Local Alert Weather Day: Strong thunderstorms, scattered showers Monday and late Wednesday

Bend, Ore (KTVZ) – Showers and storms are expected across Central Oregon for the next few days with Thursday being the most active.  There is an area of low pressure that will become nearly stationary over northern California this week an 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 Marginal Risk Category for severe storms with gusty winds and 1” hail being the concerns. We are issuing this to alert not alarm you, but we need you to be safe. Plans that include any outdoor activities Thursday may need to be adjusted.

Today will be more of a showery pattern that will see the mercury in the thermometer rise only into the 50s. After a sunny start the skies filled with clouds and light rain is possible into the night. The showers will do little more than add a bit of moisture to our lawns and fields, but it does set up the rest of the week for more robust rain.

Wednesday will be a mix of clouds and sunshine with some gusty winds from time to time. The low over California will provide rainy and possibly an isolated thunderstorm in the evening.  The rain will arrive from the east as it wraps around the low to our south, and currently only Southern Deschutes County forecast to receive some moderate rain for a couple hours. This is more of a preamble than the main event.  There may be an isolated thunderstorm in the late afternoon or evening as the atmosphere gets more unstable.

Thursday will be the most active day and there is a better chance for thunderstorms to develop in the afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center has placed portions of the region under a marginal risk for severe storms Thursday. The main threat will be in Idaho and we are on the fringe of the instability, but we do have some robust storms on the way. The severe risk will be from gusty winds near 60 mph and possibly some 1” or larger hail. The Marginal Risk is only level 1 on a scale of 5 but any storm with lightning is dangerous, so we need to be aware.

If you have plans for hiking, biking or kayaking this Wednesday or Thursday, be aware that storms will be brewing in the afternoon. Mainly Thursday, but some may pop late Wednesday.

Friday will still be rainy but the threat of storms is near zero.  The rainy day will come to an end in the middle to late afternoon.

Over the weekend the area will be dry and the high temperatures will be in the upper 60s to low 70s.

We do need the rain and this week will be good for the region, unfortunate that the rain will be accompanied by a few strong to severe storms Thursday.

Please, Stay safe and smart.

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