Full Notification

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR

252 PM PDT MON SEP 22 2014

..THE FIRST ORGANIZED FRONTAL SYSTEM OF THE SEASON TO BRING RAIN AND MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES TO SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...

THE FALL EQUINOX OCCURS AT 729 PM PDT MONDAY. RIGHT ON CUE...THE FIRST ORGANIZED FRONTAL SYSTEM OF THE FALL WILL BEGIN TO MOVE ONSHORE TUESDAY. EXPECT WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN TO ACCOMPANY THE FRONT AS IT PUSHES ACROSS THE REGION LATER TUE INTO EARLY WED...ALONG WITH SOME GUSTY WINDS ALONG THE COASTAL BEACHES AND HEADLANDS. THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO USHER IN A SHOWERY AND SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER WEATHER PATTERN THAT WILL LAST THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK.

RAINFALL TOTALS FROM TUESDAY THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK ARE EXPECTED TO REACH NEAR AN INCH OVER THE INTERIOR LOWLANDS...AND 1 TO 2 INCHES FOR THE COAST AND MOUNTAINS. THE COLDER AIR MASS WILL BRING SNOW LEVELS INTO THE HIGH CASCADES...AND SOME OF THE HIGHER MOUNTAIN SKI RESORTS MAY EVEN SEE SOME SNOWFLAKES. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION ON THE ROADWAYS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

GIVEN THE LONG PERIOD OF DRY WEATHER THAT HAS PRECEDED THIS FRONT...RESIDUAL OIL AND GREASE ON THE ROAD SURFACES WILL LIKELY BECOME QUITE SLICK AT THE ONSET OF THE RAIN.