Hang On To Your Hats!

No, seriously.  Hang on to them, it's about to get windy again.  From the Portland National Weather Service:

Another series of increasingly strong Pacific weather systems are expected to begin affecting SW Washington and NW Oregon on Wednesday and continuing through at least Thursday.

The first system Wednesday is expected to bring south winds of 15-30 mph in our area and around 50 mph on the coast. 

The second stronger system is expected later Wednesday night and early Thursday.  This system could produce winds up to 35-40 mph in our area.

It's still early, so this may change as time goes on. 

Is Your Car Ready for Winter?

Getting stuck in a car during a winter storm can be very dangerous.  You can "winterize" your car by making sure it has the following:

• Strong battery
• Plenty of antifreeze
• no-freeze wiper fluid
• good blades
• working heater
• no leaks or crimps in exhaust pipe
• snow tires and/or tire chains
• at least half a tank of gas
• a winter-weight oil (see car owner's manual)

Keep the following items in your car in winter months:

• Jumper cables
• Windshield scraper
• Flashlight
• First Aid kit
• Small shovel
• Some sand to put under tires for traction
• Bright cloth to use as a distress flag.

Cool Idea!

Want a cheap, long lasting candle in an emergency?  All you need is a can of Crisco and a wick!  Check out this great idea that a co-worker found on Pinterest: http://greatnorthernprepper.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/how-to-make-an-everlasting-candle-from-crisco/

Be sure to read the comment section, because some questions about making it are answered, like how do I get the wick through all of that grease.  According to the post, you can also make candles from old crayons and even from a fish.  I think I'll skip the fish candle.

More Rain and Wind Today

According to the National Weather Service, most of the very high winds and flooding will be at the Coast and south of us.  There will be some heavy wind and rain for us later this afternoon, with high winds expected from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. tonight, with gusts up to 45 mph.  The rain will continue into tomorrow.  If there are any changes or if river levels change unexpectedly, we will send out another briefing report.

Wind, Rain and an Earthquake?

Hello to you too, Monday.  Lots of power outages last night and into this morning.  There was also a 3.1 earthquake with an epicenter in Portland early this morning.  More details here: http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Earthquake-hits-Southwest-Washington/2xu_VsHZKESKOgcpFYnZ_g.cspx

DEM will be participating in a National Weather Service briefing regarding high winds and flooding this afternoon and will report the forecast after that. 

Lots of Power Outages on this Dark and Stormy Night

Looks like lots of areas of North Kelso and Pacific Way, Mint Valley, Sunset Way and parts of Columbia Heights in Longview are without power.  This is a great time to locate all of the flashlights and make sure you have good batteries for all of them!

Potential for Flooding Coming Our Way

According to a release from the PDX National Weather Service, there are several weather systems that are impacting are area that contains both heavy rain continuing through Monday night and brisk winds of 35-45 mph in the inland valleys. Gusts of up to 50 mph may be possible. The amount of rain itself may cause some difficulties but coupled with rain saturation along with potential for winds causes a little extra concern.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has informed us that there is a Flood Watch* for some portions of Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon from tonight (Sunday night) through late Monday night. This amount of rain would be enough to cause flooding issues for smaller drainages that are already clogged by autumn leaves across our area.

In addition, brisk winds of 35-45 mph with possible gusts up to 50 mph are forecasted for our area on Monday. Winds may gust to 45-55 mph over the higher elevations of the coastal mountains and 60-65 mph over the higher elevations of the cascades.

The slow moving and moisture laden frontal system that is continuing will bring us heavy rain will continue until tonight, Sunday night. There is a second stronger and wetter low pressure system that will bring even heavier rain in Monday through Monday night. Multiple inches of rain are likely even for the inland valleys.

For those traveling this holiday week the coast and coast range will see the heaviest precipitation with over ten inches possible in some locations by Tuesday. In addition, there is a high wind warning for the south coast, high wind watch in the Willipa Hills area and a Winter Storm Warning for the west slopes north and central cascades which will all make traveling very difficult. If traveling at all, please stay connect to local weather warnings for your particular area of travel as we head into the a heavy-travel holiday week.

*A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts.