Freezing fog remains, but not for much longer, cold start to the weekend
Bend, Ore (KTVZ)— The freezing fog pattern that has plagued most of Central Oregon for the past week is starting to change. The region of high-pressure overhead that has helped keep the surface clouds or fog in place is finally breaking down. This will allow the fog to mix out much more efficiently in the future.
The interesting aspect to this forecast package is the temperatures are going to warm up slightly as colder air arrives. What is that? Well, the fog has prevented the sun from heating the ground, which in turn heats the air. With such persistent fog, the temperatures have not warmed past freezing since last Friday in Bend. In La Pine, normally a few degrees cooler due to elevation as well as Mt. Bachelor, the temperature readings have been in the 40s as they have seen the sun. So when I say the colder air mass is on the way and we will warm up, that is because the colder air mass without the fog will be milder at the surface. Weird, right?
As for the fog, there is still plenty of low level moisture trapped here so there will be some fog in pockets today and Friday. The coverage area will be less, but it is not out of the forecast package.
Friday will still see some patchy freezing fog early in the morning but I am expecting to see mostly sunny skies. The highs on Friday are expected to be near freezing, even with the sunshine.
Friday night will see temperatures in the teens and even a few single digits south of Lava Butte under mostly clear skies.
Saturday is going to start a slight warming trend that will see the mercury in the thermometer rise into the upper 30s. That is still below our normal low 40s for late January, but above where we have been in this fog.
Sunday will see us warm above normal as we get closer to 50 under partly cloudy skies. Our dry pattern, apart from the fog, is going to remain as we start the last full week of January.
Monday and Tuesday will be quiet and mild with highs in the upper 40s ahead of a passing shower slated for Wednesday. Not much snow for the Cascades is likely with this event, so the slopes are not going to get much relief from the snow drought we have been experiencing this winter.
Please, Stay safe.
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