Nehalem Bay Coastal Winter Weather Advisory
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Watch for our area. In a weather briefing today, the NWS-Portland stated that the coast and coast range have a good probability of light snow and freezing rain. Freezing rain is a very dangerous condition where utility and emergency response is delayed and extremely dangerous our responders. These conditions mixed with an east wind can cause falling trees, slick surfaces, and power outages. A task as simple as walking a dog can be treacherous and lead to injury. Although local city resources can help reduce snow on roadways, they can't mitigate freezing rain and ice on roadways. Please stay safe and warm at home during the weather event. Stay tuned to local weather stations as the even unfolds.
Here is what is expected as of now:
Friday – Starts out as rain and changes to snow as the evening sets in, east winds gusting 30mph. After dark the weather will turn to snow.
Saturday – Snow and east winds gusting 30mph. Snow may change to freezing rain.
Sunday – Snow / Freezing rain
Monday to mid week – Cold and dry
Totals we are looking at – trace to 2inchs of snow and or 1/8” to ½” of ICE.
This will pose significant impact to travel and utilities.
Local city resources are prepping to combat the weather to the best of their ability. Freezing rain is a not something that can be combated with success.
Notification from the Tillamook Alert system
Winter Storm Watch
Beginning: 2024-01-11T23:16:00
Ending: 2024-01-14T12:00:00
Continued
NORTH OREGON COAST-CENTRAL OREGON COAST-SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ASTORIA, CANNON BEACH, TILLAMOOK,
NETARTS, PACIFIC CITY, LINCOLN CITY, NEWPORT, CAPE FOULWEATHER,
YACHATS, FLORENCE, RAYMOND, LONG BEACH, OCEAN PARK, NASELLE,
CATHLAMET, AND CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT
316 PM PST THU JAN 11 2024
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...
* WHAT...HEAVY MIXED PRECIPITATION POSSIBLE. TOTAL SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF A DUSTING UP TO 4 INCHES AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS
OF AROUND ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH POSSIBLE. WINDS COULD GUST AS
HIGH AS 30 TO 40 MPH.
* WHERE...IN OREGON, NORTH OREGON COAST AND CENTRAL OREGON
COAST. IN WASHINGTON, SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST.
* WHEN...FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.
* IMPACTS...POWER OUTAGES AND TREE DAMAGE ARE LIKELY DUE TO THE
ICE. TRAVEL COULD BE DIFFICULT. THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS COULD
IMPACT THE FRIDAY EVENING COMMUTE.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...SNOW WILL LIKELY BEGIN FRIDAY AFTERNOON BUT
WILL LIKELY NOT ACCUMULATE ON SURFACES UNTIL LATER FRIDAY
EVENING. FREEZING RAIN MAY BEGIN FRIDAY NIGHT WITH BEST CHANCES
FOR THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST, CONTINUING THROUGH
SATURDAY. IT APPEARS PRECIPITATION WILL FALL MAINLY IN THE FORM
OF SNOW FOR THE SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST, AND MAINLY IN THE FORM
OF FREEZING RAIN FOR THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN OREGON COAST. VERY
LITTLE TO NO SNOW OR FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED IN THE FLORENCE
AREA AS TEMPERATURES WILL MOST LIKELY STAY ABOVE FREEZING THAT
FAR SOUTH. HOWEVER, UNCERTAINTY REMAINS HIGH REGARDING EXACT
SNOW AND ICE AMOUNTS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION
For more information on winter storm preparedness, please see our news article: Are You Winter Storm Ready? — EVCNB