Batton down the hatches! Tie-down the tarps! A couple of extra squirts of toupe' glue! It's going to be windy for at least the next 24 hours. The National Weather Service had issued a HIGH WIND WARNING which ended earlier today, however, I found that curious since the much more brisk gusts are yet to come this weekend.

The weather forecasters in Pendleton had called for the 18+ MPH gusts this afternoon and then tapering down tonight. But tomorrow and tomorrow night appear to be a different story.

Here's what the Yakima Valley Forecast from NOAA is saying:

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a south wind 8 to 13 mph becoming west 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind 8 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Stiff enough winds and gusts to keep me off of the golf course, but unfortunately, not stiff enough to keep me out of having to do yard work. It's very likely, in fact, that the wind could stir up a few extras jobs for me such as picking up branches and sucking up more leaves.
It truly is important though, to remember to be sure everything around your home is secured properly to withstand a couple of breezy days. Check the tarps covering your woodpile or outdoor furniture. If you know of branches that are likely to give way with a strong wind, preemptively cut them down today and save yourself a headache this weekend. I also check flags, lawn ornaments, chair cushions, and for heaven's sake, umbrellas.
I have my patio umbrellas still stored for the winter, but I learned the hard way years ago that they'll fly like the house in Kansas. I'll never forget seeing one launch from my back deck and land - out-of-sight - about a quarter of a mile away in someone's orchard. For the record, nobody was hurt but the umbrella didn't make it.

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