Cloudy skies and cold rain hit Portland on Monday, with temperatures in the upper 30s and little warming expected. Showers will continue into the late morning, with highs near 43°F and a wet commute likely.
When The Rain Rolls In
Rain is expected before 10 a.m. on Monday, then break up into scattered showers through the afternoon and evening. Forecasters are calling for around a tenth to a quarter of an inch of new rainfall. Southerly winds should stay in the 2 to 9 mph range, with routine gusts near 18 mph, although stronger showers could briefly kick that up. Give yourself extra travel time, watch for ponding in low spots, and do not count on your wipers getting much of a break.
Snow Risk And Commutes
Colder air will slide in Monday night, driving snow levels down to roughly 500 to 750 feet by Tuesday, which opens the door to a rain and snow mix for some valley locations. The National Weather Service reports that the chance of at least a trace of snow by Thursday morning, has climbed to about 50 to 70 percent for the Portland and Vancouver metro area and nearby valleys. There is also a 10 to 20 percent chance that a narrow band could set up Wednesday night into Thursday morning and briefly drop 1 to 2 inches. Any wet pavement that refreezes Wednesday night could leave behind icy patches for the Thursday morning commute, so be ready for slick bridges, overpasses, and shaded ramps.
A Winter Weather Advisory from the National Weather Service in Portland is in effect from 4 a.m. Monday through 4 a.m. Thursday for the Coast Range, Cascades, and Cascade foothills, where mountain passes could pick up several inches of snow. Travelers heading into higher elevations should check pass and road reports in advance and be ready for reduced visibility and traction requirements, according to the National Weather Service Portland.
The city is also gearing up on the ground. The Portland Bureau of Transportation says crews are treating major routes and will focus on designated snow and ice lanes. If you can adjust your schedule, use transit, or delay nonessential trips, PBOT suggests doing so, according to the Portland Bureau of Transportation. TriMet service may run with delays on wet or icy mornings, and PBOT’s maintenance line remains available for urgent road hazards.
Coast And Marine Hazards
Out on the water, a long-period west-northwest swell is set to build seas to around 13 to 15 feet on Tuesday, with Small Craft Advisories up through Tuesday night. Sneaker waves are a particular concern along the beaches. Strong showers and any thunderstorms could whip up sudden outflow gusts near the coast in the 30 to 35 mph range. It is a good time to skip the jetties and keep a wide buffer from the surf.
Bottom line: it is shaping up to be a wet and chilly stretch, with an elevated shot at mixed precipitation in the middle of the week. Layer up, slow down on slick roads, and keep an eye on updates through Thursday, in case advisories or the forecast change. This page will be updated if conditions or alerts shift.
