FXUS66 KPQR 051104
AFDPQR

NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
230 AM PST WED FEB 5 2003

.SYNOPSIS...A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC WILL
PERSIST FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS GIVING DRY WEATHER TO THE FORECAST
AREA. OFFSHORE SURFACE GRADIENTS WILL INCREASE LATE TODAY MINIMIZING
THE AMOUNT OF NIGHT AND MORNING VALLEY FOG.

.DISCUSSION...
.SHORT TERM...SATELLITE SHOWS AREAS OF FOG IN SOUTHERN WILLAMETTE
VALLEY AND SOUTH. ALL OTHER STATIONS REPORTING CLEAR SKIES WITH A
VERY SMALL TEMP/DEW POINT SPREAD. HOWEVER...SOME OF THE LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE MAY CONTRIBUTE TO FROST RATHER THAN FOG THIS MORNING. VERY
WEAK GRADIENTS JUST BECOMING OFFSHORE. MODELS KEEP A STRONG UPPER
RIDGE OVER THE EASTERN PAC FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS FOR DRY
NORTHERLY FLOW. WEST GORGE ALSO STILL VULNERABLE TO FOG ALTHOUGH
LIGHT EAST WINDS MAY PREVENT FORMATION. OFFSHORE FLOW STRENGTHENS
THIS EVENING AS A COOL HIGH CELL DROPS OUT OF CANADA INTO THE
NORTHERN PLAINS...FOR LESS EXTENSIVE FOG AS OFFSHORE BREEZES SPREAD
OUT OF THE GORGE. BREEZY OFFSHORE FLOW FROM GORGE TO COAST CONTINUES
THROUGH FRI.

.LONG TERM...MODELS LET A WEAK UPPER LEVEL LOW/VORT MAX DUMBBELL
AROUND THE HIGH INTO THE WEEKEND. THIS PATTERN SEEMS UNLIKELY AND
WOULDN'T CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCAL FORECASTS IF IT WERE
TO VERIFY DUE TO DRY AIR MASS. AS PER DISCUSSIONS WITH NEIGHBORING
OFFICES...WILL KEEP WITH CURRENT FORECASTS AT THIS TIME. LIKENS

AST 00000  PDX 00000  SLE 00000  EUG 00000

.PQR...NONE.

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