A Rather Blustery Day

A high wind advisory remains in effect today until 5:00 p.m. South winds will increase to 25-35 miles per hour later this morning with gusts to 45-55 in the afternoon. The strongest winds are expected to occur with and behind the cold front which is expected to pass through the Willamette Valley later this morning. Peak winds are expected between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. I am reminded of a cute passage from Winnie the Pooh on this rather blustery day:

Oh the wind is lashing lusterly
And the trees are thrashing thrusterly
And the leaves are rustling gusterly
So it's rather safe to say
That it seems that it may turn out to be
It feels that it will undoubteadly
Looks like a rather blustery day today
It seems that it may turn out to be
Feels that it will undoubteadly
Looks like a rather blustery day today

Weather Update

From National Weather Service
..STRONG SYSTEM FOR APRIL WILL IMPACT THE AREA TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL RAPIDLY DEEPEN OFF THE WASHINGTON COAST FRIDAY MORNING...CAUSING NUMEROUS WEATHER IMPACTS. THESE WEATHER IMPACTS INCLUDE WIND...SNOW...AND HEAVY RAINFALL.

WIND...WINDY CONDITIONS WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED INLAND AND WILL LIKELY RESULT IN AN ADVISORY FOR THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE WILL BE EXACERBATED BY SATURATED SOILS AND TREES LEAFING OUT. THIS STORM WILL ALSO BRING HIGH WIND CRITERIA TO THE COAST...WIND SPEEDS WILL BE STRONG WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH IN THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND 70 TO 75 MPH ALONG BEACHES AND HEADLANDS.

SNOW...ANTICIPATE SNOW LEVELS TO REMAIN AROUND 2000 TO 3000 FT TONIGHT. SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER EARLY FRIDAY MORNING TO AROUND 1000 FT BEFORE SLOWLY RISING TO NEAR 2500 FT BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

SNOW LEVELS WILL FALL AGAIN BEHIND A COLD FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT. DUE TO WINDY CONDITIONS...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW MAY CAUSE PERIODS OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. EXPECT 1 TO 3 FEET OF SNOW IN THE CASCADES...WITH THE HIGHEST TOTALS LIKELY TO OCCUR NEAR AND ABOVE THE PASSES. FOR THE NORTH OREGON AND SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS...AS WELL AS THE UPPER HOOD RIVER VALLEY...UP TO 1 FOOT OF SNOW IS EXPECTED. IN THE CENTRAL OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS...4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED. A QUICK 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW WILL FALL IN THE NORTH OREGON COAST RANGE AND WILLAPA HILLS BEFORE PRECIPITATION CHANGES TO RAIN THERE FRIDAY MORNING.

RAIN...EXPECT 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN ALONG THE COAST...2 TO 4 INCHES IN THE COAST RANGE...AND ABOUT 1 INCH OF RAIN IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY. HEAVIEST RAINFALL WILL OCCUR EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month

No foolin', today begins Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month, as declared by Governor Gregoire. The focus for this month is earthquake safety. On April 21st from 9:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. schools and businesses across Washington will participate in a state-wide Drop, Cover, Hold drill. For more information on the drill or other disaster preparedness information, click here.

More Nasty Weather Ahead

From the National Weather Service:
The latest in a series of storms in beginning to take shape over the Pacific Ocean south of the Aleutian Islands. This storm will tap into abundant moisture while racing toward the Pacific Northwest tonight and Friday. A warm front associated with this system will move onshore late tonight spreading heavy precipitation across Washington and Oregon through Friday. However, the surge of warm air will weaken as the front moves onshore.
A cold front will move onshore on Friday dropping snow levels back down to 2000 feet or lower while onshore flow continues to push showers into the Cascades.
In summary: cold, wet, yuck.

Nasty Weather Ahead

According to the Portland office of the National Weather Service, our area is in for some more ugly Spring Break weather. Snow is beginning to accumulate in the Coastal Mountains and in the Cascade Foothills. Very cool air has lowered snow levels to around 2000 feet this morning. Heavy rain showers will continue tonight and on into Wednesday. There remains a good chance of isolated thunderstorms throughout the day today. The snow level may drop to 1500 feet tonight before climbing back up to 2000 tomorrow. In other words, it's a good day to stay inside and watch a great movie.

Preparing for Chemical Emergencies

*From Preparing for Hazardous Chemical Emergencies in Your Community, from the Washington State Emergency Management Division

Communities throughout the Pacific Northwest are subject to a number of chemical-related disasters. While we all hope that such occurrences never happen, it has been shown time and time again that being prepared for disaster is always the best bet.

One hazard that many people forget to prepare for is a major chemical emergency. Our own community has many industrial facilities that produce or maintain a variety of hazardous chemicals. Cowlitz County also has major railways and a freeway that often are used to transport chemicals.

What to do during a major chemical emergency:

• You can be notified of a major chemical emergency by authorities. If you hear a siren or other warning signal, turn on a radio or television for information.


• To get your attention, a siren could sound, you could be called from the county's Emergency Community Notification System, or emergency personnel may drive by and give instructions over a loudspeaker.

One of the basic instructions you may be given in a chemical emergency is to shelter-in-place. This is a basic precaution to keep you and your family safe while remaining in your home.

Steps to Shelter-in-Place

• Go indoors immediately


• Go into a room with the fewest doors and windows (bathrooms are usually safe bets)


• Take your disaster supply kit with you (you have one, right?)


• Seal gaps and cracks under doorways and windows with wet towels and duct tape


• Listen to local radio or television stations, or a NOAA Weather Radio for further instructions


• If time permits, close off nonessential rooms such as storage areas, laundry rooms, and extra bedrooms


• Seal gaps around air conditioning units, bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, and stove and dryer vents with duct tape and plastic sheeting, wax paper, or aluminum foil.


• Stay in the room and listen to your radio or television until you are told all is safe, or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community. Following the advice of local authorities is your safest choice.


• If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds or curtains. To avoid injury, stay away from the windows.


• You can provide a minimal amount of breathing protection by covering your mouth and nose with a damp cloth. Many chemicals can cause damage to breathing passages.


• Immediately after the shelter-in-place announcement, fill bathtubs or large containers for an additional water supply, and turn off the intake valve to the house. Water supplies may become contaminated. Preserve the water you have available.


• Avoid eating or drinking any food or water that may be contaminated.

Happy Flood Safety Awareness Week

The National Weather Service has deemed March 15-19 as Flood Safety Awareness Week. Flooding is a threat in most areas, ours included. We're looking pretty good right now, but areas of the midwest, east and south are experiencing some heavy flooding at this time. Let's hope we stay nice and dry this spring!