Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Astoria, OR

DISCUSSION
Now through Wednesday...Benign conditions continue across the region as an upper level short wave ridge moves into the PacNW. Temps currently in the mid to upper 60s inland will peak in the upper 60s to low 70s inland with mid 60s expected along the coast. Friday will be even warmer inland with temps in the mid to upper 70s with temps similar to Thursday along the coast. Probabilities for reaching 70 inland are greater than 70% and range from 20-40% in the Willamette Valley except around the Portland metro with probs much higher with a 50-80% chance. Temps on Friday should be around 5 degrees above average along the coast and around 10-15 degrees above average inland. Min RH values during the day Friday will drop into the 20-30% range (40-50% along the coast) as the dry airmass remains in place and temps rise well above normal. Not expecting any fire weather concerns at this time as winds remain below 10 kt and gusts up 15 kt.

Expect northerly to northeasterly offshore winds in the lowlands and easterly downslope winds on the west side of the Cascades and Coast Range as a thermal low remains in place at the surface through Friday. Winds shift back to onshore flow as a weak disturbance approaches the area Friday night.

The pattern shifts as we move into the weekend. A series of short wave disturbances are expected to move across the region shifting the short wave ridge east of the Cascades. Significant precipitation is not expected through the weekend but light showers are possible, mainly along the north OR/south WA coasts and north of the Portland metro. The first disturbance is expected to cross the area late Friday night into Saturday but given the dry airmass currently in place, it is unlikely to bring significant rain. The second disturbance enters the region on Sunday and may have a better chance at producing a accumulations of a few hundredths. Temperatures drop close to normal, possible a degree or two below normal for the weekend and into early next week. -Batz

AVIATION
High pressure sits over the region, keeping skies clear and conditions VFR for most terminals through the TAF period. Coastal terminals may be an exception, with a 40-50% chance of MVFR conditions and a 20-30% of IFR conditions from 12-18Z Friday. Otherwise, expect north to northwesterly winds under 10 kt for all terminals through most of TAF period. Again, with the coast as an exception, breezy winds will return in the afternoon, with gusts up 20 kt.

PDX AND APPROACHES...VFR through the TAF period. Northwesterly winds 4-8 kt through the TAF period, diurnally strongest in the afternoon. ~Hall

MARINE
Benign marine conditions through Friday as high pressure maintains northerly winds around 10-15 kt. Tonight into early Friday morning, pressure gradients in the southern waters may be tight enough to lead to breezy northerly winds with gusts up to 25 kt (40-60% probability). Though very marginal, a Small Craft Advisory is in effect from 5 PM Thursday to 5 AM Friday for the waters south of Cape Foulweather. Expect seas around 5-7 ft at 13 seconds through Friday evening.

Saturday, a weak frontal system moving down the British Columbia coast into Washington will strengthen northwesterly winds across the waters with gusts to 25-30 kt and seas building to 7-9 ft at 12 seconds. -Alviz

PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...None.
WA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Friday for PZZ253-273.