Portland woke up to clear skies and comfortably cool air early Saturday, July 25, with temperatures sitting in the low 60s at Portland International Airport (PDX). Mostly sunny skies will hang around through the day, with a high near 77°F before slipping back into the mid 70s later this afternoon. South-southwest winds will ramp up as the day goes on, kicking up breezy pockets across the metro during peak heating.
Afternoon Gusts Kick In
Southerly winds are expected to build to around 5 to 9 mph this afternoon, with gusts up to 20 mph. Some valley spots could briefly see stronger gusts during the warmest part of the day. KPDX and other Willamette Valley terminals should stay VFR, although those gusty southerly winds could make early afternoon travel feel a bit livelier in the air. According to the National Weather Service, those gusts are the main inland impact to watch today.
Coast: Light Rain And Rougher Seas
Out at the coast, a weak front sliding in from the Pacific will focus the best shot at light rain along the immediate shoreline and the west-facing slopes of the Coast Range, with measurable amounts favored over higher terrain in places like Tillamook and Clatsop counties. Forecasters say the coast could turn unusually breezy, with southerly gusts in the 25 to 35 mph range and seas building to around 5 to 7 feet. There is a small 10 to 20 percent chance of brief 30 to 35 knot gusts within about 20 nautical miles of shore. Small Craft Advisories are up for much of the coastal waters from roughly 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. PDT Saturday, July 25, so small-boat operators are urged to time outings carefully. These marine details are laid out in the National Weather Service forecast discussion.
Week Ahead
Temperatures stick close to seasonal norms into early next week, with highs generally running from the upper 70s to the mid 80s across the metro. A second weak front may approach Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing another chance for light rain along the north coast and a modest dip in inland daytime highs.
What This Means For You
If you are heading to the coast, plan on layers, secure any loose items on exposed patios, and give that advisory window a wide berth by considering a hold on small-boat trips until conditions ease after about 8 p.m. Inland plans like farmers markets, hikes and patio hangs should be in good shape, but expect a breezier afternoon and slightly cooler readings closer to the shoreline.
