360 FXUS66 KPQR 082121 AFDPQRArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Portland OR 221 PM PDT Mon Sep 8 2025
.SYNOPSIS... A closed low offshore is bringing cool and showery weather to the region today and Tuesday. Conditions gradually trend drier late in the week as the system shifts inland and weakens. Confidence is growing that another Fall-like storm will arrive late Saturday into Sunday, bringing cooler temperatures and a round of widespread rain to western Oregon and Washington.
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.SHORT TERM...Now through Wednesday Night...Cool and unsettled weather remains the theme through midweek as a closed upper- level low continues to edge toward the coast. Scattered showers have already spread into much of northwest Oregon this afternoon, with most of the Willamette Valley, Cascades, and foothills expecting to see activity this evening. The main exception continues to be the south WA and north OR coast and the Willapa Hills, where coverage has been limited so far.
Thunder potential is fairly moderate overall for the southern Willamette Valley and Lane and Linn County Cascades, with Lane County Cascades standing out with the best combination of ingredients. Storm probabilities there run around 35-50% into early evening, and some could produce brief heavy rainfall with a 20-30% chance of exceeding 0.5 inches per hour between 4-8 PM today. This raises some localized debris flow concerns in burn areas, though storm motion should prevent repeated impacts on the same location. The chance of more impactful rainfall rates (~1 inch per hour or more) is low, around 5-10%.
Showers will persist tonight into Tuesday but become less widespread. Isolated thunder remains possible Tuesday afternoon (25-35%), with heavier cells capable of localized downpours. Totals will vary widely - some areas may only pick up 0.05 to 0.10 inches, while others could receive 0.25 to 0.50 inches, especially in the Cascades. By Wednesday, most of the lowlands trend drier, but the Cascades maintain a 50-70% chance of afternoon showers and even a 10-20% chance of thunder in higher elevations of the Cascades. Temperatures stay on the cool side of normal, with highs in the low to mid 70s inland and 60s along the coast.
.LONG TERM...Thursday through Sunday night...The upper low drifts east across the Great Basin Thursday and Friday before eventually settling into Montana and Wyoming for the weekend. As it departs, shortwave ridging builds in and helps the region dry out late week. That said, there is still some potential for lingering showers, especially along the Cascades Thursday where the lows influence may hang on a bit longer.
As for the weekend, ensemble guidance has shown increasing agreement on another system arriving late Saturday into Sunday. Confidence is moderate to high that this feature will bring cooler weather and widespread rain across western Oregon and Washington. NBM probabilities for 24 hour rain range from 50-70%, with lower chances on Saturday and higher chances on Sunday. Looks like there is a 25-35% chance of a quarter inch of rain on Saturday and a 40-50% chance on Sunday. Either way, the weekend system looks to deliver a much more Fall-like pattern across the region. ~Hall
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.AVIATION...A low pressure system offshore of the Oregon coast will maintain showers across the region through at least Tuesday night. There is a 20-30% chance for thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, and another 20-30% chance for thunderstorms late Tuesday morning through Tuesday afternoon. Lightning, erratic winds, and heavy rain are the main threats with the thunderstorms. There may be breaks in the rain and clouds along the coast late tonight into Tuesday morning where calm winds, clearing, and residual moisture may lead to patchy fog. Low pressure systems usually provide enough atmospheric mixing to prevent fog, but the low may be weak enough and south enough that mixing along the coast may be minimal.
KPDX AND APPROACHES...There is a 20% chance for thunderstorms through 06z Monday with lightning, erratic winds, and heavy showers possible. The chance for thunderstorms returns 18z Tuesday. Otherwise, Showers and light winds will dominate for the next 24 hours. ~TJ
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.MARINE...Light winds with seas less than 4 feet tonight and Tuesday as weak low pressure holds across the coastal waters. High pressure builds Tuesday night and Wednesday returning north to northwest winds. Northerly winds persist through Thursday. Winds today through Thursday remain under 10 kt with minimal impacts. Seas remain around 2-3 ft at 12-14 sec through Tuesday, building to 4-5 ft at 11-12 sec Wednesday to Thursday with a west- northwesterly swell.
By Friday into the weekend, guidance is suggesting another low pressure system approaching the Pacific Northwest. A front associated with this low will weaken as it moves across the waters Saturday and Sunday. The winds will be south ahead of the front on Saturday, then northerly with and behind the front on Sunday. There is a 10-15% chance for wind gusts of 21 kt (small craft conditions) across the waters on Saturday. Seas will be 5-7 feet with 12 second wave periods this weekend. ~TJ
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.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...None. WA...None. PZ...None.
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NWS PQR Office Area Forecast Discussion