Fall Equinox!

[takesiteasy]

...Freezing rain is the worst.

I agree! We got some of that out of the last storm that went through here- freezing rain and then snow- the worst. Roads and sidewalks are in terrible shape because of it. I hope we get a warm up soon or this stuff will be with us all winter. The current forecast calls for single digit lows for the next week or so and highs in the teens to twenties. Not good for melting ice.

 

[MarkBC]

Well, (light) freezing rain is still a possibility in the forecast for later today, but so far this morning it's snowing, and we have about 5 inches so far:

It's just 15° at my house at 7:30 a.m., but a significant warm-up is forecast for later today as Pacific air moves in.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

A bit of freezing rain here in Canby, or as we euphemistically refer to it, a Silver Thaw. I'm going to stay hunkered down, get fatter and lazier, and not out driving.

 

[MarkBC]

A bit of freezing rain here in Canby, or as we euphemistically refer to it, a Silver Thaw...

That "silver thaw" name -- I've heard it myself -- MUST have been coined by Chamber of Commerce, Tourist Board types...to make the worst form of weather there is sound like a magical beautiful event!

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

It's actually starting to thaw here. I looked out at a camilla bush, and saw a small ice drop that was caught by a spider web, and spinning in the wind like a little diamond. Interesting.

Already longing for those bluebird days...

 

[craig333]

Some light rain today. 70's forecast for the weekend. Its good to live in the Golden State (weatherwise at least).

 

[MarkBC]

Well, the freezing rain -- aka, "silver thaw" -- hit Bend early evening yesterday and continued past midnight. Pretty awful -- bad enough that I cancelled a planned evening activity and stayed home. My (freshly-installed) studded snow tires might keep me moving and stopping properly, but the ice can glaze the windows beyond the defroster's/wipers capacity to keep it clear. Don't like driving blind. :O
My car in the driveway is glazed with ice. Woke up to less snow but new snow...

We're still in a yucky temperature inversion in Bend this morning, down in the upper teens with frozen roads and still snowing while higher elevations, just 30 miles to the south, are above freezing with just-wet roads.

ODOT cams from a couple hours ago, showing the difference:


I'm driving to southwest Oregon this afternoon (non-camping trip), so I'm glad to see roads are better in that direction.

 

[craig333]

Its not just your vehicle that needs to stop and start. Really ruin your day to have someone slide into you. Glad we don't have any of that.

 

[ski3pin]

Storm Coming along with flash flood watch for our new large burn area -


Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
1235 PM PST MON DEC 1 2014

CAZ068-069-021400-
/O.UPG.KSTO.WS.A.0007.141202T1800Z-141204T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KSTO.WS.W.0009.141202T2000Z-141204T1200Z/
WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK-
WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA-
1235 PM PST MON DEC 1 2014

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 4 AM PST
THURSDAY ABOVE 7000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING ABOVE 7000 FEET FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 4 AM PST THURSDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS
NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* IMPACTS: TRAVELERS MAY EXPERIENCE DELAYS. CHAIN RESTRICTIONS
  LIKELY THROUGH THE PASSES.

* CONFIDENCE: HIGH.

* TIMING: A STRONG WINTER STORM WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT THE REGION
  TUESDAY AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY. THE PERIOD OF
  HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: DONNER PASS...ECHO SUMMIT...CARSON PASS.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 12 TO 18 INCHES WITH 2 TO 3 FEET OVER THE
  HIGHER PEAKS.

Flash Flood Watch

FLOOD WATCH...DELAYED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
320 PM PST MON DEC 1 2014

CAC017-109-021400-
/O.CON.KSTO.FF.A.0002.141202T1800Z-141204T1200Z/
/00000.0.DM.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
EL DORADO-TUOLUMNE-
320 PM PST MON DEC 1 2014

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING
THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR THE AREAS BURN SCARS INCLUDING
THE KING AND RIM BURN AREAS...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* FLASH FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE BURN AREAS IN PLACER...EL
  DORADO...AND TUOLUMNE COUNTIES. THESE INCLUDE THE KING AND RIM
  BURN SCARS.

* FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT

* FLASH FLOODS AND DEBRIS FLOWS WILL BE A PARTICULAR THREAT IN AND
  BELOW THE KING AND RIM FIRE BURN AREAS. RAINFALL RATES COULD
  EXCEED ONE HALF INCH PER HOUR AT TIMES DURING THE STORM. THE
  SEVERELY BURNED AREAS WILL BE OF PARTICULAR CONCERN. THESE AREAS
  NO LONGER ABSORB ANY RAINFALL...LEADING TO ENHANCED RUNOFF.
  THOSE TRAVELING ALONG AND NEAR THESE BURN AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT
  FOR POSSIBLE ROAD PROBLEMS DUE TO FLOODING...ROCK...AND DEBRIS
  FLOWS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS COULD QUICKLY BECOME A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HUNTERS...
RESIDENTS...AND PERSONS TRAVELING WITHIN THE KING AND RIM BURN
AREAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND TAKE ACTION SHOULD HEAVY RAIN
DEVELOP.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR A BURN AREA MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY
DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODS...ROCKSLIDES...AND/OR DEBRIS
FLOWS.

 

[takesiteasy]

Snowfall sounds good, heavy rain in burn areas sounds bad. I hope things go ok- I know you need moisture. It's a shame it can't come in a more manageable fashion.

 

[craig333]

Some low snow would help but we'll take what we can get. Here in the Valley the rainfall has been pretty light. Very little ponding even. Creeks barely rise. Makes me wonder just how much its going to take to saturate the ground.

 

[fish more]

Lots of rain in the foothills lately,going to make a trip up to French Meadows area tomorrow

 

[Smokecreek1]

From the land of the never ending drought! Some rain here, snow up on Diamond Mtn, not as much as we need to catch up, but some at least. Today, cold and foggy with more prospects of rain in the valley and snow higher up. Hope this doesn't go into a pokoniv (ice fog) because the conditions are right for it-weed need water/snow not ice!

Smoke

 

[MarkBC]

When I woke up the temperature here was 35°F, so I was sure the forecast of freezing rain was wrong.
But now at 10:30 a.m. the temperature has dropped to 30°, and it's overcast....

 

[MarkBC]

When I woke up the temperature here was 35°F, so I was sure the forecast of freezing rain was wrong.
But now at 10:30 a.m. the temperature has dropped to 30°, and it's overcast....

Of course, sub-freezing at the surface isn't enough to get freezing rain -- it has to be warm and wet aloft. And at the 6300-foot base of Mt. Bachelor (the local ski area) it's 43°F...

 

[MarkBC]

Glad I'm not a polar bear: The overnight low here was 45°F, which is crazy-warm for December in Bend... nights in summer here can be colder than that...

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

We have also had very warm nights.
Seems like this year and especially the fall we have had to open several windows a bit during the night.
CRAZY!

What else is crazy? I have some spring/late winter flowering shrubs and guess what they have blossoms already.
Even some bulbs are starting to show flowers.

Now we are told the BIG one is coming.
Hope we at least get some good rain.We have had some good runoff already. The two lakes we get our water from in the Salinas valley are starting to see that runoff.
It's a start.
Frank.

 

[craig333]

I'll believe it when it happens. Is it supposed to hit Bend also?

 

[ski3pin]

Sounds like a regular storm to me..........................................


Blizzard Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
125 PM PST TUE DEC 9 2014

CAZ068-069-101200-
/O.UPG.KSTO.WS.A.0008.141211T0200Z-141213T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KSTO.BZ.W.0001.141211T0600Z-141212T2100Z/
WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK-
WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA-
125 PM PST TUE DEC 9 2014

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM WEDNESDAY TO 1 PM PST
FRIDAY ABOVE 6000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING ABOVE 6000 FEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM WEDNESDAY
TO 1 PM PST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* IMPACTS:EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. PASSES MAY
  CLOSE FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 10 TO 20 INCHES ABOVE 6000 FEET WITH 2 TO 3
  FEET OR MORE POSSIBLE ALONG THE CREST.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY
  MORNING AND CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY. THE PERIOD OF HEAVIEST SNOW
  IS EXPECTED THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND THURSDAY NIGHT. THE STRONGEST
  WINDS ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY.

* SNOW LEVELS: SNOW LEVELS WILL INITIALLY BE ABOVE 6500 FEET LATE
  WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY...LOWERING TO 4500 TO 5500 FEET THURSDAY
  NIGHT INTO FRIDAY.

