More Storms to Track this Week

A series of Pacific storms that are loaded with moisture will continue to bring additional heavy rainfall to the Pacific Northwest coast and up into western BC through Wednesday. Snow levels in the Coastal Range will continue to be fairly high through Tuesday as they fall to about 4,000-4,500 feet during the day then to 3,500 feet by Wednesday.

Due to the prolonged period of rainfall, river flooding is a concern.

http://www.accuweather.com/mt-news-blogs.asp?partner=accuweather&blog=Anderson&pgurl=/mtweb/content/Anderson/archives/2010/01/st.asp

Special Weather Statement

North Oregon Coast (Oregon)
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
618 AM PST TUE DEC 29 2009
ORZ001-002-WAZ021-292230-
NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ASTORIA...CANNON BEACH...TILLAMOOK...
LINCOLN CITY...NEWPORT...FLORENCE...RAYMOND...LONG BEACH...
CATHLAMET
618 AM PST TUE DEC 29 2009
...INCREASING THREAT FOR COASTAL FLOODING LATE THIS WEEK...
INCREASINGLY HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES COMBINED WITH A POTENT
PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS TO THE
COAST AND THE POTENTIAL FOR COASTAL FLOODING TOWARD THE END OF
THE WEEK. THE FIRST OF THESE STRONGER FRONTS IS EXPECTED TO MAKE
LANDFALL MIDDAY THURSDAY WHICH COINCIDES WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST
HIGH TIDES OF THE YEAR.
A SECOND POWERFUL FRONT WILL SWING ON SHORE ON FRIDAY ALSO NEAR
THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE. LARGE WESTERLY SWELL GENERATED BY THE STORM
SYSTEM WILL ARRIVE AT THE COAST ON FRIDAY POSSIBLY GENERATING
HAZARDOUS SURF CONDITIONS AS WELL AS ADDING TO THE COASTAL
FLOODING POTENTIAL.
AT TOKE POINT NEAR WILLAPA BAY...ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDES OF 11.1
FT WILL OCCUR AT THE MIDDAY TIDES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. WATER
LEVELS OVER 11 FT CREATE MINOR TIDAL OVERFLOWS WHILE 14.5 FT IS
THE THRESHOLD FOR MORE WIDESPREAD COASTAL FLOODING PROBLEMS. THE
MAGNITUDE OF TIDAL ANOMALY...THE ADDITIONAL BOOST TO THE COASTAL
WATER LEVEL DUE TO THE ACTION OF FRONTAL SYSTEM ITSELF...IS STILL
UNCERTAIN. HOWEVER IF THE STORM IS A STRONG ONE IT COULD ADD AN
ADDITIONAL 2 TO 4 FEET TO THE BASE ASTRONOMICAL TIDE.
FACTORS THAT WILL INFLUENCE THE FINAL WATER HEIGHT INCLUDE...THE
DEPTH OF THE LOW PRESSURE AREA AND STRENGTH OF THE WINDS...THE
AMOUNT OF RUNOFF ADDED TO THE COASTAL RIVERS AND THE AMOUNT WAVE
ACTION ALONG THE BEACHES TO DRIVE THE WATER FURTHER UP.

Weather update

A Pacific storm will bring rain and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest from Washington to Northern California today. Snow showers are forecast from the Northern Rockies southward to New Mexico. Scattered rain showers will be prevalent up and down the western U.S. with precipitation extending as far south as central California by Wednesday evening. Five to eight inches of snow is possible across the Sacramento Mountains in southern New Mexico. Highs will be seasonally cool from the 20s and 30s across the Intermountain West to the 50s and 60s in the Southwest.

A parade of Pacific storms far from over.

The one-two punch of the past 24 hours into today is reaching a climax now with heavy rain moving into northern California, and it's bringing the first really heavy snow of the season to the Sierra. However, it will fade pretty quickly tonight as this upper-level trough moves inland. Why? The next storm will be knocking on the door of the Northwest by tomorrow, spreading more heavy rain and mountain snow inland during the afternoon and at night.

This system will taper to showers Sunday, only in time for still another storm to take aim at the region Sunday night and Monday. While the core of that storm is more aimed at British Columbia, it will nevertheless rain in much of Washington and western Oregon, with little for California.

Weird Mix of Weather After Oregon Coast Storm, More Warnings

Flooding just south of Seaside is expected to subside by Wednesday morning.

(Oregon Coast) - Monday's storm unloaded plenty of statistics on the Oregon coast, but it left a strange set of conditions afterwards to spectacular results of varying degrees. The central coast reported a beautiful sunset Tuesday afternoon, while the north coast saw everything from a downpour of rain, a sky thick with stars, and then even thunder and lightning.

Meanwhile, another storm system is poised to bring a smaller volley of wind gusts Wednesday to the coast, and a wind watch has been changed to a wind warning.
After raining most of the day Tuesday, the skies around Manzanita became unusually clear, revealing a sea of stars above the raging ocean about 8 p.m. Then, perhaps and hour later, thunder rolled through the area, as massive flashes of lightning could be seen in the east and north periodically.

