Weather Wrapup
Friday, December 15, 2006
Leaning tree tells it all. Many succumbed to the strong winds, others stripped of branches and still more weakened enough to require removal. - photo by Tyler Mode, Vancouver
NOWCAST - There is so much one could do to review the statistics and all the news from yesterday's big wind storm that I won't go into all the aftermath. Check out all the web links for more news and I'm sure you got an eyeful on the local TV news broadcast. Snow showers with hail, snow pellets, and thunder moved through today around 2 pm and made an attempt to whiten the ground in my neighborhood. Still some traces left at 5pm. Another weak low is still moving our way for Saturday and although all computer models say it will break apart, I think we could see a general snowfall of 2-4 inches if it holds together. Of course check for further updates. The wind was surely the strongest in terms of widespread damage since December 12, 1995, almost 11 years to the day! Okay, after the threat of snow Saturday, Sunday clears up and no big storms on the horizon.
FORECAST - Mostly clear tonight with frost and icy streets. Lows 25-30, slight chance of a flurry mainly over the hills. Saturday, increasing clouds early, few snow flurries late. Highs mid to upper 30's. Clearing late overnight Saturday and mostly sunny and cold on Sunday. Lows 25-30 and highs Sunday 35-40. Winds mostly easterly 5-15 gusts to 25 on Saturday afternoon.
OUTCAST -
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTReflections from one local weather observer:
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
605 AM PST FRI DEC 15 2006
...WIND STORM MOVED INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BRINGING STRONG AND
DAMAGING WINDS TO NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON...
A VERY STRONG PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM PLOWED ACROSS THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST LAST NIGHT...BRINGING STRONG AND DAMAGING WINDS TO
NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. THE STORM BROUGHT WIDESPREAD
DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES...AND LEAVING OVER 375,000 HOMES ACROSS
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND WESTERN OREGON WITHOUT POWER. MANY ROADS
AND HIGHWAYS WERE IMPASSABLE DUE TO DOWNED TREES.
...PEAK OBSERVED WIND SPEEDS AS OF 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING...
...COAST...
NEWPORT.........................106 MPH
ROCKAWAY BEACH...................97 MPH
GARIBALDI........................93 MPH
LINCOLN CITY.....................91 MPH
NEWPORT COURTHOUSE...............82 MPH
YAQUINA BAY BRIDGE ..............85 MPH
NEWPORT JETTY....................80 MPH
CANNON BEACH.....................79 MPH
OCEAN PARK.......................78 MPH
CAPE FOULWEATHER.................77 MPH
BAY CITY.........................76 MPH
FLORENCE.........................75 MPH
NEWPORT AIRPORT..................73 MPH
YACHATS..........................71 MPH
CLATSOP SPIT.....................71 MPH
ASTORIA AIRPORT..................69 MPH
SOUTH BEACH (NEAR NEWPORT).......68 MPH
TILLAMOOK........................66 MPH
SEA LION CAVES...................65 MPH (BEFORE POWER LOST)
DUNES RAWS.......................64 MPH
DESDEMONA LIGHT (CLATSOP SPIT)...62 MPH
OCEAN PARK.......................62 MPH
DOWNTOWN ASTORIA.................61 MPH
BAY CENTER.......................60 MPH
...COAST RANGE...
MT HEBO.........................114 MPH
ROCKHOUSE RAWS...................95 MPH
ABERNATHY MTN (SW WASHINGTON)....76 MPH
SOUTH FORK RAWS..................71 MPH
VERNONIA.........................60 MPH
BUXTON...........................60 MPH
...SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON LOWER COLUMBIA LOWLANDS...
LONGVIEW.........................60-65 MPH
KALAMA...........................45 MPH
...WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND CLARK COUNTY...
SALEM............................80 MPH
VANCOUVER........................79 MPH
PORTLAND (WEST HILLS)............65-70 MPH
BRUSH PRAIRIE....................70 MPH
PORTLAND (SOUTHEAST).............70 MPH
DALLAS...........................70 MPH
FOREST GROVE.....................70 MPH
VANCOUVER SPOTTER................63 MPH
HOCKINSON........................62 MPH
PORTLAND METRO...................62 MPH
PORTLAND (MT TABOR AREA).........60 MPH
ALOHA............................60 MPH
LEBANON..........................56 MPH
MCMINNVILLE......................56 MPH
CORVALLIS SPOTTER................55 MPH
EUGENE AIRPORT...................54 MPH
AURORA...........................54 MPH
PORTLAND AIRPORT.................53 MPH
VANCOUVER AIRPORT................50 MPH
HILLSBORO AIRPORT................46 MPH
TOLEDO...........................44 MPH
...COLUMBIA GORGE...
CORBETT..........................60 MPH
...CASCADES AND FOOTHILLS...
MT HOOD MEADOWS..................99 MPH
TIMBERLINE.......................91 MPH
BRUSH CREEK RAWS.................82 MPH
BLUE RIDGE RAWS..................81 MPH
BLUE RIDGE RAWS..................77 MPH
GOVERNMENT CAMP..................73 MPH
YELLOWSTONE MT...................71 MPH
SUGARLOAF RAWS...................70 MPH
WANDERERS PEAK (SE OF ESTACADA)..62 MPH
COLDWATER RIDGE (MT ST HELENS)...53 MPH
What a wild last few days, wind storm last night, record high, 58 degrees, record rain,
1.15"...now...snow, oh ya and thunder. Just had a huge shower move over, looked like a blizzard with heavy snow and winds gusting to 30 mph, and there was also a rumble of thunder. Temp dropped from 43 to 33 in less than half an hour. Sun is out now, things are melting, just a nice quick shot. Yesterday at this time it was 58, 33 today. Tyler Mode
OFF TOPIC - Secret Service? I was thinking today what a world we live in and all the changes even in the last 5 or 10 years. Technology has come so far so fast. I was in Red Robin today for lunch and noticed the swift communications their wait staff has. One, the manager wears an ear piece and mic that he touches on his shirt and can give directions to staff just as causally as he walks by and smiles at you. As a party left their table he strolls by, mumbled a few words, and bingo, a bus person magically appeared and cleared the table, he then in turn muttered a few words in his mouthpiece and bingo, the greeter brought a new couple to dine at the table. Wow. All so smooth that you wouldn't even pay attention. I only pass this along because I now pay more attention to what's happening around me and observing people and their habits and mannerisms. Besides learning something it gives me great insight for my writing endeavors.
My Quote of the Day - "It pays to keep your eyes on the road and it also pays to keep them open." - Pat Timm
-- posted by Pat Timm @ 5:16 PM,
