Sunrise 6:15 AM   Sunset 8:02 PM Moonrise 1:50 PM   Moonset 3:34 AM

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FXUS66 KPQR 180957 AFDPQR

Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Portland OR 255 AM PDT Thu Apr 18 2024

SYNOPSIS
High pressure over the region will remain through Friday, maintaining mild sunny days and cool clear nights. Offshore flow increases a bit for today, and more so for later tonight through Fri, with breezy easterly winds on the west slopes of the Cascades and to some degree, the Coast Range. Will return to cooler conditions this weekend, as a front pushes across the region. Unsettled weather continues into early next week.

SHORT TERM
(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY)...High pressure is building over the region today, with sunny skies. After a cool start, will see temperatures rise back into the 60s today, even along the coast.
Offshore flow will increase today, see thermal trough along the coast and high pressure sits east of the Cascades. This will allow for increasing offshore flow. As such, should see east to northeast winds gusting 20 to 30 mph along the coast later this afternoon into this evening. Generally, gusts 15 to 30 mph along the coast and higher terrain of the Coast Range and Willapa Hills. But, the offshore flow will contribute to downsloping winds, with breezy conditions will be on the west slopes of the Cascades, with gusts 35 to 50 mph on more exposed spots, and in parts of the western Columbia Gorge into eastern parts of the Portland/Vancouver metro. Overall, not enough to warrant any advisories.

But, these offshore/downsloping winds will boost the temperatures and lower humidities this afternoon. Likely to see temperatures across the interior will climb to upper 60s to lower 70s today. Event the coast will be rather mild, with many areas well into the 60s. Few spots could reach into the 70s as well.

Winds ease a bit tonight, but will maintain offshore flow. As such, not as cool as past few nights. Breezy easterly winds in the Cascades will keep mid-slopes as well as areas along the coast rather mild, with lows 45 to 50, and lower 50s in few spots.

Models have been persistent in showing the strongest offshore being on Friday, though only a bit stronger as compared to today. Even so, will maintain breezy east to northeast winds across the region. Like Thursday, will be a warm day, with highs into the lower to middle 70s inland, and 65 to 75 along the coast. Will see wind-reversal along the coast in the afternoon, with east to northeast winds becoming southerly to south of Florence in the afternoon, and as far north as Newport by sunset. This as thermal trough shifts inland over the Coast Range. This will allow for cooler ocean air to spread back across the coastal zones at that time. But, offshore flow persists on to the north overnight, such as at Astoria. Likely be one of those afternoons where Newport is 59 with light south wind and Astoria is around 70 with an east wind in the late afternoon.

Changes gradually arrive Fri night into early Sat, as a front well offshore approaches. Will see offshore flow gradually weaken Fri night, with increasing clouds later Fri night into Sat am. Timing still suggest showers or pockets of light rain spreading to the coast by midday Sat, and pushing inland during the afternoon. Again, not a strong front, as rainfall expected on Sat being 0.10 to 0.25 inch along the coast/coastal mtns, and 0.02 to 0.10 for lowlands form Cowlitz Valley through the Willamette Valley. Will be much cooler on Saturday, thanks to clouds and onshore flow. Highs only in the 50s along the coast, and lower to middle 60s inland. /Rockey

LONG TERM
SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Onshore flow, with clouds and few showers around for Sat night into Sun. Ensemble guidance shows good agreement on a shortwave ridge moving through the area Sunday afternoon, though uncertainty still exists on how long it's expected to continue. Monday looks dry, but another front will bring cooler unsettled weather again for Tue and Wed. /Rockey/JLiu

AVIATION
VFR thresholds prevail through the entire TAF period.
Winds north to northeast a thermal trough develops along the coast and Willamette Valley through the day. Wind gust 15-20 kt along the coast as well as inland area this afternoon in to evening hours. Winds turn more east to northeast overnight into Friday as high pressure settles east of the Cascades. East winds 35 to 40 kt possible through the Gorge on Friday.

PDX AND APPROACHES...VFR conditions expected through the entire TAF period. Winds become more easterly and strengthen to around 13-17 kt after 18-19z Thu, with gusts up to 25 kt. Winds settle after 03-05Z Fri to 10 kt or less. /mh

MARINE
High pressure off the WA/B.C. coast continues to move more onshore through the day along with a strengthening thermal trough along the south Oregon coast. The high pressure will shift inland later today and tonight, shifting winds front northerly to easterly. This configuration breaks down Friday night as a Pacific front approaches and moves through the waters Saturday. Will maintain Small Craft Advisories through this evening across the waters with northerly wind gusting to 25 to 30 kt which will bring choppy seas.

General seas through the weekend of 4 to 7 feet at 11 to 17 seconds, consisting of a long period southwest swell or a shorter period west to northwest swell. -Batz/mh

PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...None.
WA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 8 PM PDT this evening for PZZ251-271.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT this evening for PZZ252-253.

Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening for PZZ272-273.

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