3 February 2014
Arctic Blast On the Way
Forecasters are saying a “very cold” system originating in the arctic will sweep across Oregon by late tomorrow. Temperatures are expected to begin falling tomorrow afternoon.
A second batch of cold air will arrive Wednesday, bringing daytime temperatures that will remain below freezing in the Willamette Valley; in the mid-30s along the coast.
Overnight temperatures will likely be in the teens inland…
Forecasters say this will be the second arctic event this season… a rarity in the Pacific Northwest. Steve Pierce with Northwest Weather Consultants says only twice in recorded history has this type of weather pattern been seen in February… 1989 and 1996. He added the previous cold blast in December set overnight temperature records at several different locations.
A wetter and warmer system will approach the area this weekend trapping the cold air and producing some snow later in the week. That will transition to freezing rain and then regular rain making travel this weekend iffy at best.
Legislative Session Underway
Guns, pot and the Columbia River Crossing are expected to be the major focus of lawmakers as they return today to Salem for a five-week session.
The pace will be fast, since the state constitution allows the session to last no more than 35 days without an unlikely bipartisan vote to extend it. Most non-budget bills not scheduled for a committee hearing by this Friday will be dead.
Some of those bills will include an effort to legalize recreational marijuana; tighter controls on handguns; and a new Interstate-Five bridge over the Columbia River.
A fight over pensions and taxes dominated last year’s legislative session. That’s largely off the table now after lawmakers approved a compromise during a special session in October.
Legislative leaders say they’re hoping for a bipartisan tone. But House leaders also traded sharp barbs, setting the stage for the election season that will immediately follow.
Hear from the Superintendent
The public will have two chances to communicate with the top administrator at Siuslaw Schools this week.
The first chance will be Wednesday morning, nine am at Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue when Shawn Wiencek (WINN-seck) shares her background of growing up on the West coast of Africa; her studies at universities in Colorado, California and Montana; and other details of her personal and professional life. That’s at the monthly Florence Area Community Coalition meeting at the fire station.
Friday, the superintendent will host her regular “coffee connection” at the district office from ten to 11 AM. Wiencek will share what is happening in the school district as well as take questions and comments.
