserts.
Behind the cold front high pressure builds along the coast. It will try to also build into the inland areas but the Cascades block the air from moving in. It does filter through slowly, but only through gaps in the mountains like the Columbia River Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass.
Imagine an inflatable pool filled with water, and then imagine stepping on one of the sides. Water rushes out from where you’re stepping but it takes time to completely reach “equilibrium” on both sides. The gaps in the Cascades are like where we have stepped on the side of the pool. Wind that moves through these gaps is called gap flow.
This is why Boardman, Hermiston, the Tri-Cities, and Ellensburg often observe strong wind after rain while it can be hit or miss in Yakima. While Yakima is downwind of White Pass, White Pass is higher elevation than the Columbia Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass thus the gap flow is less efficient in that region.
The cold front is not just bringing strong winds to the Inland Northwest. Blizzard warnings are posted for the Western Washington Cascades along and north of US 12 (including Snoqualmie Pass) where 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) of snow are forecast with strong winds. Additional winter weather alerts have been posted for other mountainous regions in the Pacific Northwest.
Active weather continues in the region beyond the Wednesday-Thursday storm. The jet stream will continue to be parked on top of the Pacific Northwest which will keep sending in moisture and storms. We will be adding to regional snowpack but it won’t be nearly enough to make up for the deficit so far this season.
#orwx #Spokane #TriCities #wawx #Weather #wind -
High wind warning for the Columbia Basin Wednesday and Thursday
Dynamic weather is forecast for the Pacific Northwest through Thursday with a low pressure system forecast to make landfall on Vancouver Island and continue eastward across Southern British Columbia. This low will drag a cold front along, sweeping through Washington and Oregon to bring strong winds.
These strong winds have prompted the National Weather Service to issue high wind warnings for much of Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon for Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. These warnings cover from the Columbia Gorge through the Columbia Basin up to Spokane and the Palouse.
Ingalls Weather thanks the support it gets from donors. Please consider making a small donation at this link to help me pay for the website and access to premium weather data.
For the Columbia Basin and nearby areas, southwest winds are forecast to be sustained in the 20 to 30 mph (30 to 50 km/h) range with gusts to 60 mph (95 km/h). Around Spokane and on the Palouse winds could gust to 65 mph (105 km/h).
The strongest winds will be on hilltops and outside of towns where trees and buildings do not impede air flow. Things will still be windy in town, we’re just unlikely to see the highest wind gusts in built up areas.
Type your email…
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A few power outages are possible and travel will be difficult on northwest-southeast highways like some parts of SR 240 across the Hanford Site.
It is common for Eastern Washington and Northeast Oregon to get windy after rainfall, which we are forecast to see on Wednesday. This is because cold fronts often bring rain to the inland deserts.
Behind the cold front high pressure builds along the coast. It will try to also build into the inland areas but the Cascades block the air from moving in. It does filter through slowly, but only through gaps in the mountains like the Columbia River Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass.
Imagine an inflatable pool filled with water, and then imagine stepping on one of the sides. Water rushes out from where you’re stepping but it takes time to completely reach “equilibrium” on both sides. The gaps in the Cascades are like where we have stepped on the side of the pool. Wind that moves through these gaps is called gap flow.
This is why Boardman, Hermiston, the Tri-Cities, and Ellensburg often observe strong wind after rain while it can be hit or miss in Yakima. While Yakima is downwind of White Pass, White Pass is higher elevation than the Columbia Gorge and Snoqualmie Pass thus the gap flow is less efficient in that region.
The cold front is not just bringing strong winds to the Inland Northwest. Blizzard warnings are posted for the Western Washington Cascades along and north of US 12 (including Snoqualmie Pass) where 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) of snow are forecast with strong winds. Additional winter weather alerts have been posted for other mountainous regions in the Pacific Northwest.
Active weather continues in the region beyond the Wednesday-Thursday storm. The jet stream will continue to be parked on top of the Pacific Northwest which will keep sending in moisture and storms. We will be adding to regional snowpack but it won’t be nearly enough to make up for the deficit so far this season.
#orwx #Spokane #TriCities #wawx #Weather #wind -
IT IS GOING TO BE 62F??
