Portland is back in its comfort zone this Thursday: cloudy skies, mid-40s to start, and a steady parade of showers marching through the day. High temperatures should top out near 51°F before sliding back into the low 40s overnight as a weak front ambles across the region.
Showers Today, Steadier Rain Tonight
Light, scattered showers are expected through the afternoon, with rain chances running a solid 70–80% before climbing to near 90% late tonight into early Friday. Drivers can count on wet roads and brief drops in visibility in the heavier pockets of rain, with about a tenth to a quarter inch of new rainfall in the cards. That is all in the latest local forecast from the National Weather Service.
Small Craft Advisory For Boaters
Out on the water, it is not exactly a pleasure-cruise kind of afternoon. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for the coastal waters and the Columbia River Bar, where choppy seas of roughly 9–11 feet and gusty winds are creating rough conditions for smaller vessels. Mariners and recreational boaters are urged to tuck into sheltered moorage or hold off on bar crossings until conditions calm down, which is expected by Friday morning. Checking in with your marina or commercial operator before heading out would be wise.
Weekend And Week Ahead
High pressure is set to nudge inland on Saturday, opening a brief, much-needed window of drier and slightly warmer weather, with inland highs climbing into the mid-to-upper 50s. It looks like a short break, though. Showers are likely to creep back in Sunday into Monday, and colder air dropping in late Monday into Tuesday brings a modest shot at a quick rain-to-snow mix in the lowlands overnight. Any valley snow that does materialize would likely be minor and short-lived. For fine-tuned timing and impacts, keep an eye on updates from the National Weather Service.
