Portland is looking at a sunny Tuesday with a high near 84°F, the warmest stretch we’ll see before a gradual cooldown settles in through Wednesday — so if you’ve got outdoor plans, today and tonight are your window.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service says a weak upper-level trough is sliding into British Columbia today and tomorrow, which is enough to increase onshore flow without bringing real rain chances to the Portland metro. Expect sunny skies with a light north-northwest wind around 2 to 8 mph — perfect for a walk along the Eastbank Esplanade or an evening at Waterfront Park. Overnight lows drop to around 57°F under partly cloudy skies.
Best Window To Be Outside
Today’s the pick of the week. Wednesday brings more clouds and cooler air (high near 79°F) as that trough passes north of us, and forecasters specifically flag Wednesday morning for “more prolific low clouds” and even a chance of light drizzle along the far northern Oregon coast. If you’re heading to the coast midweek, keep a packable rain jacket handy just in case.
Rain, Wind, Fire, Or Heat Risk
No severe weather or excessive rain risk is expected for our area — the WPC’s slight risk zone today is confined to the Northern Plains and Mid-Atlantic, nowhere near Oregon. The one thing to watch: the Columbia River Gorge and Upper Hood River Valley have a 30-45% chance of isolated wind gusts over 40 mph through Wednesday, so windsurfers and kiteboarders take note, and anyone driving I-84 through the Gorge should expect gusty crosswinds.
What To Wear Or Bring
Light layers work today — shorts and a t-shirt by afternoon, but grab a light jacket for the cooler evening. A Stanley quencher tumbler keeps drinks cold on the Esplanade, and if you’re floating the Willamette this week, a 2-Person Intex Floating Lounge with Cooler is a smart grab before temperatures cool off Wednesday.
Tonight’s Plans
JINJER plays McMenamins Crystal Ballroom tonight — grab tickets on SeatGeek if you’re headed downtown. Looking ahead, Forrest Frank brings The Jesus Generation Tour to Moda Center on July 11; check out our in-depth Forrest Frank tour coverage and grab a Forrest Frank t-shirt or Forrest Frank hoodie before the show. The Portland Fire host the Las Vegas Aces at Moda Center on July 9 — it’s indoors, so weather’s a non-issue, but pick up official team gear on Fanatics or find tickets on StubHub to catch it.
Dinner Tonight
With clear skies and light wind, tonight’s a solid grilling night — a portable propane grill makes quick work of it. No specific dish is a must; pasta or a simple stir-fry both work fine in this weather. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Expect a gradual cooling trend into Wednesday (high near 79°F) with more morning cloud cover, before temperatures stay close to normal into the weekend. Check outdoor gear deals before you head out, and keep an eye on Gorge wind advisories if you’re headed east of town.
