Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Lincoln City, OR

SHORT TERM
Now through Monday night...Satellite imagery and surface observations as of early Saturday afternoon depicts predominately dry weather with scattered clouds as high pressure re-builds following our atmospheric river event.

An upper level ridge will amplify over the the northeast Pacific Ocean on Sunday and shift over the Pacific Northwest by Monday.
This will maintain predominately dry conditions across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington as we head into early next week. Above-average 500 mb heights will also set-up over our area, resulting in a warmer air mass and high temperatures in the mid to upper 60s across interior valleys. Despite the warmer weather, we can't rule out the possibility for rain.
Moisture associated with an atmospheric river will ride the northern periphery of the ridge and make landfall into western British Columbia and far northwest Washington. While the bulk of the rain appears to track further north of our area, some model solutions have the southern periphery of the atmospheric river bringing at least some light rain into far northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Precipitation chances still linger during this time, with the highest chances (40-60%) along the coast and southwest Washington. Given the light precipitation amounts, minimal impacts are expected at this time but will need to monitor this over the next few days. -10

LONG TERM
Tuesday through Friday...The long term forecast will ultimately be defined by how amplified the aforementioned upper level ridge will be. Tuesday through the end of the week, the majority of ensemble members remain in agreement that the bulk of the precipitation from the atmospheric river riding the northern periphery of the ridge will continue to trek towards Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula. In this scenario, we would continue to see renewed chances for precipitation across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, but the light precipitation amounts would lead to minimal impacts. If the ridge ends up flattening as it moves eastward, then we could see this atmospheric river track further south and lead to increased precipitation amounts over our area, thus increasing the potential for impacts. This is currently not the most likely scenario, but we'll continue to closely monitor the progression of this set-up. The latest NBM guidance suggests that the wettest scenario (10% chance for occurring) for a 72 hour total ending 5 AM Friday is around 2-3 inches along the coast from Tillamook to Pacific County, WA, 1-2 inches across the Portland Metro Area through Cowlitz County, and less than 1 inch everywhere else.

While there is still some uncertainty whether or not precipitation will make it's way to our area from the north, there is higher confidence that above-average 500 mb heights will continue throughout the week, maintaining spring-like temperatures with high temperatures in the mid to upper 60s for interior valleys (potentially 70 degrees the further south you are). By the end of the week (Friday), NBM guidance suggests a 15-20% chance for high temperatures exceeding 75 degrees across the central/northern Willamette Valley, with higher chances of 40-60% across the southern Willamette Valley. Given the warmer temperatures, we could see some increased snowmelt across the Cascades. -10

AVIATION
Northwest flow aloft with dry conditions expected tonight. This will promote predominately VFR conditions through the TAF period. Increasing moisture Sunday morning will bring mid to high level clouds across the airspace as well as a slight chance of very light rain to terminals in far northern OR and southern WA, including KAST, KPDX, and surrounding terminals. North to northwest winds inland and offshore easterly winds along the coast and over the Cascades generally less than 10 kts.
Coast Range gaps will see a slight increase in east winds between 10- 21z Sun with Cascade gaps following between 14-00z Sun, generally 10- 15 kts with a few gusts up to 20 kts. This includes KTTD and areas east in the western Columbia River Gorge.

KPDX AND APPROACHES...VFR with scattered mid to high level clouds expected through the TAF period. Northerly winds less than 5 kt become easterly between 14-21z Sun. Slight chance for light rain showers between 17z Sun - 01z Mon. -03/DH

MARINE
Seas have begun to lower Saturday evening to around 5-7 ft with wind gusts decreasing below 15-20 kts. Winds turn offshore by early Sunday as an offshore weather system moves toward Vancouver Island. Seas subside to around 4 to 5 ft on Sunday with relatively benign conditions expected through Sunday night.

Southerly winds return next week, increasing on Monday and likely remaining elevated through the middle of the week as a quasi- stationary front remains offshore. While winds are expected to be breezy, probabilities for gales is generally less than 15%. Seas build back to around 10 ft. -DH/03

PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...None.
WA...None.
PZ...None.