A Local Alert Weather Day Thursday for strong thunderstorms, scattered showers, storms today
Bend, Ore (KTVZ) – Showers and storms are expected across Southern Oregon today with Thursday being the most active. There is an area of low pressure that will remain in place over Nevada and northern California this week, and that feature will be the driving force behind the rainy and stormy weather.
A Local Alert Weather Day will be in effect Thursday as the threat of strong storms are in the forecast. The Storm Prediction Center has Central Oregon in the Slight Risk for Severe Storms Thursday for portions of Crook and Jefferson counties, increasing from the Marginal Risk Category that most of the region was under yesterday.
What this means is that there is a stronger possibility that the storms will occur in the Slight Risk region. There is still a chance for them to occur, as anticipated, but it appears more likely that they will develop in the Slight region. We are issuing this Local Alert Day to alert not alarm you, but we need you to be safe. Plans that include any outdoor activities Thursday may need to be adjusted.
Tomorrow, Thursday, we will see a very aggressive line of storms arrive in the early afternoon. This will be the batch that may generate hail stones over 1” in diameter (about the size of a quarter) and gusty winds near 60 – 70 mph. The storms will arrive from the south and east as they rotate around the above mentioned low over Nevada.
This afternoon a line of strong and possibly severe storms will cross southern Oregon and generate gusty winds, periods of rain and lightning. Although this cluster or line of storms will be close, most of the activity will be in Malheur, Harney, Lake and Klamath Counties today.
This type of weather is not common for Central Oregon and you will need to pay attention to KTVZ for all updates as we track and time this event.
If you have plans for hiking, biking or kayaking this Wednesday or Thursday, be aware that storms will be brewing in the afternoon. Might be a good idea to adjust or change your plans for another day.
Friday will see some scattered showers arriving from the west, and will impact the Cascades with light rain that may translate east to the High Desert.
We are expecting a good deal of rain with this week's storms, and we could use it as we are well behind as far as rainfall totals this year. Although heavy rain is not as beneficial as soaking rains, we will still fill up some reservoirs and the water table nonetheless.
Friday afternoon will begin the drying out process and we are expecting a dry weekend.
Please, Stay safe.
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