Cold and Dry

The summary of events forecasted for the next few days per Portland National Weather Service is as follows:

• Cold air will move into the Pacific Northwest Friday - Tuesday


• Slight chance of snow or snow flurries to the valley floor Sunday/Monday


• When cold air arrives, moisture is expected to be very minimal making chance of a snow accumulation very unlikely


• Temperatures Friday through Sunday will range between 30 and 40 degrees


• Long term forecast temperatures Monday-Thursday next week will range between mid-20s to 40 degrees.

Brrr - Are You Ready?

The National Weather Service Portland is forecasting a cold week with the potential for *snow* in the valley. Here it is in their own words:

... The coldest weather of the season is expected late this week into early next week in the interior valleys of southwest Washington and northwest Oregon and in the western Columbia River gorge...

A complex and cold low pressure system will linger near the coast through the weekend. This system will bring the coldest air of the season to the interior valleys and the western Columbia River gorge.

Snowfall will generally be limited to areas above 1000 to 1500 feet through the weekend. However... areas in the Columbia River gorge could see snow levels fall to near the surface. The snow level may also briefly fall to below 1000 feet anywhere in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington in the vicinity of heavier showers.

More significant cold air may filter into southwest Washington and northwest Oregon late in the weekend and into early next week. If this cold Arctic air materializes... it will bring the coldest air of the season to the area... with low temperatures possibly falling into at least the 20s in the valleys. If any moisture is available... this could also bring snow to the valley floors by early next week. While a lot of details are still up in the air... now would be a good time to make preparations for a significant cold snap by protecting tender plants... wrapping outdoor faucets... and covering foundation vents.

Later this afternoon, DEM will be attending a weather briefing with NWS-Portland. Any updates or changes to this information will be provided after that meeting. Be prepared and stay warm!

Winter Weather Enroute?

And so it begins..... Today, the National Weather Service issued its first Winter Storm Warning of this winter for the SW Washington Cascades. From noon on Wednesday to midnight on Thursday, snow levels will drop to 1500 feet and 10-14 inches of snow is anticipated. Two more frontal band of moisture on Thursday could bring another 4-8 inches each to the areas around Mt. St Helens and the Cascades in Oregon. The Center for Disease Control puts out a great guide for preparing for winter weather. You might start thinking today about being prepared for tomorrow!

Reprinted from the CRESA Blog.

Hall of Justice Phones Back in Operation

Repairs to the phones at the Hall of Justice have been successful and operations returned to normal.  Thanks you for your patience and cooperation during this time.

Hall of Justice Phone Lines Out

The business phone lines coming into the Cowlitz County Hall of Justice are out. No incoming or outgoing calls are working at this time. Maintenance crews are working to fix the problem.

The Sheriff's Office has established an alternate business line. That phone number is 360-636-5160.

The 9-1-1 lines into the Dispatch Center are operational. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless you have an emergency.

Public Information Officer for this event is Stephanie Dunn at the County Commissioners office phone 360-577-3020.

Further information will be distributed as it becomes available.

CDID#3 Needs a Few Good Volunteers

CDID #3 of Cowlitz County serving South Kelso, needs a few good volunteers who are interested in training to become Dike Patrol Leaders. The time to do this is now, before we experience a high water event. The more trained leaders there are, the better chance of keeping Kelso dry during the rainy season.

If this is of interest to you, a training class will be held November 30th at the Department of Public Works building, 1600 13th Avenue S., Kelso, WA. Please call 423-2642 to sign up for the class.

Bad Weather Driving Tips

RAIN:

· To improve visibility, turn on your lights and defroster.
· Try to drive in the tracks of the car ahead, reduce your speed and allow for additional stopping distance.
· Be very careful during light rain and mist. Dirt and oil on the roadway surface can create very slippery road conditions.
· Puddles of rain can conceal potentially damaging potholes.
· Hydroplaning can occur. When this happens, the tires of your car lose contact with the road and ride up on a wedge of water. Make sure your tires have good tread and are properly inflated. If your car does hydroplane, keep the steering wheel straight; take your foot off the gas and do not hit your brakes or try to steer. As your speed slows, the weight of the car will cause the car to settle down onto the road again.

FLOOD:

· DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATERS. The water may be deeper than it appears. Two feet of water can carry away most vehicles.
· If you happen to drive into an area where water is running swiftly, the force of the current may pull your car to one side. If this happens, ease off the gas but don’t touch the brakes. Then steer away from the swift water.
· If your car is caught in a flash flood, get out of your car immediately and move to higher ground.

FOG:

· If you see a patch of fog ahead, slow down before you reach it.
· Turn on your low beam headlights or fog lights.
· Turn on your defroster and windshield wipers.
· Be alert for slow moving vehicles and traffic stopped ahead.
· In heavy fog, roll your windows down. You may hear other cars before you see them.

*Information supplied by the Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division