Sunny and dry weekend with record warmth, wet next week
Bend, Ore (KTVZ)-- Central Oregon is experiencing a milder than normal pattern that will continue through the weekend. The mercury in the thermometer is expected to rise past the 60° mark through Monday, when normally we should only hit the low 40s. This pattern is very “fall-like” as far as temperatures go since normal highs in mid-October are the low 60s.
Mostly sunny skies prevail today and clear skies overnight will define December 12th this year. That pattern continues tomorrow.
Saturday will be mostly sunny and dry with the highs reaching the low 60s. Winds will arrive from the south at around 5 – 7 mph, and gusts to 15, so a light breeze from the south. This will provide us with the milder air. The sun angle is very low at this time of year and the amount of daylight hours is also very short. These two usually combine for much cooler weather. The fact that Central Oregon will be around 20-degrees above normal speaks volumes about the warm air in the region.
Sunday will be the day of transition as we move from dry to wet weather. The day will start out mostly sunny, but as the day moves along the clouds will move into the area. The high temperature reading for Sunday will still be in the upper 50s or low 60, so the mild pattern remains. The clouds are indicating that there is moisture on the way as we prepare the atmosphere for a rainy pattern.
The rainy pattern begins on Monday as mostly cloudy skies define the day. The rain will be light and take some time to make it to the ground, but by mid-afternoon Central Oregon will see some light rain. The warmer than normal pattern does not change, highs will once again be near 60.
Tuesday should be the wettest day of the forecast period as widespread rain arrives. The temperature will be slightly cooler, only reaching the middle 50s, but that is still about 15-degrees above normal.
Overnight into Wednesday we finally see some snow on the mountains. The snow may be heavy and rich with moisture, but it will be snow nonetheless. The snow mingles with rain early Wednesday before ending by noon. But the we pattern is now over.
Thursday will see more rain and snow, with little to no accumulation as the ground is not cold enough to allow much snow to pile up. Next Friday will also see some snow, but only on the mountains, where it is welcomed this time of year.
Please, Stay safe.
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