The 10-day looks like early May receding into mid-April.
Happy March 1st, everyone!
62° | 41° Partly Cloudy
59° | 44° Partly Cloudy
54° | 46° PM Showers
50° | 41° Rain
48° | 44° Showers
52° | 46° Showers
57° | 44° Showers
52° | 38° Showers
46° | 37° Showers
49° | 38° Showers -
Sunset, Crater Lake National Park tonight (Crater Lake from Sinnott Overlook). Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm and #nps #nationalparks #interpretation #publiclands #photography #landscapephotography #craterlake Image credit National Park Service #orwx #oregon #snow #winter #travel #lake #geology #reflection #icicle #sunset #color
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Example of blue sky today: John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (Painted Hills). Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/joda/index.htm and #nps #nationalparks #interpretation #oregon #publiclands #landscapephotography #photography #fossil #nationalmonument #research Image credit National Park Service #trees #winter #orwx #color #sky #geology #fence #building #solar #needles
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Our 10-day forecast:
48° | 44° Rain
46° | 40° Rain
47° | 38° Rain
51° | 34° Partly Cloudy
52° | 37° Partly Cloudy
50° | 33° Partly Cloudy
53° | 34° Partly Cloudy
54° | 34° Mostly Sunny
55° | 37° Mostly Sunny
56° | 39° Partly CloudyMarch is coming in like a lamb.
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As we begin a mostly showery 10 day forecast period, I was wondering if we have had any freezes here this winter. I don't recall any, but I've been a bit less weather geeky than usual. I don't recall any stubborn guys with the wrong tires on their cars burning their rubber off trying to get traction to go up, instead of around, the hill (it is never treated here, though the uppermost part is).
If we get through March like this, we will have enjoyed a truly lovely extended-autumn-to-early-spring period with fewer bits of melted tires in the air.
We'll have the climate of Los Angeles before you know it! Except we're inland. Hm. Bakersfield?
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Hey, remember when I said that an east wind in winter or summer often means a mild forecast, in this case rain with a wee bit of snow, won't be so mild? From our beloved PBOT, taking no chances:
(Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) advises the traveling public to be mindful of weather forecasts through Thursday, as snow in hilly areas is likely overnight and could create hazardous travel for a few hours, in a timeframe from 5 p.m. Wednesday night through noon on Thursday.
The National Weather Service has advised PBOT that they have high confidence that there will be snow showers above 1,000 feet elevation, that could produce persistent showers that create hazardous travel conditions.
Below 1,000 feet elevation, there is moderate confidence in the potential for several inches of accumulating snow with travel impacts, from 8 p.m. Wednesday through noon on Thursday.
Snow showers and potential accumulation may start as early as 5 p.m., affecting evening commute hours. Snow impacts at the lowest elevations would only last a few hours and would occur in a localized area to the south, near Eugene or to the north near Clark County, Wash., or directly in the Portland-Vancouver area.
Areas at 500 feet or higher above sea level -- including the West Hills, Mount Tabor and Pleasant Valley in East Portland -- could have more snow. Those areas would likely be the first to see snowfall and experience the lowest temperatures.
There is likely to be a mix of rain and snow showers that produce little to no snow accumulation with little to no travel impacts for most locations.
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Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are forecast to be rainy days with some snow showers. We should experience an all-east wind throughout the event.
Never trust a mild forecast with an east wind component in the Portland metro area, winter or summer.
We will get somewhere between 0" and 6" of snow, guaranteed!
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The S word has appeared in the 10-day forecast. It's probably nothing to worry about with those highs, but this being the PNW, one might do well to locate where one last tossed the crampons, just to be on the safe side.
-- | 39° Rain
49° | 36° Cloudy
42° | 34° Showers
42° | 32° Rain/Snow Showers
42° | 33° Rain/Snow
41° | 32° Rain/Snow Showers
40° | 37° Showers
43° | 39° Rain
47° | 38° Showers
45° | 36° Showers -
The Guardian: Western US gripped by extreme snow drought: ‘I’ve never seen a winter like this’
"...A record snow drought is plaguing the western US, leaving some of the thirstiest states bracing for less water and elevated fire risks through the drier months to come.
