Windy Conditions to Persist into Next Week.

Hang on to your hat. Strong winds are expected to persist into early next week.  Meteorologist Steve Bodner at the National Weather Service in Spokane says the conditions are caused by a strong upper level jet off the eastern Pacific that is funneling winds from the west northwest across the Cascades.

Friday's forecast in the Wenatchee Valley predicts Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.  Calmer west or northwest 10mph winds are forecast Friday night through Saturday before increasing Saturday evening uo to 25mph.  Sunday, expect West wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

During the 72 hour period through mid-morning Friday at Pangborn Airport, the average sustained wind speed has been 15mph. Gusts have regularly been recorded in the 20-30mph range with a WNW wind gust of 40mph recorded between 4pm and 5pm Thursday.