Portland woke up cloudy and damp this morning, with temperatures hovering around 48°F at Portland International Airport and light showers drifting through the city. Expect those scattered sprinkles to hang around through the day, with afternoon highs near 58°F before things cool a bit this evening. The real headline, though, is a stronger Pacific front set to roll in late Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing a solid midweek rain to the valley and heavy, travel-snarling snow to the Cascades.
What To Expect This Week
By Tuesday afternoon (April 14), steadier rain is expected to spread across the valley while snow levels drop enough for accumulation above roughly 3,500 feet. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Cascade summits from Tuesday afternoon, April 14, through early Thursday morning, April 16, calling for 10–20 inches of new high-elevation snow and gusty ridge-top winds. Valley locations could see around a quarter to a half inch of rain from Tuesday into Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Cascade Passes And Travel
Snow will focus on the Cascade passes, with Santiam and the routes between Marion and Lane counties highlighted for some of the heaviest totals. Forecasters caution that snowfall rates on Wednesday morning could briefly be intense enough that chains or traction devices become necessary. If you are planning to cross the mountains, check conditions and chain requirements before you go. Visit TripCheck or call 511 for live closure information and camera views, and think about delaying nonessential trips over the passes from Tuesday evening through Wednesday night.
Coastal And Marine Outlook
Along the coast and offshore, southerly winds are expected to ramp up Tuesday, with a period when gusts could reach gale force as the front pushes through. Seas are forecast to build into the 8–11 foot range on Wednesday, making for choppy and potentially hazardous conditions. Small craft advisories are likely ahead of the front on Tuesday, and a brief window of gale-force gusts is possible as the system moves by. Onshore winds should ease and seas are expected to settle down by Thursday as drier air moves in.
How To Prepare
Plan on keeping an umbrella and rain jacket close at hand for Monday and be ready for a wetter commute by midweek. Give yourself extra travel time if you have errands or appointments on Tuesday or Wednesday. If you are heading for the mountains, pack chains, warm layers and an emergency kit, and avoid traveling if conditions start to look sketchy. For the latest details, check updated forecasts from the National Weather Service and road reports from TripCheck before you head out.
