Thursday: Showers Early, Sun Later
Good news, Portland—the rain won’t stick around long today. We’re waking up to a 34% chance of light rain showers overnight into early Thursday morning, with lows around 37°F. If you’re heading out before 9 AM, grab a packable rain jacket just in case, but don’t let it ruin your day. The National Weather Service tells us that as that cold upper-level low moves eastward, shower coverage will drop quickly.
By mid-morning, we’ll see those clouds break apart, and Thursday afternoon turns mostly sunny with highs near 58°F. Light southwest winds around 5 mph mean it’ll be pleasant for outdoor plans—perfect timing if you’ve been itching to get yard work done. The lawn can wait until Friday though, when conditions are even better.
Watch for Small Hail in Showers
Here’s something to keep an eye on: if you catch a heavier shower this morning, there’s a small chance it could produce tiny hail. The cold air mass aloft combined with surface heating during sun breaks can destabilize the atmosphere pretty quickly. It’s not a major threat, but good to know if you’re out and about. There’s also a 15-30% chance of isolated thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, though these will be weak and scattered.
Friday: The Day to Get Outside
If Thursday is nice, Friday is your day to shine. Mostly sunny skies, a high near 62°F, and virtually no rain chance (0%). This is ideal for golf, hiking in the Gorge, or finally tackling that spring project. Bring waterproof hiking boots if you’re heading to the trails—recent moisture means things will still be damp, and the Cascades are getting hammered with snow above 2500 feet (Winter Storm Warnings are in effect through early Thursday morning).
Tonight & Friday Night: Frost Possible
One thing to note: frost conditions are likely tonight and possibly Friday night as cooler air settles in. If you have tender plants or a vegetable garden you’ve started, cover them up or wait until Saturday to transplant anything sensitive.
Dinner Idea
With showers hanging around this morning, tonight’s the perfect excuse to fire up a programmable slow cooker with beef stew or chili. Set it this morning and come home to comfort food as the sun sets on a gorgeous afternoon.
Looking Ahead
The weekend shapes up nicely with mostly cloudy skies Friday night and similar conditions Saturday. Temperatures stay mild in the upper 50s to low 60s. This is classic spring Portland—just enough rain to keep things green, then beautiful days to enjoy it all.