Weather or Not: Rainus Interruptus
Thursday, Mar. 12th – Lincoln County
Summary: A blast of breeze jump-started the morning yesterday and not far behind was a decent round of rain. Neither was of storm magnitude, but we had enough of both to get our attention. Rainfall totals varied, averaging about a third of an inch, and peak wind gusts were generally about 35 mph. In the region, Cape Mears had the top gust at 56 mph, it blew 49 mph on Mary’s Peak in the Coast Range and 41 mph was recorded on the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The heaviest precipitation fell from late afternoon through early evening and was all over but the shoutin’ before midnight. The overcast hung on through the night with low temps only a few degrees below the highs. This morning, it was cloudy with patchy fog, drizzle and a light southwest breeze.
Past 24 Hours High/Low/Gust/Rain…
Lincoln City: 57F/53F/35mph/0.36”
Depoe Bay: 55F/52F/36mph/0.17”
Newport: 55F/52F/37mph/0.12”
Waldport: 59F/53F/29mph/0.31”
Yachats: 57F/53F/40mph/0.43”
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Forecast: There could be a little more fog and drizzle this morning, but the Sun has an appearance scheduled later, so we’ll look for a mixed sky with the rain interrupted for a brief intermission. The mercury heads for 60F and winds remain light. Partly cloudy conditions are expected tonight with 
maybe a little fog developing again; lows around 45F. Tomorrow we should start seeing the clouds thicken as another, stronger weather system heads for the Central Coast. Outlook is for rain to return late tomorrow night, increase on Saturday and last into Sunday along with a stout breeze. Precipitation totals could be an inch or better as this storm is coupled to a moderate atmospheric river. A slight chance of showers lingers into next week, Monday through Wednesday, with continued abnormally warm temperatures between 45F and 60F.
Travel: In the Coast Range today, patchy fog, becoming partly cloudy with 60-65F. Valley destinations are expecting fog early, some sunshine later and a high of 65F. The Columbia River Gorge forecast calls for showers, becoming partly sunny, light west wind, temps around 65F. For the Cascades, there is wet pavement on the passes this morning, temperatures are near 40F; rain showers this morning, then partly cloudy, the snow level remains above the highway passes at 6,000 feet.
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Cascades Snow Pack: Currently 32”; a loss of 1” since yesterday; an overall loss of 4” in the past seven days; 79” less than this date last year; 93% below the 30-year average Snow Water Equivalent (total amount of moisture in the snow pack).
Ski Report – New Snow/Base/Condition…
Hoodoo 0”/0”/closed
Willamette Pass 0”/1”/closed
Mt. Bachelor 0”/46”/wet packed
Mt. Hood Ski Bowl 0”/1”/closed
Mt. Hood Meadows 0”/29”/wet and loose granular
Timberline 0”/46”/spring passes available
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Marine: Following fairly windy and choppy conditions yesterday, breeze and seas are down this morning with S winds 10-
15 knots and swells 6-7 feet at 8 seconds. As of 8:00am, Depoe Bay and Yaquina Bay bars are closed to recreational vessels 20 feet and less. Southerlies ease to 5-10 knots by this afternoon and seas subside to about 6 feet at 9 seconds. Tonight, the wind veers to NNE 10-15 knots, seas hold at 6 feet. The breeze veers back to S tomorrow, 5-10 knots, with 6 foot swells and patchy fog. Outlook is for another weather system to barrel in on Saturday packing S wind 20-25 knots gusting 30 along with square seas 9 feet at 9 seconds. Expect N wind on Sunday, 20-25 knots, and choppy swells 9 feet. Easing conditions are projected for Monday; E winds 10-15 knots and swells falling to 6 feet.
On the Beach… Showers, partly sunny, surf 4-6 feet (low).
* For a safe and enjoyable time on the Central Coast, the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department offers these Beach Safety Tips.
* Tides
03/12 Thu 11:49 AM 1.19 L
03/12 Thu 06:19 PM 5.77 H
03/12 Thu 11:18 PM 3.32 L
03/13 Fri 05:42 AM 7.75 H
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In Short: Drying and partial clearing, then wet and windy.