Snow cover is roughly a third of what it typically is for this time of year across the west, according to measurements from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, prompting widespread concern among experts and water managers that several key basins will be severely affected through the rest of the year...."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/11/snow-drought-oregon-colorado-utah
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Crater Lake National Park today (Crater Lake from Sinnott Overlook). Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm and #nps #nationalparks #interpretation #publiclands #photography #landscapephotography #craterlake Image credit National Park Service #orwx #oregon #snow #winter #travel #lake #geology #reflection #icicle For more on reflection, scattering, and absorption see https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/environment-general-science-you-asked/why-sky-blue-or-better-yet-why-ocean-blue For more on Llao Rock see https://pubs.usgs.gov/dds/dds-72/site/llao.htm
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A true pineapple express for the Pacific Northwest beginning Sunday
The next Pacific Northwest atmospheric river is forecast to impact the region from Sunday through Tuesday, coming in at a category 3 on the atmospheric river scale. This will be a true pineapple express event with the moisture plume originating from Hawaii.
The moisture content isn’t particularly impressive but with this event is forecast to last just short of three days. Snow levels will rise significantly and this combined with moderate rainfall will lead to widespread snowmelt in the Cascades and a possible flood risk, though the flooding won’t reach the level we saw earlier in the season.
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The pineapple express will be driven by a mixture of low pressure in the Gulf of Alaska, high pressure off the California coast, and cold fronts stuck in the middle. Low pressure systems drag cold fronts behind them but the strength of the high pressure to our south will keep them from progressing onward.
The halted progression is what channels the atmospheric river over the Pacific Northwest for several days at a time. Right now modeling suggests the moisture plume will be aimed near Seattle with consistent rain extending to the north of Vancouver and as far south as Salem.
Moisture will be coming into the Pacific Northwest from due west and the Cascades will stop most of it from reaching into the Columbia Basin. High clouds can be expected for places like the Tri-Cities and Yakima. Temperatures will warm up but precipitation will be minimal.
The B.C. Interior and Coast Range lie to the north of the pineapple express so temperatures won’t be as warm there. That said, with the active storm track in the Gulf of Alaska there will be plenty of precipitation in that region.
Precipitation will likely fall primarily as rain in interior communities like Kamloops and Prince George but the mountains will probably still see a good amount of snowfall. The last couple of weeks have helped to clear the snow deficit in most of British Columbia.
The same can also be said of Northern Washington (including the Okanogan) but this three days of rain is going to wash all of that away. Snowpack remains below average in Washington south of Stevens Pass and critically below average in Oregon.
As noted, the flood threat is not as severe as December 2025 but some moderate flooding can be expected north of White Pass along rivers draining the Cascades, B.C. Coast Range, and Vancouver Island mountains. As of publish time, no flood alerts had been posted in Washington, Oregon, or British Columbia but I expect these will come out over the next day or two.
Beyond Tuesday the California high expands northward, sending the storm track more toward Prince Rupert and Ketchikan and keeping the bulk of the Pacific Northwest dry. More mid-elevation snowmelt can be expected during the second half of next week as temperatures remain warm.
Temperature inversions are common under strong high pressure this time of year and next week will be no different. Despite sunny and relatively warm weather in the mountains, the Columbia Basin will likely see a long-duration inversion develop with low clouds, fog, and steady temperatures in the 30s (around 2ºC).
It remains to be seen just how deep this inversion will get. Some models are hinting at it continuing into the week of the 19th and if that’s the case we’ll probably see it extend to Spokane and Kelowna.
Some inversion activity may also be noted in the Lower Mainland, Puget Sound Region, and Portland metro but this is usually slower to form because of the proximity to the ocean (rather than being completely surrounded by mountains like the Columbia Basin is).
I feel confident in saying that Medford and Eugene will be socked in with inversion clouds during this period. There is less confidence for the larger metro areas west of the Cascades.
