934
FXUS66 KPQR 082113
AFDPQR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Portland OR
213 PM PDT Wed Oct 8 2025

.SYNOPSIS...Cooler and cloudier weather continues through
early next week. Low pressure system offshore will bring
persistent chances for rainfall beginning tonight for the coast
and Cascades and for inland locations by Thursday evening.
Precipitation chances will steadily increase through the latter
part of the week and persist through the weekend as the system
moves inland. Also, don`t be surprised if the higher elevations
of the Cascades see some light snow accumulations this weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Tonight through Tuesday...Well, fall like weather
has finally come to the Pac NW. This will bring cool, moist
onshore flow as well as widespread rain across the CWA through
the weekend and likely into the start of next week. Not to
mention that the higher elevations of the Cascades could even
see some very light snow accumulations starting late Saturday
night/early Sunday morning. Now with the overall picture laid
out in front of us, let`s get into the details (science).

The primary synoptic feature that will be the cause of this
fall like weather, is a broad area of low pressure centered
around 49.13N/128.52W that is slowly moving southward. As this
low moves southward, it looks to strengthen/deepen and as it
does this it will send a series of fronts across the Pac NW that
will bring cooler air along with widespread precipitation.
Current models are showing 850 mb temperatures, associated with
this low around 2C to 4C. What this means is that daytime highs
will start off in the upper 50s to mid 60s and slowly cool by
about 2 to 4 degrees F each day, through Sunday, as cooler 850
mb temps slide into the region. Overnight lows, will not be as
variable with most of the region expected to be in the mid 40s
to mid 50s. However, by Saturday night/Sunday morning areas near
Hood River, some of the mid-elevations within the Cascade
Foothills as well as higher elevations of the Cascades could see
overnight lows at or around freezing. Frost Advisories may need
to be issued in the Upper Hood River Valley as well as valleys
within the Cascades and Coast Range as overnight lows are
expected to fall into the 30s through the weekend and into the
start of next week. So, if you have any sensitive plants
outside, now would be a good time to start thinking about how to
protect them.

Now, let`s talk about precipitation. As this low pushes
southward models are in excellent agreement that widespread
precipitation will impact the region. While there remains some
variability in the timing and overall precipitation amount`s,
we can get an idea of the precipitation spread that the models
are showing.

Late tonight through Tuesday night storm total precipitation:
        The Coast:         1.30"-2.20"
        Coast Range:       1.30"-2.50"
        Willamette Valley: 1.00"-1.50"
        Cascade Foothills: 1.25"-3.00"
        The Cascades:      2.25"-3.75"

Now, these values are subject to change as timing of any
precipitation as well as the overall movement of the low could
change and that could easily impact precipitation totals for any
given location.

As we get towards the end of the weekend and into the start of
next week, the aforementioned low, is expected to make an
easterly move and come onshore around the OR/CA border. As this
happens, much cooler air will start to be introduced into the
Pac NW and will result in rain becoming snow for elevations at
or around pass level (4000-5000 ft). Currently, snow accumulations
look to be very light, with 1-3 inches of total accumulation
spread across 24-48 hours. Overall, minimal impact from this
snow is expected for the High Cascades.

For the start of next week, models are showing a low diving
southward out of western Canada. This low looks to keep cool and
moist conditions in the forecast as well as the potential for
precipitation. While there remains some uncertainty as to the
strength and position of this Canadian low, the WPC 500 mb
clusters all show a broad trough persisting along the W/NW coast
of CONUS. /42

&&

.AVIATION...Increasing southwest flow aloft as an upper level
trough drops south just offshore. Increased boundary layer
moisture also contributing to lower clouds across the area,
though conditions are expected to remain predominately VFR through
the TAF period. Showers are likely to develop over the Cascades
later this evening after 06z Thursday, with lower chances of rain,
generally less than 40%, spreading into the Willamette Valley as
well as at the coast. Northwest winds less than 10 kts across the
area will persist through this evening, becoming ESE after 08z
Thu.

KPDX AND APPROACHES...VFR conditions with scattered to broken
mid-level clouds expected through the period. There is a 30-40%
chance of rain showers between 06-12z Thu. Northwest winds around
5 kt expected through this evening. /02

&&

.MARINE...Light and variable winds expected through this evening
as an area of weak low pressure develops over the coastal waters.
The surface low becomes more organized off the southern Oregon
coast on Thursday as winds turn more offshore Thursday into
Friday. An initial frontal band is expected to lift across the
coastal waters late tonight into Thursday morning, which could
produce isolated thunderstorms and periods of breezy southeast
winds, with isolated gusts up to 25 kt. Breezy southerly winds are
likely to continue across the outer coastal waters into Thursday
afternoon, and depending on the strength an location of the low,
there is a possibility that winds reach thresholds for issuing a
Small Craft Advisory. Southeast winds expected to ease somewhat
through Thu night. Seas are expected to linger around 5 to 7 ft
through Friday. Still some uncertainty where the surface low ends
up by Friday, but will likely push inland by Saturday with winds
becoming northwesterly and breezy. An incoming northwest swell
will likely push seas up to around 10 to 12 ft late Saturday into
Sunday. Another weak low pressure system approaches the coastal
waters from the north late Sunday. /02

&&

.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

OR...None.
WA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 8 PM PDT this
     evening for PZZ210.

     Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM PDT this afternoon for
     PZZ251>253-271>273.

&&

$$

www.weather.gov/portland

Interact with us via social media:
www.facebook.com/NWSPortland
x.com/NWSPortland