Weather this week

Weather this week

Generally, it will be DRY, cool, breezy for several days, or longer. Beforehand, we have one more weak system moving in from the NW on Tue. This system is likely to have some showers, maybe even a few more west side snowflakes-of-surprise around the region & in the eastern basins, Columbia Gorge. By Wed, the extended drying trend will get started. High pressure ridge, centered east of the Cascades will deepen and kick-off notable WIND, esp in the Columbia Gorge, mountain passes, across California. The cool, dry, windy weather will hold on through New Year's Day, into the weekend. Strong east wind in Pasadena. Sunny in most areas over the holiday weekend. Ski resorts will be busy & breezy.

Winds will subside by late Monday, Jan 4, allowing fog to form in some areas, esp south of Salem. Models deliver a split decision on the first work week of 2016. Some runs present RAIN by Tue Jan 5, others keep it DRY all week. That said, southern California is targeted to get a series of wet, blustery storms, the first of which arrives Mon Jan 4. The El Nino type pattern - all week long - will gain media attention. It's all good, since the region needs water. There will likely be mudslides, etc.

 -Rufus

Holidays

Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Snowing on and off, on most passes, so check out Tripcheck before traveling.
It is good to be getting a good snow fall so early in the season.

Willamette valley - lows 30-35, with highs - 40-46..  During the night turn on a water faucet in the area furthest from the water source and let it drip to help keep pipes from freezing.  It is very cold out there this AM.  The next 5 days will be cloudy and rainy, then 3 days of sun, which usually means cold.

Central Oregon, Bend roads looks pretty clear but getting there looks pretty snowy today on the roadways.  Lows 14-22 with highs 32-35.  3 day cloudy, 2 with snow and 3 sunny an cold.

Enjoy family, call family, Email family as we tend to have a bit more time this time of year.

Get the seed catalogs out as gardening season will be quickly upon us.  If you live near Albany or Cottage Grove, Oregon; visit Nichols Seed or Territorial Seed company and walk their isles and dream of all of the great things you can grow in 2016.  You can also get on the internet and get tons of different seed catalogs.  However, remember; locally grown seeds tend to do better than seeds from further away and usually have closer maturing dates.

Be aware

Sorry, have been out of computer network for two weeks:

Patrons in Oregon need to be prepared for a powerful WIND STORM due to arrive tomorrow, Monday Dec 21. We have been discussing this storm's potential for over a week; it now appears likely. The "GRINCH Storm", as we call it here in The Weather Cafe ®, is modeled to move onshore near Astoria Monday morning around 10 a.m.

WIND gusts over 90 mph at the coast are probable; in the Willamette Valley gust may exceed 60-65 mph. Seemingly liquid soils will not be able to support many trees, so expect falls and associated power outages. This event could be extensive as to area in Oregon, so power restoration efforts may take some time. Rural patrons remember to FILL THE BATH TUB for toilet flush water. Might be advisable to stay off roads during the peak of the storm as limb action on windshields will not be favorable.

Now what

We've been off to Tajikistan teaching pruning to growers.  Loads of fun.
The weather i the valley is...rain 6 out of 8 days and then clouds.
Most crops are done.  So greenhouse veggies still growing OK.
Time to go on vacation, relax and enjoy Christmas and the new years.
Almost time to start the planting for crops for 2016.

Rufus weather

Friday December 4

We have an abundance of precipitation that will literally 

saturate the great PNW and, yes, portions of California 

between now and Christmas. You may have noticed the 

heavy rain already.

The upper level steering winds are - on average - pointed

 right at the PNW, driving multiple storm systems directly

 into the PNW. The storm centers will be spaced approx 

24-36 hours apart.   The moderate-to-heavy rainfall associated 

with each of these powerful storms will set up flood issues.  

 Everyone from northern CA to Vancouver Is.  must pay close 

attention to Nat'l Wx Service watches posted over the next 

10-14 days.

Mountain snow fall will be measured in FEET, esp in the later 

series of storms. The snow line will progressively drop to lower 

& lower elevations as a colder air mass approaches the PNW. In

 fact, coastal mountain, foothill & low elevation snow may come

 into play later next week.

