431
FXUS66 KPDT 290549
AFDPDT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
949 PM PST Fri Nov 28 2025

.Updated Aviation Discussion.


.AVIATION...06Z TAFS...VFR conditions currently across all sites,
with the exceptions being MVFR at KBDN/KRDM due to reduced ceilings
of 1kft. These conditions are expected to degrade to IFR overnight
as ceilings drop to around 500 feet. KALW is also anticipated to
drop to IFR conditions with ceilings also around 500 feet early
Saturday morning. MVFR conditions are also expected at KPDT due to
ceilings of 1.5kft overnight into early Saturday morning.
Improvement is expected across all sites, with the exception of
continuing IFR/MVFR conditions at KALW/KPDT due to reduced ceilings
of 500 feet and 1.5kft respectively. Winds will stay light and below
10 kts through the period. 75


&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 252 PM PST Fri Nov 28 2025/

DISCUSSION...Skies are clearing once again over much of the Basin
as an upper-level trough that brought steady showers and mountain
snow to much of the forecast area early this morning moves out of
the PacNW. NW flow aloft will take its place as we enter a prolonged
period of colder conditions, as ensemble guidance generally locks
the forecast area under a steady synoptic pattern of NW flow with
embedded shortwave activity within. While these shortwaves look to
be relatively moisture-starved, our mountain zones and even lowland
areas could see light snow over the next week as this pattern favors
upslope enhancement of precip even in the absence of an atmosphere
charged with moisture.

Rest of the day looks dry, however low clouds and even patchy fog
may persist and redevelop this evening given recent moisture and
light winds in the forecast. The next best chance for precip (as
part of the aforementioned shortwaves) looks to be late Saturday
evening into Sunday morning. Models aren`t bullish on precip
amounts, so no headlines look to be necessary, however should note
that these NW systems do favor pockets of prolonged snowfall along
the northern Blues and even into the foothills. The HREF in
particular seems to suggest a low-end (30-40%) chance for snow along
the foothills, stretching from Pendleton to Walla Walla. Snow levels
seem borderline, and temps may warm up during the day Saturday, but
the combination of oncoming cloud cover + cold pooling in the Basin
makes me partially skeptical of the NBM snow level forecast. Could
ultimately amount to nothing, but am still wary of stubborn, upslope
snow showers given the pattern. But for the Blues themselves,
expecting only about 1 to 2 inches at best.

The next shortwave looks to arrive around Tuesday. This wave looks
to be a bit more potent based on early NBM QPF readings (at least
for the Blues), but much could change given how progressive the
synoptic pattern is. The key will be where exactly the axis of this
shortwave falls upon arrival. Otherwise, expect cold and generally
cloudy conditions, with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s across
most areas. 74


&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
PDT  29  40  26  38 /   0  10  30   0
ALW  31  38  28  37 /   0  10  40  10
PSC  29  41  24  38 /   0  10  20   0
YKM  28  41  23  41 /   0  10  10   0
HRI  29  41  26  39 /   0  10  30   0
ELN  25  38  21  38 /   0  10  10   0
RDM  24  43  25  40 /   0   0  20   0
LGD  27  43  25  40 /   0  10  50   0
GCD  27  48  26  41 /   0   0  40   0
DLS  34  44  34  44 /   0  10  30   0

&&

.PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OR...None.
WA...None.
&&

$$

DISCUSSION...74
AVIATION...75