PORTLAND, Ore. (COIN) — The threat of severe weather increases along the Willamette Valley, including the Portland, Vancouver metro area this weekend.
A’marginal risk‘ for severe weather is possible for much of western Oregon beginning Saturday afternoon and lasting into the evening hours. A “marginal risk” means there is a one in five chance of seeing damaging winds, large hail and even the rare threat of tornadoes. Although this threat is relatively low, it is greater than is typical for the Portland, Vancouver metropolitan area.
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Temperatures on Saturday will be warm enough to lift warm, moist air into the atmosphere. A weather disturbance offshore Saturday will also give way to more atmospheric instability. It is these processes that lead to convective storm development. The potential energy in the atmosphere over the Portland, Vancouver metro area is higher than normal forecast with a chance of rain. Rain accumulation remains uncertain at this time. But many weather models are nearing 0.1″ to 0.25″ of rain by the end of the weekend.
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Some localized flooding is possible with rain Saturday night and Sunday morning. The biggest flood-prone places are around burn areas. Recently burned areas will have difficulty absorbing rainwater, causing rapid runoff in some locations.
The best chance to see severe thunderstorms around Portland will occur just before sunset. This is when the potential energy is at its highest. Showers are possible before then, but the worst of the rain will occur around 8pm on Saturday. Showers are likely to linger into Sunday with cooler than average temperatures taking the Rose City into next week.
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