Ribbons of mist thread through the hills of the Oregon Coast range in the early morning. In the highest places, snow covers the forested ground. The weather report has warned of possible snow at elevations of 1000 feet, but on this stretch of US Highway 20 from its intersection in Newport with 101, then reaching east to Corvallis and beyond, 800 feet is as high as it gets.
The rise is gentle, almost imperceptible, as we travel and the descent the same as we roll into Corvallis, the closest city. We will be retracing our journey very soon with our grand dog panting in the back. It will be midday, Oregon weather on full display.
Our journey home begins, the car cushioned in gray, few others in sight. As we climb to the top of the first hill, the cloud cover breaks apart revealing blue and white, pops of sunlight, but not for long. Up ahead the sky deepens, a sooty mass mounting, and as we pass beneath, the clouds open and release. First rain, then an assault of hail, pummeling the windshield. We slow our progress deferring to the elements, wiper blades at full-throttle. Hail abates; rain mixed with blotchy snow follows, spatters, smears.
We move forward into another blue and white sun-split umbrella arcing overhead. What a performance—every kind of weather in under 10 minutes, a meteorological marvel, a sky symphony.
Jump off; Find Wings 
Very cool to see that happen. Here in Chicago this morning the rain instantly turned into a blizzard with huge snowflakes.
So you’ve got some March Madness, too! Thanks for reading.
We are just having rain and wind here. In fact, the wind knocked out our internet service for most of the morning. “Sky symphony” – what a beautiful way to describe the changing weather.
Beautifully written piece–I felt I was there through your vivid descriptions and imagery.
Thanks…you know the Ray Bradbury short story, “All Summer in a Day?” I almost used that allusion; that’s how I felt—all weather in a day.