Portland Wednesday weather: Slight cooling pulls temps down from record levels
Good Wednesday #GoodWednesday
Much of Oregon saw heat records blasted across the state Tuesday and more of the same is expected in some locations Wednesday.
The National Weather Service reported new heat records in Portland, Hillsboro and Salem that all topped records set in 1970. Portland and Hillsboro’s high of 95 beat the previous records of 94, and Salem made it to 97, beating the previous temp of 96.
Wednesday’s highs may cool a degree or two in the valleys, but areas including the eastern Columbia River Gorge, central Oregon and Blue Mountains may see another round of records fall as temperatures are likely to hit 100 degrees or higher in Warm Springs, Pendleton and Hermiston.
Fire danger is high in many locations and local agencies have instituted burn bans. Check with your local authorities before burning outdoor debris, fields, or using campfires.
The Willamette Valley may see some benefit from cooler air and marine clouds pushing in from the coast on Wednesday. The clouds may not make it over the Coast Range, but some of the air is likely to filter in, especially in the central and southern portions of the valley.
Portland will see blue skies and a high near 91 degrees. Still plenty hot and well above the average temp for early June. Salem’s high may only reach 87 degrees – a 10-degree drop from Tuesday’s high.
Forecasting models are in good agreement that this cooling trend will continue into the weekend. A weak system pushing into the Oregon coast overnight and into Thursday morning will bring more cooling temperatures. The coast may see some light rain or drizzle early in the day. Portland will have a sunny sunrise and then clouds moving in by the afternoon. The high temperature will reach near 82 degrees.
The work week will end with a mostly sunny day Friday with highs cooling to about 79 degrees. There’s a slight chance of rain late Friday night, and according to long-range forecasts, the weekend will continue the cooling trend with temperatures back down near average and chances for light rain.