000 
FXUS66 KPQR 290425
AFDPQR

NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
830 PM PST THU MAR 28 2002

.SYNOPSIS...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC
CONTINUES TO PUSH APPROACHING WEATHER SYSTEMS TO THE NORTH OF THE
FORECAST AREA WITH ONLY SOME TRAILING CLOUDS AND SPOTTY LIGHT
PRECIPITATION MAKING IT TO NORTHWEST OREGON. A SLIGHTLY STRONGER
WEATHER SYSTEM WILL DIG FARTHER SOUTH INTO THE RIDGE ON SATURDAY
NIGHT AND SUNDAY TO BRING A CHANCE OF RAIN TO NW OREGON AND SW
WASHINGTON. THE RIDGE WILL QUICKLY REBUILD OVER THE AREA MON. BY THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK TEMPERATURES SHOULD CLIMB WELL INTO THE 60S FOR A
NICE PERIOD OF SPRING WEATHER.

.DISCUSSION...
.SHORT TERM...MOIST ONSHORE LOW LEVEL FLOW AND HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE 
RIDING THROUGH THE TOP OF THE PACIFIC RIDGE WILL CONTINUE NIGHT AND
MORNING CLOUDS BUT BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON MODELS ADVERTISE A NORTHWARD
SHIFT OF THE SURFACE RIDGE AXIS. THIS COUPLED WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER
HEIGHTS ALOFT SHOULD ALLOW MORE AFTERNOON CLEARING. THIS PATTERN OF
MORNING CLOUDS AND AFTERNOON SUNSHINE SHOULD HOLD THROUGH SAT. BY
SATURDAY NIGHT THE EXPECT A SLIGHTLY STRONGER UPPER LEVEL TROUGH TO
DROP DOWN THE BRITISH COLUMBIA COAST AND DIG FARTHER SOUTH INTO THE
UPPER RIDGE. THIS WILL BRING A CHANCE OF RAIN INTO THE FORECAST AREA
SAT NIGHT AND SUN.

.LONG TERM...AN EASTERN PAC RIDGE CONTINUES EARLY NEXT WEEK. BY TUE A
THERMAL TROUGH WILL PUSH NORTHWARD UNDER THE RIDGE...ALONG THE OREGON
COAST FOR OFFSHORE LOW LEVEL FLOW. THIS WILL DRAW A COOL AIR MASS
ACROSS THE AREA MON AND TUE BUT MAY SEE SOME DOWNSLOPE WARMING AT THE
COAST AND AS WINDS SLACK OFF WED AND THU HIGHER SPRINGTIME SUN ANGLES
WILL BRING MORE SURFACE HEATING TO MODIFY THE LOW LEVEL AIR MASS FOR
WARMER TEMPS. WILLSON

AST 111146 PDX 110145 SLE 110035 EUG 000025

.PQR...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...CAPE SHOALWATER TO CASCADE HEAD FOR
HAZARDOUS SEAS.