Chilly, windy, diminishing showers

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, EVERYONE...

After a rainy morning, our chance of showers will diminish and we could even get a peek at the sun this afternoon. Highs will only be in the mid 50's and southerly winds at 10-20 mph will gust as high as 30-35 mph. We will see partly cloudy skies tonight. Overnight lows will be scattered through the 30's. Breezes will become light out of the SW after midnight.

Every year, the Oregon chapter of the American Meteorological Society meets at OMSI in Portland for the Winter Weather Forecast Conference. This year, like last year, the meeting, open to the public, had to be conducted virtually. Meteorologists from local television stations along with scientists from the National Weather Service, NOAA, the State Climatology Office, and others gather to give their analysis of current conditions and look into the future for the coming winter. Though there were some variations of forecasting methods and results, the general consensus was that we would end up with a cooler and wetter than normal winter. Few estimated the extent of the wetter weather, but Kyle Dittmer, hydrologist for the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission, did venture to say that the mountains would receive 120-135 percent of their normal snowfall. A little good news for a drought-stricken state.

With the exception Thursday, ,when we reach the upper 60's, we will stay cool this week, with a variable cloud cover ... and plenty of sunshine. The weekend ahead will be partly cloudy to mostly sunny, with highs in the low 50's.

IN THE NEWSCHANNEL 21 WEATHER CENTER, I'M BOB SHAW...

HAVE A SPARKLING DAY IN CENTRAL OREGON!