All kinds of damage was reported on the north coast during the storm, from Astoria down to at least Oceanside, but the central coast seemed to be spared any destruction or too much excitement. Gusts of around 90 to 95 mph were reported in places like Cape Foulweather near Depoe Bay, Garibaldi and Waldport.

But on the north coast, flooding stranded motorists coming to and from Seaside, trees were knocked down and the roof of the old courthouse in Seaside was torn off and strewn around the street.

During the storm, electricity went out in several places in Clatsop and Tillamook Counties periodically throughout the day, but over 2,700 people were without power for almost 24 hours in Cannon Beach.

Power came back on around 3 p.m. Tuesday to most in town, but that didn’t save shops and restaurants from being closed the whole day. As of 6 p.m., only a handful of businesses were open, including two restaurants and one store.

A sign on the Lumberyard Restaurant told the story of all but two Cannon Beach eateries that day: “Closed due to power outage.”

As of 5:30 p.m., the road just south of Seaside was still substantially flooded, although most cars were able to get through. ODOT workers at the scene said the water had gone down eight inches on Tuesday, and they expected it to be clear by morning.
The Sea Horse Motel in Lincoln City reported occasional big gusts around 11 p.m. Monday night, but otherwise it was a “typical storm,” they said. There have so far been no reports of flooding on the central coast.

Angi Wildt, with Depoe Bay Winery, reveled in the madness.
“Last night I went for a walk at Beverly Beach,” Wildt said. “There was a layer of sand blowing above the wet sand and it was fun and invigorating to lean my back into the wind and have it hold me up. We've enjoyed blue skies today and the sunset is beautiful.”

Sarah MacDonald, who owns Sea Sweet Vacation Rentals in Oceanside, said she missed most of it, as she was flying home from Maui.

“It was pretty darn rocky,” she said. “Came home over the Wilson River Highway and thought: ‘What the heck hit the coast?’ Debris everywhere. Got home, woke up this morning and checked the rentals, and the neighbors had siding blown off. The wind must have hit pretty darn hard. I guess we were in the last of it, but it was over by the time we arrived home.”

In Pacific City, Kiwanda Coastal Properties owner Nicole Twigg noticed something odd during the windy melee.

“I really wish I would have taken a picture of my neighbor washing his car yesterday in full rain gear when the wind was really starting to pick up,” she said. “Of all days, he was thinking he’d better get out there and wash it.”
Garibaldi saw gusts around 90 mph on Monday night.

But the fun isn’t over for the north coast.
The National Weather Service (NWS) had issued a high wind for Wednesday, as another system of storms is expected to kick in. That was changed to a wind warning, and extended from Wednesday through to early Thursday.

“The first in a series of storms will begin to affect the south Washington coast and north Oregon coast on Wednesday afternoon,” the NWS said in a bulletin. “Winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph will begin to affect the coast by mid afternoon. Winds will then increase to 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 70 mph in the evening.”
The NWS said they expect winds to continue on into Thursday.

Storm could bring snow to Coast Range

http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_f88cf156-cf1e-11de-9f5b-001cc4c03286.html

Thursday, November 12, 2009 12:30 am

Ready or not, here comes winter.

A series of storms forecast to hit the state this week could bring snow to the Coast Range and will likely soak the Willamette Valley.

The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement Wednesday for the foothills of the Cascade and Coast ranges. According to the agency, three different storm systems are expected to hit the region in the next three days.

The first arrived Wednesday, bringing rain to Corvallis and snow flurries to the Cascades.

The next storm was predicted to move in Wednesday night and this morning, with the last following tonight and Friday.

Though most snow accumulation - 1 to 3 feet - is expected in higher elevations, snow levels could drop to between 1,500 and 2,500 feet tonight and Friday.

The Corvallis-area forecast calls for rain today and Friday, with highs of about 48 degrees.

Lows will drop to the mid-30s tonight and Friday night.

There is a chance of rain Saturday and Sunday. Sunday's high is expected to be in the low 50s.

The snow forecast for the mountains is good news for ski resorts.

Just two Oregon ski areas are currently open: Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Meadows. Neither is operating all lifts.

Other ski areas that have announced anticipated opening dates are Hoodoo (Nov. 27), Mount Bachelor (Nov. 20) and Anthony Lakes (Nov. 27).

Anyone planning to drive over mountain passes this week should be prepared for winter conditions. Carry chains, extra clothing, and food and water.

To check road conditions, see www.tripcheck .com.

Governor's $250,000 Grant to Amateur Radio Goes Online as Oregon Hams Install New Winlink System

This month, Oregon ARES® members will complete the state-wide installation of Winlink, thanks to a $250,000 grant from Governor Ted Kulongoski. In 2007, the governor was impressed by the hams' ability to handle emergency communications when severe winter storms wreaked havoc on Oregon's North Coast and flooded the City of Vernonia, knocking out 911 services, Internet and phone service for an extended period of time.

