837 FXUS66 KPQR 132214 AFDPQRArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Portland OR 314 PM PDT Sat Sep 13 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Our next frontal system rapidly approaches the region marking the start of a fairly progressive weather pattern through next week. After a band of widespread rain tonight and showers on Sunday, conditions dry out and warm up again early next week. There continues to a window for offshore winds Monday night through Tuesday. Another weak front returns onshore flow and precipitation chances mid-week.
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.SHORT TERM...Now through Monday Night... Late this afternoon satellite imagery depicts our incoming frontal boundary beginning to move towards the coastline heralding the end to the rather pleasant conditions we`ve seen today. Confidence is high (80-90%) the initial rainfall band makes landfall late in the evening before moving into the Willamette Valley late overnight. Widespread rain showers persist Sunday morning as the axis of the shortwave trough swings through western Oregon and southwest Washington. While precipitation along the immediate frontal boundary may be more stratiform in nature, rainfall quickly transitions to lingering showers by the midday hours. It`s worth noting a few embedded thunderstorms can`t be ruled out right along the frontal as it moving into the coastal areas - some lightning has already be observed over the eastern Pacific this afternoon. The latest forecast rainfall totals from late Saturday evening through Sunday evening are forecast to be in the 0.15-0.35" range across most interior valleys, 0.40-0.80" along the coast, and 0.30-0.60" across the Coast Range, Willapa Hills, and Cascades with the highest relative amounts on the western slopes of these terrain features. Fortunately confidence in these totals have increased as most model guidance has trended into agreement
By Sunday evening, the front further weakens and rapidly exits to the east allowing any lingering shower activity to taper off overnight into early Monday morning. Shortwave ridging returns on Monday as will drier conditions and clearing skies by Monday afternoon. Expect high temperatures to jump into the mid 70s across the inland valleys with mid to upper 60s along the coast, coast range, and Cascades - right around normal for early September. -Schuldt
.LONG TERM...Tuesday through Friday...There continues to be excellent agreement in the return of and upper-level ridge Monday night into Tuesday. This feature will be in addition to a near surface thermal trough amplifying across western Oregon with higher pressure east of the Cascades, leading to an offshore flow wind pattern and a sharp spike in high temperatures. Afternoon highs on Tuesday are forecast in the mid 80s across most interior valleys with upper 60s to mid 70s along the coast. Beyond the rise in temperatures, the thermal trough is also expected to facilitate a -4 to -5 mb pressure gradient from KTTD to KDLS Tuesday morning yielding breezy east winds through the Columbia River Gorge and other Cascades gaps with gusts up to 25-35 mph east of Troutdale. For our typically windiest spots like Three Corners Rock and Crown Point in the Gorge can`t rule out a few isolated gusts closer to 40 mph Tuesday morning before the pressure gradient weakens. If there`s any silver lining the highest winds and lowest Relative Humidity won`t overlap. This offshore flow pattern looks brief at least, since the thermal trough breaks down Tuesday night.
Wednesday onshore flow returns and most ensemble members are in agreement of an upper level trough in the northeast Pacific approaching British Columbia. A weak front associated with this system will swing through the Pacific Northwest and return chances (20-40%) for rain showers, with the highest chances along the coast and southwest Washington. Forecast confidence decreases Thursday to Friday as ensemble guidance struggles with the exact progression of the upper level pattern. Most ensembles still maintain general troughing over the area, however, there is high uncertainty with the exact magnitude, track, and timing of the trough. -Schuldt/Alvis
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.AVIATION...Currently, widespread VFR across the airspace. However, an incoming cold front around 06Z-08Z Sunday, will bring light showers and MVFR to LIFR conditions to the coast. Showers and MVFR/IFR conditions expected inland starting around 10Z-12Z Sunday. Along with the front, there is an increase in thunderstorm probability, from 04Z-12Z Sunday there is a 10-20% probability for thunderstorms along the coast. Inland locations will see a 10-20% probability for thunderstorms from 06Z-15Z Sunday.
Could also see some south/southwesterly gusts along the coast up to 20 kt through 06Z Sunday.
KPDX AND APPROACHES...VFR conditions expected to deteriorate as an incoming cold front will bring showers and MVFR/IFR conditions at or near the terminal around 10Z Sunday. 30-45% probability for IFR conditions starting around 15Z Sunday. Also, there is a 10-20% probability for thunderstorms from 06Z-15Z Sunday. /42
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.MARINE...A cold front approaches this evening and will move across all waters through Sunday morning. Southerly winds expected to increase through the evening towards 10-15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt through Sunday morning with occasional gusts up to 25 kt for the far outer waters around 40-60 NM away from the coast. With gusts above 21 kts not expected to be widespread, no small craft advisory is being issued. Seas 6-8 feet at 10-13 seconds expected through the weekend as a northwesterly swell moves into the waters.
High pressure returns over the waters Sunday afternoon which will result in northerly winds returning. Late Monday into early Tuesday, weak offshore flow is expected to develop, but this will be short lived as the next low pressure system will approach the region Tuesday/Wednesday. As the system approaches, winds become west to northwest and will increase and could result in gusts up 25 kt. While conditions do not look favorable for Small Craft Conditions, will continue to monitor we are slowly transitioning to a more fall/winter-like pattern. /42-HEC
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.PQR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...None. WA...None. PZ...None. &&
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NWS PQR Office Area Forecast Discussion