413
FXUS66 KPDT 162341
AFDPDT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
340 PM PDT MON MAR 16 2026
.UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION.
KEY MESSAGES
- ATMOSPHERIC RIVER THIS WEEK BRINGING MOUNTAIN RAINS WILL KEEP
RIVERS RUNNING ELEVATED WITH A FEW RIVERS POSSIBLE RETURNING
TO FLOOD.
- MUCH WARMER THAN AVERAGE TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK
- WINDY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE YAKIMA AND SIMCOE HIGHLANDS THURSDAY
DISCUSSION
A CONTINUING ATMOSPHERIC RIVER WILL BE FOUND ACROSS WASHINGTON
FOR MUCH OF THE COMING WEEK, BRINGING LIGHT TO AT TIMES MODERATE
RAIN TO THE WASHINGTON CASCADES. THE NBM MEAN WOULD PRODUCE
AROUND 2.5 TO 3 INCHES OF TOTAL QPF IN THIS ALL-RAIN WARM AR,
WHERE SNOW LEVELS AVERAGE AROUND 6 TO 8K FT AGL THROUGH MUCH OF
THE WEEK, AND CERTAINLY TUESDAY - THURSDAY. EACH 6 HOUR PERIOD
WILL ONLY RANGE UP TO A QUARTER INCH OF RAINFALL, HENCE RATES
WILL NOT BE HIGH, BUT THE DURATION ON THE SNOWPACK WILL CAUSE
CONSIDERABLE RUNOFF/EXACERBATE THE MELTING FOR AREA RIVERS,
INCLUDING THE YAKIMA AND NACHES AND WALLA WALLA.
POSITIVELY ANOMALOUS HIGH AND LOW TEMPERATURES ARE ANTICIPATED
AS A STRONG UPPER HIGH BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN U.S. THIS SHOWS
UP IN THE ESAT VALUES RANGING FROM AROUND .82 TO .86 RELATIVE TO
THE MODEL CLIMATOLOGY BROADLY AND A FEW SPOTS LIKE CENTRAL
OREGON AND THE COLUMBIA BASIN/WALLOWAS THAT CAN SEE HIGHER SHIFT
OF TAILS NEAR .90 TO .95 FOR MAXT AND MINT. WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY LOOK TO BE THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE WEEK WHERE
TEMPERATURES EVEN BY THE MEAN NBM TEMPERATURES CAN REACH 80
DEGREES IN THE JOHN DAY BASIN AND THE OTHER DEEPER RIVER VALLEYS
LIKE DESCHUTES.
BY AND LARGE, THE PERIOD DOES NOT LOOK WINDY, HOWEVER RIDGETOP
WINDS CAN BE ELEVATED ACROSS THE SIMCOE HIGHLANDS AND LOWER
SLOPES OF THE EASTERN WASHINGTON CASCADE CREST (40 TO 55 MPH
GUSTS) TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. A LOOK AT TUESDAY’S BOX AND
WHISKERS SPREAD SHOWS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF WIND GUSTS
BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH HOWEVER, ON THURSDAY, THAT KICKS UP TO 35
TO 50 MPH ACROSS THE SIMCOE HIGHLANDS WITH GUSTS OF 60 MPH ALONG
THE RIDGE TOPS.
AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/
VFR CONDITIONS CURRENTLY AT ALL SITES, WHICH WILL STAY THE COURSE
THROUGH THE PERIOD. CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED TO DROP TO AROUND 10KFT FOR
THE MAJORITY OF SITES LATE TUESDAY MORNING ASSOCIATED WITH A FRONTAL
SYSTEM WELL TO OUR NORTH. THIS FEATURE WILL ALSO ENHANCE WINDS
SLIGHTLY ACROSS KPSC/KALW/KPDT/KDLS WITH WINDS BETWEEN 10-15KTS
LIKELY. 75
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
PDT 66 43 66 44 / 40 0 10 10
ALW 61 48 65 49 / 50 10 20 20
PSC 64 46 69 47 / 30 10 10 10
YKM 62 41 67 44 / 20 10 20 20
HRI 65 45 68 44 / 30 0 10 10
ELN 54 38 59 43 / 30 20 30 40
RDM 72 38 72 39 / 10 0 0 0
LGD 62 41 67 43 / 50 0 10 10
GCD 66 41 70 43 / 20 0 0 0
DLS 67 45 64 44 / 10 0 20 10
PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WA...NONE.
OR...NONE.
DISCUSSION...71
AVIATION...75
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