We’ve all been enjoying the recent mild winter weather – well, the ski resorts haven’t been enjoying it so much – but it’s all going to change rather abruptly on Friday, according to forecasters. Cold, Canadian air is coming to Oregon and Washington, and it should stay in the area until Tuesday, resulting in subfreezing temps for that duration. Depending on moisture that comes in off the coast, there may or may not be snow. I just got off the phone with Phil Volker, meteorolgist with Extended Range Weather Forecasting, a firm that works extensively with agricultural clients. Here’s his advice for nurseries and others:

“The nursery community will need to be prepared for temperatures to drop into the lower 20s and teens with a high degree of confidence. It’s possible that in the worst case scenario, no clouds and no wind, we could get down into the low teens …. This is a legitimate threat. I’m telling people to do what you can do to protect your most delicate plants.”

Phil said that many of his clients are getting ready for Friday for temps in the 15-22 degrees Fahrenheit range, and they will be well positioned to take additional steps if it looks like we’re talking about 10-15 degree weather.

The Weather Cafe, presented by OVS and written by Rufus LaLone, is another site where you can stay up-to-date about the coming cold. He agrees as well:

Models place the first push of cold air directly over the Pacific Northwest by Saturday, with a second shot of even colder air arriving late Sunday. Daytime highs from southern Oregon to British Columbia will be BELOW FREEZING Sunday, Monday, and maybe Tuesday for many locations, both east and west of the Cascades.

Sounds like the operative words are “get ready for cold.”