This is Portland, we do what we like. This is Portland, we do what we like.

(re: rain, that is. midwest simply wins on summer storms, i miss them)

Torrential electrical summer storms and lightning bugs are the only things I kinda miss from the Midwest, yeah.

And White Castle

Lightning storms are rare in the PNW but they do happen. I can tell you this because my house out in Beaverton was hit by lightning during one of them. It wasn't something I particularly missed about the Midwest. I'm glad we don't have more of them.

Even heavy wind/rain seems unusual here vs. drizzle. Loving being outside this weekend, especially in the shade. It's like a happy-light from all directions.

https://www.wweek.com/news/environment/2024/07/06/bill-mckibben-talks-climate-action-as-heat-wave-arrives-in-portland/

As Portland entered a five-day heat wave, McKibben, the celebrated climate activist and author, arrived Friday evening at the First Unitarian Church in downtown Portland—a building, like many in this city, that lacks air conditioning.

“It’s not our job to stop global warming. It’s too late for that,” McKibben said to the sweating crowd. “It’s our job to stop it getting to the point where it cuts civilization off at the knees.”

Just a plug for local folks that I'm playing songs Sunday night with other good acts at Turn! Turn! Turn!, starting at 8. (Sets on the shorter side, so it won't go too late.) Info and links to all our music is on this page.

I'll try to make it! Things have been stressful lately but I'm hoping to start getting out again :)

That would be great! And if you can't make it, hope we can catch up another time soon.

Yeah, it's been too long!

https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/oregon-lottery-billboard-issue-08152024/

VIDEO: Oregon Lottery billboards taken over by possible furry hack

was it Raygun

(#onethread)

In local news, we might get 50-70 mph winds and heavy rain around 6 p.m. tomorrow.

yep it's looking pretty crazy

Criminy! the National Weather Service forecast for my Portland suburb tomorrow reads:

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming north northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

I think it's one of those situations where if it makes it here, it's bad, but it might not:

Chances for thunderstorms on Saturday continues to increase (20-60%) across NW OR and SW WA. The SPC has upgraded the risk of severe weather along & east of the I-5 corridor to the Cascades. See the graphic for potential impacts from these storms Sat afternoon through Sun evening pic.twitter.com/CvxzppgsZY

— NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) August 16, 2024

Here is what Portland NWS is saying about the flash flood potential.
"Heavy rainfall is expected over the 2024 burn areas associated with active wildfires. Hourly rainfall rates up to 0.75 inches per hour will be possible. Rogueweather added - in looking at the forecast models, I am seeing potential of up to an inch per hour.
Residents near these areas should prepare for potential flooding impacts. Be sure to stay up to date with information from local authorities. Heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding of low-lying areas, and debris flows in and near recent wildfire burn scars."

And now a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 tonight, although from the comments it looks like Washington County has a slightly lower risk:

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of California, Oregon and Washington until 9 PM PDT pic.twitter.com/XaFuLo6E0k

— NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) August 17, 2024

thunder and rain so far, but no gusts or hail

lightning too

my cat is extremely unhappy rn

Yeah, same as sleeve here in Southeast. Enjoying it!

One of the dumbass cats didn’t come in till after it had stopped thundering, and the other stayed out until it had alll blown over

I'll be looking carefully to see if yesterday's lightning started any new fires in the vicinity of the 5 day backpack I'm planning on this week. The fire danger nearly everywhere except the oceanside has been rated at "extreme" for a month now, so any ground strikes are likely to have found dry fuel. The smoke from all the wildfires sucks, but getting trapped in the wilderness by a wildfire sucks far worse.

Downtown storefronts getting boarded up today.

Yeah, I noticed that yesterday morning too. Some in Old Town, which is an area I didn’t think any sort of March or protest would congregate