Thanksgiving Eve

Nice looking turkey isn't it?

A brief post this evening since we're in the middle of the 10pm show and I need to be on again in a few minutes.

Models handled the sudden increase in easterly flow today really well.  PDX-DLS gradient peaked out quite close to 10 millibars around 8pm but has weakened to around 8 millibars at this hour.  Clearly some downsloping wind mixed in with the Gorge wind, but it'll become more of a plain old Gorge wind by daybreak.  That makes forecasting low temps very difficult.  Peak gusts have made it to right around 50 mph at the west end of the Gorge and will probably stay below 60 mph the rest of the night.  You folks in Troutdale are sure getting the wind tonight with gusts to 44 mph last hour.  The east wind should be completely gone by early afternoon tomorrow, even in the Gorge.

Another sad looking front moves inland tomorrow…maybe some light rain, maybe not.  Same thing Friday night and Saturday morning.

Long range maps have changed around a few times in the last 24 hours.  The BIG picture shows a long wave ridge anchored quite close to the West Coast through at least the end of next week.  There have been hints of wetter (warm or cool, depending on the model) conditions at the end of next week, but nothing too impressive.

That's about it.  I have tomorrow off, but I'll be back Friday.  Enjoy dinner!  Mark Nelsen