Unsettled Weather to Impact Portland into Next Week

By Brian Edwards, Meteorologist
October 21, 2012; 8:54 AM
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A persistent flow of air coming off of the Pacific Ocean will support a bout of cool and showery weather for Portland and surrounding communities into the weekend.

A large dip in the jet stream has formed over the Northwest and in the north Pacific Ocean and this pattern will continue to send moisture and cool conditions onshore into early next week.

A cold front will move through the region tonight, which coincides with the time period of heaviest rainfall. By Saturday, the front will move into the northern Rockies and cooler air will descend on the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures across the Portland metro area will struggle to get into the middle 50s on Saturday with overcast skies and scattered showers.

Slight improvement is expected on Sunday as showers become less widespread, but the onshore flow will keep things rather cloudy and cool.

The aforementioned dip in the jet stream will keep clouds and chilly showers around through at least Monday.

In fact, the air will become so cool aloft that snow will fall down to pass level in the Washington Cascades. This will bring the first significant snow to both Stevens and Snoqualmie passes.

Some snow will even fall in the Oregon Cascades with snow levels dropping to about 4,500 feet on Saturday.

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