Monday’s high temperature offered some relief from the hot weather the metro area has been experiencing over the past several days. With some cloudy skies around, Portland saw an unofficial high of 86 degrees.
The National Weather Service says highs will jump to around 95-100 degrees across the Willamette Valley, Columbia River Gorge, and Hood River valleys Tuesday with the best chance of hitting 100 occurring in the Salem area.
Portland’s skies are mostly clear early Tuesday and will stay that way until the evening. Expect a sunny and hot day with highs near 98 degrees.
The weather service does note that a southerly wind reversal will begin to cool temps in the southern Willamette Valley by late afternoon or early evening. That cooler air will move northward overnight.
Portland has a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms overnight and into early Wednesday. The thunder chances are highest over the central Cascades and may start by Tuesday afternoon. Some of that activity may move westward into the valleys. Fire danger is high as vegetation is dry after a long string of hot days. Much of western Oregon and along the Cascades are under a fire weather watch which means fire concerns are high. The watch continues until Wednesday evening.
Portland will see some clouds early Wednesday before skies gradually clear. The high temp will reach about 90 degrees as a high pressure ridge builds back into the region. Onshore flow will keep temps cooler along the coast.
Thursday will bring another warm, sunny day as Portland hits a high of about 89 degrees.
Extended forecasts are showing continued temps in the low-to-mid 90s on Friday and through the weekend. Some slight cooling is possible to start next week.