Arctic air is expected to sweep into Oregon on Saturday, November 30, bringing cold temperatures, strong winds, and hazardous travel conditions into the first week of December.
According to the National Weather Service, a strong Arctic front moving from British Columbia will settle across the Pacific Northwest this weekend, causing temperatures to plunge well below seasonal averages. The Climate Prediction Center predicts 70-80% below-normal temperatures across Oregon, with highs in the 20s and 30s east of the Cascades and the possibility of freezing rain in western valleys.
Related posts
Drivers on I-84 and I-5 should be prepared for slick roads, ice bridges, and freezing precipitation, especially between Portland, Salem, and The Dalles. The Oregon Department of Transportation recommends that drivers slow down, carry chains, and check travel alerts before leaving.
This Arctic blast will be the coldest start to December in several years, perhaps leading to hazardous wind chills in higher elevations and open places along the Columbia River Gorge. The freezing air mass will spread across the northern United States, maintaining a coast-to-coast cold pattern until mid-December.
Residents are asked to protect exterior pipes, bring pets indoors, and check heating systems as temperatures drop below freezing across the state.
