105 FXUS66 KPDT 182054 AFDPDTArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pendleton OR 154 PM PDT Thu Sep 18 2025
.DISCUSSION...Dry conditions across the region today as a weak, dry upper shortwave moves across the northern portions of the PacNW. A slight increase in the cross Cascade pressure gradient has also resulted in locally breezy conditions developing through the Cascade gaps of Washington, and will continue through this evening. Otherwise, mostly clear skies prevail, though smoke from area wild fires are beginning to spread south and east with the upper shortwave trough.
Tonight through Saturday Morning: Dry conditions with light winds will prevail into early this weekend as a transient ridge of high pressure pushes in behind the shortwave exit tonight into early Friday morning. The upper ridge will also promote a slight warming trend tomorrow, with temperatures rising back into the mid to upper 80s in the lower elevations Friday and lingering into Saturday.
Saturday Afternoon through Sunday Night: The upper ridge over the area will be pushed east into the northern Rockies by Saturday evening as a leading cold front and upper level trough dig southeast out of the Gulf of Alaska. The cross Cascade pressure gradient will begin to tighten again by late Saturday afternoon, resulting in breezy to locally breezy west winds developing through the Cascade gaps and into portions of the Columbia Basin. While chances will generally be low (
NWS PDT Office Area Forecast Discussion