Weather Eye: Hang in there, and let’s hope for some rain soon

What a week weather-wise, and otherwise, for that matter. As I try to decipher the weather maps and observations, my heart really goes out to the thousands who have had to evacuate and have lost property and those less fortunate who have become a fatality.

The good news is, clearer skies are on the way, and perhaps some moisture. However, today will still be smoky and hot. The east winds are relaxing, but that causes stagnant conditions. Air quality will take a while to improve in all areas.

As we look west for winds to switch from off the ocean, it will be a slow process. It is possible that some smoke over the ocean may come back at us. A possibility, so we will see what happens. We lower into the 80s Friday through Sunday, then into the 70s Monday through Wednesday. If we get thicker clouds and rain showers, it might remain in the 60s. Wouldn’t that feel great?

Winds had switched from the east to the southwest on the Southern Oregon Coast late Wednesday afternoon so that is a good sign of changes to come. The setup for this horrific firestorm was an unusual pressure pattern for September.

A large high-pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska held firm, an arctic front that was quite strong and caused rapid pressure rises, slipped down east of the mountains and brought cold and snow along the Rockies. Meanwhile, we had an area of low pressure associated with the strong hot air along the coast, which we call a heat low.

The difference in barometric pressure between the heat low and the strong arctic high pressure to our east caused remarkable pressure differences between west and east (high pressure blows to lower pressure).

Couple that with scant areas of moisture since the middle of June, and the strong gale force easterly winds lit things up like a matchstick. Some of the smaller fires that were burning for weeks literally exploded with the extreme low humidity, hot temperatures and the strong easterly winds.

I could write volumes but will end the column with prayers and concern for everyone. Relief is on the way. Hang in there and hope for rain next week. I’m not yet confident we’ll get much.

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