Portland woke up to a gray, drizzly on Thursday with light rain and chilly temperatures around 37°F. Afternoon highs may reach near 45°F, but wet streets and scattered showers will keep the day damp.
Tonight
Things turn slick after dark. Tonight's low is expected to dip near 31°F, with a slight chance of rain showers in the early evening before widespread frost settles in between about 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. After that window, there is a slight chance of rain and snow showers.
Higher foothills and parts of the Coast Range could still snag some wet snow. Forecasters have reported isolated 2 to 6 inch totals above roughly 1,000 feet in spots like North Plains, Banks and Gales Creek, which bumps up the risk of icy patches on untreated surfaces. According to National Weather Service Portland, most lowland snow will be slushy and short-lived, but any frozen precipitation tonight could turn sidewalks and side streets into slip-and-slide zones.
Travel And Transit
If you are driving, keep an eye on bridges, shaded ramps and neighborhood streets where icy patches tend to sneak up. Give yourself extra time for evening and late-night trips.
Anyone heading over mountain passes should check road conditions and chain rules before rolling out. For the latest restrictions and updates, hit TripCheck before you go. Transit riders should be ready for possible TriMet tweaks during icy stretches and are encouraged to check service alerts ahead of travel.
Weekend Outlook
Friday offers a bit of a breather, with drier weather expected for much of the metro area before a wetter pattern settles in for the weekend. Forecasters expect snow levels to climb toward roughly 3,500 to 4,500 feet by Sunday, which will favor rain in the valley rather than snow.
That warming push may also ramp up east-wind gusts through the Columbia River Gorge late Saturday into Sunday, creating gusty conditions for exposed roads and mountain passes. If you have outdoor plans through Sunday and into early next week, keep an eye on updated forecasts so the weather does not catch you napping. This story updates our earlier coverage of rain, slush and frayed nerves with the latest NWS timings and advisories, and it will be refreshed if those advisories change.
