FXUS66 KPDT 270934
AFDPDT

NORTHEAST OREGON/SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
230 AM PDT SAT SEP 27 2003

THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO PERSIST OVER THE 
PACIFIC NORTHWEST...WITH CLEAR SKIES AND DRY CONDITIONS PREVAILING.  
ON MONDAY...A WEAK SYSTEM UNDER-CUTTING THE RIDGE WILL BRUSH THE 
COAST...AND HAVE MINIMAL EFFECTS ON THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF OREGON 
AND WASHINGTON.  HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO RUN 
APPROXIMATELY 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THIS WEEKEND...WITH A 
LITTLE COOLING EXCEPTED ON MONDAY.  AS A RESULT...HIGH TEMPERATURES 
WILL BE NEAR RECORD TEMPERATURES IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE AND 
BASIN THIS WEEKEND...AND EVEN INTO MONDAY.  THESE WARM TEMPERATURES 
AND EXTREMELY DRY CONDITIONS WILL ALLOW FOR INCREASE FIRE DANGER 
THROUGH THE SHORT TERM.  MEANWHILE...CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS 
WILL ALLOW FOR GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING AND COOL OVERNIGHT LOW 
TEMPERATURES.  PALMER

EXTENDED...MODELS CONTINUE WITH THE IDEA THAT THE PERSISTENT RIDGE 
OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BREAK DOWN DURING THE EXTENDED. IT WILL TAKE 
TIME AND A COUPLE OF SACRIFICIAL SYSTEMS TO DO SO. FIRST SYSTEM WILL 
BE A CLOSED LOW OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST THAT LIFTS NORTHWARD 
TUESDAY BRINGING A FEW CLOUDS. SECOND IS A SYSTEM KICKING OUT OF THE 
GULF OF ALASKA TROUGH THAT MOVES OVER THE REGION THURSDAY. IT WILL 
WEAKEN AS IT BUMPS INTO THE RIDGE BUT WILL CLEAR THE WAY FOR A 
LITTLE STRONGER SYSTEM TO ARRIVE IN THE WEEKEND. OVERALL IT LOOKS 
LIKE A CHANGE TO A MORE PROGRESSIVE PATTERN OVER NORTH AMERICA.  
 
PDT 000  ALW 000  PSC 000  YKM 000
 
.KPDT...NONE.

$$