From the County and National Weather Service: There are a pair of strong late season Pacific storm systems that will move into the Pacific NW. The first will move onshore tonight and Wednesday that will primarily produce seasonably heavy rainfall amounts.  This storm has tapped into sub-tropical moisture – see this link .

Just after noon on Friday, we here in Ocean Shores are finally getting some relief from the relentlessly blazing sun. Thank goodness we at last have some cooling clouds, delightful breeze and gentle rain!

The official North Coast News visitor-friendly forecast, for this holiday weekend:

This afternoon: While there is a 20% chance of blinding, dangerous sunshine, you’re generally safe, as there’s an 80% chance of skin-invigorating, healthy rain. A steady, 20-25 mph wind makes it perfect for flying kites, or hitting the bar.

Saturday: A senses-stimulating, sideways morning rain is the perfect start to the day! The afternoon will have stretches where it’s dry enough to dash to your car, without getting entirely soaked. This just in: sun, on Saturday afternoon!

Sunday: Only 20% chance of rain! A Memorial Day weekend record, for Ocean Shores! If you’re visiting, please be careful of us Locals, stumbling around squinting in the sun like moles emerged from the depths of the earth . . .

Memorial Day: It’ll probably rain, but don’t be a baby. If God had meant for us to stay dry, He wouldn’t have invented precipitation. Or Ocean Shores.

Good, reasonably-priced rooms are still available, so cast away your urban ennui and come on out to the beach, hunt for glass floats, collect sand dollars and agates, don’t touch the baby seals, watch for deer and bears (!) while you’re driving around our newly paved city, visit our charmingly quirky shops, check out the big show (wood carvers, classic cars, home expo) at the Convention Center, marvel at our fancy new Roundabout intersection (“What part of ‘Yield’ don’t you understand?!”), coffee up and watch the waves at the Jetty, hike through the marvelous Weatherwax, try your luck at the Quinault Casino, rent a moped, go miniature golfing, eat, drink and be rainy.

See? This is what it was like just yesterday, and will be, again . . .

From the PUD: Aberdeen- Real time wind speeds and direction are now available from Ocean Shores thanks to a newly installed wind reporting station.

Class, what do we normally have out here on the coast, after a big wind storm?

a) big party at the beach

b) big rainbows leading to pots of LID money

c) big pre-historic animals stirred up from the depths of the ocean

d) big waves

From the County: The National Weather Service in Seattle has downgraded the High Wind Warning the for the Coastal areas of Washington. There is still a High Surf Advisory in effect until 5pm Thursday evening with waves in the 20 foot range which will cause localized beach erosion and rip currents.

From the County: The National Weather Service in Seattle, has issued a High Wind Warning for the entire Coastal area of Washington in effect from 3pm Wednesday to midnight tonight.  Winds will increase through the day with the highest gusts expected between 7 & 8pm tonight. There is also a High Surf Advisory in effect from 5pm Wednesday until 11am Thursday morning with waves in the 20-25 foot range which will cause localized beach erosion and rip currents. High tide is 6:34pm.

After confirming with the National Weather Service office in Seattle at 2:30pm this afternoon, the forecast looks pretty solid with winds gusting 60 to 70mph as a distinct possibility in Westport, Ocean Shores and the beach areas.

The National Weather Service is conducting Skywarn Weather Spotter  training in Pacific Beach on May 18th, hosted by the Quinault Nation and Grays Harbor County Emergency Management.  The training will be held at  the Pacific Beach Fire Station and run from 630 to 9 PM. It includes how the weather spotter program works, and how to look for and report  significant weather events.

from the County:

Winter Storm Watch for Grays Harbor County The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Grays Harbor County, lasting until late Monday night with the possibility of 6-12” of snow for the Cascades. The winter conditions may affect the entire I-5 corridor.

   Tonight will be windy along the coast with a West Southwest wind 17-20 mph increasing to 31-34 mph sustained winds with the possibility of 50mph gusts. 100% chance of rain.

   Monday will see a West Northwest wind at 21-26mph with gusts to 40mph and showers likely.

   The windy conditions may be felt inland until Monday (night).

From the county:
The National Weather Service has predicted high winds for the Southern Washington Coast for Thursday night and Friday. Winds are expected to be sustained at 20-25 mph out of the Southeast changing to the South  with gusts possible to 40 mph.
All residents should prepare for intermittent power outages , and the possibility of falling power lines and trees associated with the winds.

Issued by The National Weather Service, Seattle/Tacoma, WA
4:03 am PST, Tue., Jan. 19, 2010

… HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SEATTLE HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF ADVISORY… WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ABOUT 300 MILES OFFSHORE WILL SEND LARGE WEST TO SOUTHWEST SWELLS TOWARD THE NORTH AND CENTRAL WASHINGTON COAST TODAY. SWELLS WILL BUILD TO 20 FEET THIS AFTERNOON… THEN GRADUALLY SUBSIDE TO 17 TO 19 FEET LATE THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO FISH OR OBSERVE WAVES FROM ROCKS DURING HIGH SURF CONDITIONS. UNWARY BEACH WALKERS CAN BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD AS WAVES SUDDENLY RACE FARTHER UP THE BEACH THAN NORMAL.

No power outages here reported during last night’s storm. Seems like it has blown through, high surf advisory remains.  From the county:

The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for the entire Washington Coast which ends at 10am Monday morning. There is also a High Surf Advisory issued for the entire Washington Coast ending 4pm Monday. Seas will peak at 20-25 feet.

At 2:30am on Monday, 1540 PUD customers were without power in South Aberdeen, East Grays Harbor County and in the Northern District in Quinault, Kalaloch, Axford Prarie, Neilton and E. Hoquiam Rd. As of 7am, all but 500 Northern District PUD customers have had their power restored.