Portland is getting a brief break in the gray. On Monday, March 2, 2026, the city woke up to cloudy, mild skies in the mid-40s at Portland International Airport, but a dry afternoon with periods of sun is set to nudge highs near 60F before a wetter and windier stretch settles in Tuesday night into Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Afternoon Into Tonight
Mostly sunny conditions are expected to break out across the Willamette Valley this afternoon, with highs near 60F and light south-southeast winds keeping things relatively calm. Tonight, clouds will thicken and a chance for light rain shows up late, after about 4 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, with lows around 47F. Those details come from the National Weather Service Portland.
Tuesday Night Into Wednesday The Wettest Window
A front moving in Tuesday, March 3 will spread rain across the region by Tuesday night and into Wednesday, March 4, with the steadier and heaviest rain expected on Wednesday. South-southwest winds could gust into the 20 to 60mph range during the wettest periods, and snow levels are forecast to drop to roughly 3,500 to 600feet. That puts Santiam and Willamette passes at the greatest risk for travel-impacting snow and possible chain controls. Local coverage and preparation notes are tracking these changes in Portland soak alert reports.
Boats, Driving and What To Do
Boaters should keep an eye out for a Small Craft Advisory on coastal waters and the Columbia River Bar from 7 a.m. Tuesday, March 3 through roughly 4 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, with building southerly gusts to about 30 mph and rising seas. If you plan to drive the Cascades mid-week, check ODOT TripCheck and local road reports before you go, slow for wet roads, and carry an emergency kit if you expect to be on mountain passes.
