Portland Braces for Wet Week as Low Pressure System Moves In
Showers begin Wednesday afternoon, with up to half an inch of rain expected by Sunday before heavier storms arrive next week.
By Sanjay Ivanov ·
A large low pressure system is moving toward the Oregon coast, setting the stage for a much wetter week in the Portland metro area. Forecasters at KPTV say the system will sit just offshore, sending waves of heavier rain and stronger winds into the region.
The change in weather begins Wednesday afternoon. A front will push into the area, bringing showers that mark the start of a more active pattern. The jet stream is moving closer to the region each day, increasing the frequency of precipitation events.
Conditions remain dry until that front arrives. Tuesday night will be the coolest of the week, with outlying areas dropping into the mid to upper 30s. Patchy fog is expected to develop overnight as temperatures fall. The metro area climbed through the upper 50s earlier in the day, but cloud cover kept the high from rising further.
Rain totals through Sunday will remain light. The maximum expected accumulation is about half an inch. Dry or mainly dry days are currently forecast for Thursday, Saturday, and Monday before sunset. Saturday’s high temperature is currently set at 60 degrees, but it could stay in the 50s if thick clouds persist.
The wetter pattern takes hold after the weekend. The southwest flow will settle in, bringing consecutive days of rain. The specific timing of the heaviest storms depends on the exact path of the offshore low pressure system.
Source: KPTV