 The WET pattern, with abundant mountain snow, will continue 

well into the weekend before Christmas. Water managers will 

also be able to pause their concern for irrigation issues next 

summer. True, we have a long way to go, but no question about

 the abundance of precip - both rain & snow - during December

 will be favorable; northern California included.

 -Rufus

Now what

For the Eugene area, the next 10 days will have highs
of 45F to 56F.  The lows from 38F to 48F.  6 days of
rain, 1 sunny and 3 cloudy.

For central Oregon, highs 39 to50F, lows 26 to 36F,
with 5 days rain, 4 days cloudy and one day of sun.

The general trend is to have cool weather  in the later
part of the week.

The longer the ground is frozen, the great chance for
broken water lines.  Winterize all equipment and drain
 all irrigation lines.  Some equipment may need anti
freeze in the lines to prevent lines from breaking.

I am going where the internet is going to be limited
so I MAY not be able to post much for the next while.

This week in Oregon

For the Willamette Valley - peonies are poking their heads out of the ground and we have a lot of winter left to go.  To protect them, cover them with mulch or leaves.  Use at least 6 inches of mulch or leaves.

Eugene area - lows 28F to 40F and highs 40 to 51F.  2 days sunny, 1 cloudy then 5 days rain with the temps slowing rising during the week.  Clear nights mean cold AM temps.

For Central Oregon - lows 9F to 32F,- cold.  Highs - 26F to 43F  5 partly cloudy days and 2 days at the end of the week when temps rise, rainy.

Greenhouse tomatoes still green and growing, but cool temps are starting to slow the plants down.

Any good weather the winter weeds grow, and grow, so don't let them get too big.

Take advantage of any place leaves are available to collect and bring to the garden.  They are a great mulch and resource to keep the soil in good tilth and worms happy.

11-24-2015

This week looks actually pretty good for the Willamette
Valley, with highs - 41 to45 and lows 25 to 31 so chilly. 
Early cold and later in the week cold but 5 days of sun,
which also means cold nights.  The roads are slick with
 road oil so be more careful.  If snow, let the crazies go ahead. 

Bend - really cold.  Highs  28-41 and lows  5 to 25,
snow early and then late in the week, two days cloudy
and 4 days of sun.

Final lawn mowing, rack leaves or use your mulching
lawn mower to pulverize the leaves and then place in
the garden or in the flower beds as protective much.

Many fruit trees are holding on to their leaves, so general
rule - wait until the leaves have fallen to ensure the trees
are dormant before pruning.

This week

For the Willamette valley
Lows 24-35 so cold;  highs - 41-47 so not very warm. 
Two days of rains with scattered clouds and sun.
Central Oregon - low 13- 38 and highs 26-48, sunny
with a few day of clouds.

Cole crops still kind of growing the in the cold weather.
Prolonged 24 will damage most cole crops. Evenings
need a hoop or green house of protection.

Continue to mulch tender plants.  Pruning can continue.
No. 24 - thru Dec. is growers vacation time.  Time to
kick back and rest for the year.

However, some will star the holiday market season usually
 starts right after Thanksgiving until Christmas on the
weekends.  Check local markets for times and places.

Check local farm stands as a few will be open through
the holidays.

Go to the OSU Lane County Extension web site for
 info on the local Core pesticide training times and
location for the local Extension offices.

This week

Cool weather again for the next 8 days.  Lows from 37 to 46 and highs from 47 to 56 degrees.  Good indicators that the growing season is coming to a close.

Most farm stands are closed but a few are still open.  Call to make sure they are open but mostly open during the weekends.

Pumpkins, winter squash, apples, pears and canned products.

Winter gardens still going strong.  Warm season veggies not doing well with the cold weather unless protected under plastic.

Mulch tender plants.  Mulch roses, blueberries.  Don't mulch raspberries as mulch will cause root rot unless for just a few cold nights.

Pruning tree fruits is in full swing.  Prune raspberries.  Wait until February to do grapes but depends on how much you have.  General pruning November thru March.

Drain water from equipment and add a little anti freeze.  Drain all irrigation systems now that it is raining.

Central Oregon - cooler; with lows 26 to 37 and highs 43 to 50.  Rained expected 4 out of 8 days and lots of clouds.