Local Alert Weather, Thu. AM, 5-16-19

Good Thursday Morning, Everyone…

We have been tracking a low pressure center as it makes its way toward the northern California coastline. It is responsible for the continuing rain showers on the high desert. With more rain today and possible thunderstorms this afternoon our highs will reach the mid 50’s to low 60’s. Southerly breezes will be gentle at 5-10 mph. More rain is expected tonight with lows in the mid 30’s to low 40’s.

The high winds that the southern half of Oregon and California see today will not reach Central Oregon until Friday. Morning rain showers will be followed by westerly winds reaching 10-20 mph, with gusts to 25 mph. The storm will break Friday afternoon and leave us under partly to mostly cloudy skies going into the evening. The next system will push in Saturday, but showers are next expected until the afternoon.

Colder air associated with the current system will cause the freezing level in the mountains to drop from 7,000′ this morning to around 5,500′ by Friday afternoon. Mt. Bachelor will see mixed showers to start that will turn to snow showers. The West Village Base is at 6,300′ and could see an accumulation of 4-6″ of fresh snow before the storm breaks mid-day Friday. This could be good news for the start of the Pole Peddle Paddle competition Saturday morning.

A line of storm systems headed into the Pacific NW will keep cool temperatures and rain showers in our forecast for the next several days.

In the NewsChannel 21 Weather Center, I’m Bob Shaw…

HAVE A SPARKLING DAY IN CENTRAL OREGON!