The featured image is ECMWF modeled total precipitable water for midday Monday. (WeatherBell)
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"Tillamook Air Museum Damaged By Wind" by Flying Magazine (h/t @Leighton ) - High winds damaged the roof of the WWII blimp hangar turned air museum at Tillamook Airport #KTMK on the central Oregon Coast. Museum closed indefinitely pending building repairs. No damage to exhibit aircraft. https://www.flyingmag.com/tillamook-air-museum-damaged-by-wind/ #aviation #avgeek #weather #ORwx #PNW
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#HighWindWarning for south central Oregon - light gold. Possible gusts to 70mph.
High wind watch for California - darker gold.
For details from NOAA, including timing, open the map and click any colored area. Scroll down in the popup since the spot you clicked might have more than one type of weather watch/warning and each one has its own link for the details.
#ORwx #CAwx #Severewx #WindStorm -
Rare plane, at least around here: chartered Eastern Airlines Boeing 777-200ER taking off in rain and low overcast from Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX this afternoon. It was headed to Richmond VA #KRIC. Since it taxied from the cargo ramp, I have doubts it was carrying passengers on this leg. I got these photos from home. (This is not the original Eastern Airlines - a charter airline snarfed the name out of a bankruptcy sale in 2018.) #aviation #cargo #avgeek #PNW #ORwx #weather
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When this map opens the shaded areas have a #HighWindWarning. Interesting that Seattle and suburbs to the east are not included however those areas (includes me) do have a wind advisory.
For details from NOAA, including timing, open the map and click any colored area. Scroll down in the popup since the spot you clicked might have more than one type of weather watch/warning and each one has its own link for the details.
For an hour-by-hour NOAA forecast for wind, rain and more, rightclick the map. In the sidebar that appears, click "Hourly forecast (USA)" and a NOAA page will appear with details for the spot you clicked. The wind forecast is in the second graph.
Mobile users can do a simulated rightclick by first clicking the angle symbol at the left edge of the screen. Drag the crosshair that appears and then tap the crosshair. The sidebar will open.
The text screenshot is for NW Washington and the Idaho Panhandle.
#PNW #WAwx #Seattle #ORwx #SevereWX -
Crater Lake National Park on Friday (View of Crater Lake from the Sinnott Memorial Overlook). Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm and #nps #nationalparks #interpretation #publiclands #photography #landscapephotography #craterlake Image credit National Park Service #orwx #oregon #sunrise #fall #travel #lake #geology #clouds #andesite #island #reflection
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Just posted this:
Stevens Pass Washington, US Hwy 2
US 2 at MP 64.6: East Stevens Pass Pass report
46°F / 8°C as of 12:53 PM 12/10/2025
Elevation: 4061 ft / 1238 m
Travel eastbound: Pass Closed
Travel westbound: Pass ClosedConditions:
US 2 is closed from milepost 57 at Scenic to milepost 85 at Coles Corner, west of Leavenworth, due to rocks, trees, and mud over the roadway in multiple locations.
There is no detour available and no estimated time for reopening.
Weather: Raining hard.
Motorists are advised to use an alternate route. (Which would be US I-90 Snoqualmie Pass: Conditions: Bare and wet, with areas of standing water.
Weather: Heavy rain)Last updated: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 12:53 PM
#WAwx #ORwx #BCwx #PNWwx #PNW #KSEA #NWS #WX #Weather #HighWinds
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Stevens Pass Washington, US Hwy 2
US 2 at MP 64.6: East Stevens Pass Pass report
46°F / 8°C as of 12:53 PM 12/10/2025
Elevation: 4061 ft / 1238 m
Travel eastbound: Pass Closed
Travel westbound: Pass ClosedConditions:
US 2 is closed from milepost 57 at Scenic to milepost 85 at Coles Corner, west of Leavenworth, due to rocks, trees, and mud over the roadway in multiple locations.
There is no detour available and no estimated time for reopening.
Weather: Raining hard.
Motorists are advised to use an alternate route. (Which would be US I-90 Snoqualmie Pass: Conditions: Bare and wet, with areas of standing water.
Weather: Heavy rain)Last updated: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 12:53 PM
#WAwx #ORwx #BCwx #PNWwx #PNW #KSEA #NWS #WX #Weather #HighWinds
