Portland woke up shivering on Friday, April 3, 2026, with a chilly, partly cloudy start and temperatures in the upper 30s at PDX. Patchy frost was on the table for many interior lowlands, although most of the Portland metro east of the West Hills, the Columbia River Gorge and the immediate coast are expected to stay just above freezing. By late morning, the clouds give way to sunshine and afternoon temperatures climb into the low 60s, a classic early April mood swing.
What To Expect Friday And This Weekend
Friday, April 3, stays sunny and dry, with a high near 63°F and a light north wind around 5 mph. A Frost Advisory and several Freeze Warnings are posted across many interior valleys until 10 a.m. PDT, with the potential to damage sensitive outdoor plants. From Saturday, April 4, through Monday, April 6, an upper-level ridge is forecast to build in, nudging highs into the 70s. Sunday, April 5, looks like the standout day, with temperatures near 77°F and roughly a 10 to 35 percent chance that parts of the Willamette Valley and Portland could hit 80°F.
Out on the water, boaters should keep an eye on Small Craft Advisories for the outer waters Saturday afternoon into the evening. Those advisories are currently posted from 11 a.m. Saturday, April 4, to 5 a.m. PDT Sunday, April 5. And for anyone already thinking about a cold plunge, remember that water temperatures remain dangerously cold, according to the National Weather Service Portland.
What To Bring And What To Watch For
Gardeners will want to cover tender plants overnight and again before the morning low, especially in the colder inland spots. Plan for a few extra minutes if you need to scrape a frosted windshield, and keep pets off especially cold surfaces early in the day. By the weekend, particularly Sunday as highs reach the upper 70s, sunscreen, water and a hat become the essentials for any outdoor plans.
Quick Context
This mild stretch follows the early-week system that swept through with rain and gusty south winds across the region. For a recap of that turbulent turn in the weather, see the day of rain, thunder and howling south winds.
