Weather or Not: Half and Half
Thursday, Mar. 3rd – Lincoln County
Summary: The lion of March continued to roar yesterday, but only 50 percent of the time. The first half of the day was dry, winds were light and the mercury rose to near 60F; Yachats actually slipped past that mark to 62F. Everything changed, however, for the second half of the day when the next front arrived in the late afternoon packing winds much stronger than predictions; Yachats shared the blue ribbon with Waldport as both recorded a gust of 56 mph. Total rainfall was around half an inch. The heaviest precipitation and highest wind gusts were over by midnight, followed by drying and some holes in the overcast, lows dropped to the upper-40s. At dawn, it was mostly cloudy and the breeze blew from the south at 15-20 mph.
Newport Airport Conditions…
Ceiling: broken @ 3,400′, 4,000′ and 4,700′
Visibility: 10 miles/Wind: S 14 mph/Pressure: 29.86”
Past 24 Hours High/Low/Gust/Rain…
Lincoln City: 58F/49F/44mph/0.40”
Depoe Bay: 56F/46F/41mph/0.58”
Newport: 59F/45F/46mph/0.24”
Waldport: 59F/47F/56mph/0.46”
Yachats: 62F/49F/56mph/0.62”
Forecast: Conditions will be in the unstable category today with a chance of showers, sunbreaks, and possible thunderstorms with small hail. High around 55F and southerly winds 15-20 mph gusting 25 or so. Increasing clouds tonight, low of 50F. Rain developing again by tomorrow afternoon along with southerlies 25-30 mph gusting 35-40. Outlook is for rain Saturday, showers and breezy Sunday and Monday, then what could be a fairly potent wet’n’windy storm on Tuesday lasting into Wednesday. High temps 50-60F, lows 45-50F throughout the extended period.
Travel: In the Coast Range this morning, there’s wet pavement and 40-45F in the passes; a chance of showers and thunderstorms with small hail today, temperatures 50-60F. Willamette Valley destinations are expecting a chance of showers and thunderstorms, the thermometer rising to 60F. The Columbia River Gorge forecast calls for partial clearing, a chance of showers, light west wind, high of 55F. For the Cascades, highways have bare pavement this morning, temps are right at 35F in the passes; partly sunny and a chance of snow showers today, the snow level is 4,500 feet, carry chains or traction tires.
Marine: S winds are 15-20 knots gusting 25 this morning with choppy seas 11-12 feet at 9 seconds. A Small Craft Advisory for winds and hazardous seas is in effect until tonight when a Gale Warning goes into effect through tomorrow night. S winds 15-20 knots gusting 25 today, swells 11-12 feet at 10 seconds. Tonight, southerlies rising to 25-35 knots gusting 35-45 knots, strongest offshore past 10 miles, seas building to 15-18 feet, highest farther out. SW winds tomorrow 30-35 knots gusting 45 with combined very rough seas 21 feet at 15 seconds. Outlook is for southerlies 20-25 knots Saturday and Sunday, swells 15-18 feet, then W winds 10-15 knots Monday, swells subsiding to 15 feet. Always check the latest Bar Reports before you venture offshore.
On the Beach… Showers, sunbreaks, breezy, surf 10-15 feet (moderate).
* For a safe and enjoyable time on the Central Coast, the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department offers these Beach Safety Tips.
* Tides
03/03 Thu 06:45 AM 7.54 H
03/03 Thu 01:56 PM 1.42 L
03/03 Thu 08:42 PM 6.01 H
03/04 Fri 01:41 AM 4.07 L
In Short: Showers, possible thunderstorms, then rainy and windy.