The Oregon Office of Emergency Management said that during the storms, the radio operators were "tireless in their efforts to keep the systems connected." When even state police had difficulty reaching some of their own troops, ham radio worked, setting up networks so emergency officials could communicate and relaying lists of supplies needed in stricken areas.

"I'm going to tell you who the heroes were from the very beginning of this...the ham radio operators," the governor said at the time. "These people just came in and actually provided a tremendous communication link to us." Because of the service rendered by Amateur Radio operators in providing communications support, the governor allocated funds for the installation of a Winlink system to integrate Amateur Radio with the Internet.

The equipment will be installed in the Emergency Operating Center in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Once the monies were distributed, ARES® members researched and purchased the equipment that would be needed, formalized and signed contracts between the state, counties and ARES®, and allocated space to install the antennas and equipment within each EOC. The project is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2009 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) scheduled for October 3-4.

"Using Winlink equipment and other amateur equipment already in place at the EOCs, ARES® teams will have to quickly create a communications network, in some instances without depending on other infrastructure such as telephones or Internet," said ARRL Oregon Section Public Information Coordinator Steve Sanders, KE7JSS. "Many will not use commercial electric power. Despite these limitations, the ARES® teams should not only be able to quickly pass local messages, but also communicate with other regions of the country. The ability to pass information in and out of disaster areas is crucial to the effectiveness of emergency responders."

When Oregon's State Office of Emergency Management was activated on December 3, 2007, hams over the course of the next four days used Winlink to pass message traffic. "The Winlink system performed perfectly, and the ARES® team at the OEM was able to pass approximately 200 messages into and out of the State of Oregon Emergency Operations Center," said Marion County ARES Emergency Coordinator Dean Davis, N7XG. "The only mode of communications for several Oregon counties for the first two days of the storm was the Winlink system."

Oregon Doesn't just have floods

It might seem like Oregon does not have many disasters. We usually hear about the yearly flood in the same old places. However, our state is very large and is divided by the Cascade mountain range into two distinct geographic areas that suffer different types of disasters, many of which are not large enough for a Federal Declaration, but are certainly devastating to those affected.

If an event is not big and horrible, we won’t hear much about it on the news outside of the affected area. If it is not happening to us, we don’t spend much time thinking about it. This can lead to a false sense of security. We forget to plan.

When I encourage people to be prepared for an emergency, I am often told that all we have are floods and that it is “no big deal”. I disagree. Besides flooding being a very big deal, Oregon can and has suffered a wide variety of hazards, both natural and man-made.

Most recently parts of Oregon suffered from The Great Coastal Gale of 2007. A series of powerful Pacific storms hit the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia between December 1, 2007 and December 3, 2007.

The storms on December 2 and 3 reportedly produced an extreme long-duration wind event with hurricane-force wind gusts of up 129 mph at Bay City, Oregon. The storm also brought heavy rains and produced widespread record flooding throughout the region, particularly Vernonia, and was blamed for at least 18 deaths. That’s a big deal.

Oregon’s history reveals many short-term and a few long-term droughts. Long-term drought periods of more than one year can impact forest conditions and set the stage for potentially devastating wildfires.

And don’t forget the Spring Break Quake. Oregon is quite vulnerable to earthquakes (and tsunamis, which often accompany major seismic events) because of the state’s proximity to the Cascadia Subduction Zone just off the Pacific Coast.

Depending on the epicenter, areas receiving major damage from an 8.0 – 9.0 magnitude earthquake would include most of the counties in Western Oregon; the heavily populated metropolitan areas of Portland, Salem, and Eugene would certainly experience major damage.

Landslides also pose significant threat to many communities in Oregon. They threaten transportation corridors, fuel and energy conduits, and community facilities. While not all landslides result in property damage, many landslides impact roads and other infrastructure, and can pose a serious life-safety hazard.



That’s just a few of the events that Oregonians have suffered through over the years. Earthquakes, fires, severe storms, power outages, mudslides, snow storms, and thunderstorms are some potential emergencies we may encounter in the future.

We are also at risk for blackouts, chemical emergencies, and terrorist attacks. Oregon has even seen a tornado or two over the years.

So, why the concern over different types of disasters?

In some cases such as winter storms, we have prior warning, but sometimes we don’t. What if it isn’t a storm? What if one of the big semi trucks carrying toxic chemicals turns over in your town? Your family plan for flooding should be different than your plan for a chemical spill. Knowing what the possibilities are will help you create a better plan.

Knowledge is power.
Brains often freeze under extreme stress. Having a plan and practicing your family plan ahead of time can train you not to freeze. People automatically do what they have learned and practiced.

“Knowing where to go was the most important thing,” says a 9/11 survivor. “Because your brain, or at least mine – shut down.”

Bill McMahon, a Morgan Stanley executive who survived 9/11 said “One thing you don’t ever want to do is to have to think in a disaster.”

Have a plan, get a kit and be informed. Know the possible disasters for Oregon. Talk to your family about what to do in different situations. Stay safe and call or write with any disaster related questions.