* WIND: SOUTHERLY WINDS 25 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 80 MPH OR
  HIGHER WILL DEVELOP WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. WINDS
  DECREASE BY FRIDAY MORNING.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: LASSEN NATIONAL PARK...DONNER PASS...
  ECHO SUMMIT...CARSON PASS.

* FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA...VISIT
  HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SACRAMENTO/HAZARDS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

High Wind Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
155 PM PST TUE DEC 9 2014

CAZ068-069-101200-
/O.CON.KSTO.HW.W.0002.141211T0500Z-141211T2200Z/
WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK-
WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHESTER...QUINCY...BLUE CANYON
155 PM PST TUE DEC 9 2014

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM WEDNESDAY TO
2 PM PST THURSDAY BELOW 6000 FEET...

* WINDS: SOUTH 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 80 MPH OR HIGHER.

* TIMING: LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: CHESTER...QUINCY...BLUE CANYON.

* IMPACTS: DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS. WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE
  AND POWER OUTAGES POSSIBLE.

Flood Watch

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
330 AM PST TUE DEC 9 2014

...URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOW OVER BURN
AREAS POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY...

.A WET AND WINDY STORM IS EXPECTED TO BRING SIGNIFICANT RAIN AND
SNOW TO INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY.
THE SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL ALONG WITH THE RAINS EARLIER THIS MONTH
WILL LEAD TO RISES ON THE SMALL STREAMS AND FLOODING IN POORLY
DRAINED AREAS. DEBRIS FLOWS OVER BURN AREAS ARE POSSIBLE WITH
SATURATED SOIL AND PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN.

CAC003-005-007-009-011-017-021-033-035-057-061-063-067-077-089-
091-095-099-101-103-109-113-115-100000-
/O.CON.KSTO.FA.A.0002.141211T0600Z-141213T0600Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
ALPINE-AMADOR-BUTTE-CALAVERAS-COLUSA-EL DORADO-GLENN-LAKE-LASSEN-
NEVADA-PLACER-PLUMAS-SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN-SHASTA-SIERRA-SOLANO-
STANISLAUS-SUTTER-TEHAMA-TUOLUMNE-YOLO-YUBA-
330 AM PST TUE DEC 9 2014

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...

THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* A PORTION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING
  COUNTIES...ALPINE...AMADOR...BUTTE...CALAVERAS...COLUSA...EL
  DORADO...GLENN...LAKE...LASSEN PARK AREA OF LASSEN COUNTY...
  NEVADA...PLACER...PLUMAS... SACRAMENTO...SAN JOAQUIN...SHASTA...
  SIERRA...SOLANO...STANISLAUS...SUTTER...TEHAMA...TUOLUMNE...YOLO
  AND YUBA.

* FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING

* RAINFALL AMOUNTS FORECASTED ARE 1 TO 3 INCHES IN THE VALLEY...2
  TO 5 INCHES IN THE FOOTHILLS AND 4 TO 8 INCHES IN THE MOUNTAINS.
  SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER TO AROUND 4500 FT ON FRIDAY.

* PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN OVER RECENT BURN SCARS COULD CAUSE DEBRIS
  FLOWS AND FLASH FLOODING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS
ON SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS AND POSSIBLY FLOODING...AND PONDING
OF WATER IN URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS
WELL AS OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.
ADDITIONALLY...COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLANDS ALONG THE BANKS OF
CREEKS...STREAMS AND OTHER LOW LYING AREAS ARE SUBJECT TO
FLOODING.

THE SEVERELY BURNED AREAS ARE OF PARTICULAR CONCERN...THESE
INCLUDE THE SOUTH AND MIDDLE FORKS OF THE AMERICAN RIVER AND THE
RUBICON RIVER BASINS. THESE AREAS HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE TREE
AND VEGETATION LOSS AND HEAVY RAIN IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE EXCESSIVE
RUNOFF.

THOSE TRAVELING IN THE VICINITY OF BURN SCARS...ESPECIALLY THE
KING...AMERICAN AND RIM...SHOULD BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLASH
FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE
FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.

 

[MarkBC]

In Central Oregon, warm rain and winds forecast for today and tomorrow (possibly record-warm today).
Chance of snow at the end of the week when it cools off but after most of the moisture passes through.



The overnight low this morning was 46°, another very warm low.