Clouds are lingering over Portland on today with temperatures sitting around 45°F at Portland International Airport. A weak weather system is spreading scattered showers through the morning and midday, but coverage should back off this afternoon as skies lean partly sunny. Highs will top out near 52°F before slipping into the upper 40s tonight. A light jacket and a little extra time for the wet morning commute are still a good idea.
Afternoon Outlook
There remains a chance of rain showers before 4 p.m., with south winds at 3 to 8 mph turning to the northeast tonight and a low near 37°F. According to the National Weather Service, precipitation coverage should steadily diminish through the afternoon, opening the door for some partly sunny breaks by late day. Hourly guidance points to the late morning and early afternoon as the likeliest window for brief, spotty showers.
On the Water and Mountain Passes
Boaters should pay close attention to a Small Craft Advisory that remains in effect for coastal waters and the Columbia River Bar through early Tuesday, with outer seas building to around 9 to 10 feet. For background on how this soggy stretch started and what comes next, see how this soggy stretch started. Snow levels are near 3,500 feet today, so anyone planning to cross the Cascade passes should check road reports and be ready for light snow accumulations at pass level.
Looking Ahead
High pressure is expected to build in from Tuesday through Thursday, offering a drier stretch before another system arrives late Thursday night and into the weekend, bringing rain back to the coast and the metro area. Forecasters also note that colder air could lower snow levels later in the week, boosting the chance for accumulating snow at the Cascade passes and possibly into some foothill elevations if the colder air arrives. Travelers heading for the mountains or the coast should keep up with forecast updates over the next several days.
