Winter Weather Advisory

..WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS
EVENING TO 4 AM PST SUNDAY FOR THE CASCADES OF SOUTH
WASHINGTON...NORTH OREGON AND LANE COUNTY...

A STRONG PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM ALONG THE COAST WILL TRACK INLAND THIS
EVENING BRINGING WET AND WINDY CONDITIONS TO THE CASCADES FOLLOWED
BY RAPIDLY FALLING SNOW LEVELS. AS PRECIPITATION RATES INCREASE
THIS EVENING SNOW LEVELS INITIALLY RANGING BETWEEN 6000 AND 7000 FT
WILL FALL TO 3500 FT NORTH AND 4500 FT SOUTH THROUGH FRIDAY
MORNING. 6 TO 10 INCHES OF NEW SNOW ARE EXPECTED TO FALL OVERNIGHT.

STRONG ONSHORE FLOW COMBINED WITH COLD UNSTABLE AIR ALOFT WILL
ENHANCE POST FRONTAL SNOW SHOWERS FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT
WITH SNOW LEVELS BETWEEN 3000 AND 4000 FT. SEVERAL SHORTWAVE
TROUGHS ROTATING INLAND OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WILL INCREASE
SNOW FALL RATES AT TIMES BUT ON AVERAGE SNOW FALL RATES ARE
EXPECTED TO RANGE BETWEEN 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW PER 12 HOUR PERIOD
BRINGING STORM TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 FEET OF NEW SNOW THROUGH SATURDAY
NIGHT.

..HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR THE
NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST...

A STRONG COLD FRONT IS MOVING TOWARDS THE COAST THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL
MOVE ONSHORE AROUND 9 PM THIS EVENING. AS THE FRONT APPROACHES...SOUTH
WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH WILL OCCUR.

AFTER THE FRONT MOVES ONSHORE TONIGHT...WINDS WILL DECREASE FROM THE NORTH
TO SOUTH.

A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON.

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM PST
SATURDAY.

LARGE SWELL GENERATED BY A STORM IN THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL BUILD TONIGHT
THROUGH FRIDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY...BRINGING HIGH SURF
CONDITIONS TO THE COAST. THE LARGEST SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE FRIDAY
AFTERNOON. HAZARDS FROM HIGH SURF CONDITIONS ALONG THE SHORELINE WILL BE
ENHANCED DURING THE HIGH TIDES AROUND 3 TO 4 PM IN THE AFTERNOON FRIDAY
AND SATURDAY.

HIGH TIDE OF 10.3 FT AND AN ANOMALY OF AROUND 1 FOOT WILL BRING THE HIGH
TIDE LEVEL TO AROUND 11.1 FT THIS AFTERNOON. AT THIS LEVEL...MINOR
FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN AND NEAR THE TOWN OF RAYMOND.

TIDES WILL BE LOWER AT SUBSEQUENT HIGH TIDES. CONSULT LOCAL TIDE TABLES
FOR TIMES AND HEIGHTS OF TIDES IN YOUR AREA.

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT HIGH SURF WILL AFFECT BEACHES IN THE
ADVISORY AREA...PRODUCING RIP CURRENTS AND LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION.
EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION ALONG BEACHES. UNPREDICTABLE AND DESTRUCTIVE
WAVES MAY WASH OVER BEACHES...JETTIES AND OTHER STRUCTURES WITH NO
WARNING. BEACH EROSION IS POSSIBLE. THIS IS NOT A TIME TO BE NEAR THE
WATER.

Ready now, Steady later

Preparing for a disaster is one of those projects it's easy to put off. Don't wait; do it now. Rarely do you get a warning that a disaster is on its way in time to do much about it. At worst, planning ahead can make the difference between surviving or not. At the least, an emergency kit and a clear plan will help your family and neighbors be more comfortable while you wait it out.

Oregon is vulnerable to vaious types of natural hazards, from severe winter storms to earthquakes and floods. We also need to be prepared for thereats from aiforne chemicals, fires, tainted water or acts of aggression.

Many regional and national organizations have web sites, blogs and other communications dedicated to disaster preparedness. Oregon Emergency Management suggests you visit www.ready.gov for information about "Sheltering in Place," prepareing a 72 hour kit and making a disaster plan. There are diagrams and lists you can review and print out to help. The Red Cross also has a very useful site, www.oregonredcross.org. Check your local emergency management agencies for twitters and blogs like this one.

OEM's twitter is www.twitter.com/baileyjn. This is where we will post emergency information during disasters and education information when things are calmer.