Portland is waking up to a wet Wednesday — rain showers are sweeping across the Rose City this morning, with a 70% chance of showers continuing through around 2 PM PT. The high today reaches near 65°F with southwest winds gusting up to 29 mph. The good news: skies partly clear by evening, so your afternoon and night look much better than the morning.
Today’s Setup
A shortwave trough moved through overnight — it even sparked some thunder and lightning across the metro in the early hours — and that same system is keeping things cloudy and showery through midday. The National Weather Service expects showers to taper off by mid-afternoon. Rainfall totals in the Willamette Valley will be modest, around 0.05–0.20 inches, so this isn’t a flood event — just routine May rain. The Cascades pick up a bit more, in the 0.20–0.40 inch range. Columbia River Gorge trails will be slick and muddy, so hold off on a Forest Park run until Thursday.
Best Window To Be Outside
After 2 PM is your sweet spot. Wednesday night drops to partly cloudy with a low around 50°F — a big improvement. If you’re heading to the Moda Center for the Florence + The Machine - Everybody Scream Tour tonight, showers should be winding down well before showtime. Tuck a compact travel umbrella in your bag for the walk from the parking garage, and grab a Florence + The Machine t-shirt to make it a full night. Also on tonight’s Portland stage: Joyce Manor w/ Militarie Gun at Roseland Theater and Lucy Dacus w/ FIGHTMASTER at McDonald Theatre — all indoor venues, so the weather won’t touch the shows.
What To Wear Today
For the wet morning hours, a packable rain jacket is your best layer — it’ll handle the drizzle and fold into your bag once skies clear. Those southwest gusts to 29 mph can flip a cheap umbrella inside-out, so a sturdy compact travel umbrella or just the jacket is the smarter call. Add waterproof hiking boots if you’re walking more than a couple blocks; puddles along the MAX platforms and around the Pearl District will be real.
Thursday Is The Best Day Of The Week
Thursday jumps to partly sunny with a high near 69°F, wind 3–9 mph, and just a 4% rain chance — easily the nicest day of the stretch. Oregon Ducks Baseball hosts USC Trojans Baseball at PK Park on May 14, and Oregon State Beavers Baseball takes on Air Force Academy Falcons Baseball at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field the same day. Both look like ideal baseball weather. The Portland Fire also host the New York Liberty at Moda Center that evening. Get tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub, and show up in your Official team gear on Fanatics.
Rain And Wind Risk
No major flood concerns today — the Weather Prediction Center puts excessive rainfall risk below 5% for the region. The main nuisance is those gusting southwest winds through the afternoon. If you’re in the West Hills or near the Gorge, secure patio furniture and lightweight yard items before you head out this morning.
Tonight’s Dinner
A rainy Wednesday is made for slow-cooker comfort food. Load up the programmable slow cooker with a pot of chili before you leave in the morning and come home to dinner ready, or use an enameled cast iron Dutch oven for a rich beef stew. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Thursday (May 14): Best day of the week — 69°F, partly sunny, nearly rain-free. Get outside.
Friday: The National Weather Service notes light shower chances return for the Coast and Cascades, with the Willamette Valley staying relatively dry.
Weekend: A more robust shortwave trough drops from the Gulf of Alaska, pushing precipitation chances to 30–70% Saturday and Sunday. The Portland Thorns FC vs. Angel City FC match at Providence Park on May 17 could see unsettled conditions — check back as that system comes into focus.
For the full Portland weather forecast through the weekend, bookmark this page.
