


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Pendleton, OR
Issued by NWS Pendleton, OR
556 FXUS66 KPDT 291729 AFDPDT Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pendleton OR 1029 AM PDT Sun Jun 29 2025 .AVIATION...18Z TAFs...VFR conditions are very likely (>95% chance) through the period for all sites. Clear skies and mostly light (sustained at 10 kts or less), diurnally and terrain-driven winds are forecast. Will note gust potential of 14-18 kts in the afternoon and evening at BDN/RDM. Plunkett/86 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 202 PM PDT Sat Jun 28 2025/ SHORT TERM...Today through Monday night...Quiet weather is forecast for the remainder of today and Sunday as an upper-level ridge of high pressure builds into the Pacific Northwest. Breezy winds through the Cascade gaps this afternoon and evening will diminish overnight with a reversal to a lighter offshore flow anticipated Sunday into Monday. Ensemble NWP is very confident (95% or greater) that the aforementioned upper-level ridge will amplify through Monday, and an upper-level closed low will develop off the central California coast Sunday through Monday, setting the stage for area-wide heat and convection in southern/eastern Oregon for Monday and Tuesday. CAMs suggest the bulk of the convective activity Monday will be across south-central Oregon with limited extension northward into central Oregon due to weak forcing aloft. That said, have introduced a slight chance (15%) of thunderstorms in the forecast for the east slopes of the Oregon Cascades roughly from Santiam Pass south, and across the Ochocos and John Day Highlands. Anticipated warming under the upper-level ridge has prompted the issuance of Heat Advisories for most of our lower-elevation areas across northern Oregon and south-central Washington for Monday through Tuesday. Widespread Moderate (level 2 of 4) to Major (level 3 of 4) HeatRisk is on tap due to forecast high temperatures of 90-103 degrees and overnight low temperatures of 59-73 degrees. Will note there is some uncertainty in high and low temperatures Tuesday, (and especially Wednesday in the "LONG TERM") due to potential cloud cover -- convective debris or otherwise. Plunkett/86 LONG TERM...Tuesday through Friday...Confidence is high that an upper-level ridge of high pressure will be overhead Tuesday. Above-normal temperatures are expected region-wide, and mostly dry conditions are anticipated outside of the Blue Mountains region where a slight chance (15-24%) to chance (25-30%) of showers and thunderstorms has been included due to the combination of sufficient mid-level moisture, instability, and modest upper- level forcing. Wednesday through Friday, analysis of ensemble clusters indicates there is more uncertainty (timing and amplitude of 500-hPa heights) in pattern details, but guidance is strongly suggesting one or more shortwaves embedded within broadly southwesterly flow aloft. This pattern favors showers and thunderstorms for the Blue Mountains region, so have added a slight chance (15%) of thunder each afternoon. Otherwise, breezy to windy westerly winds are favored through the Cascade gaps Wednesday through Friday. Confidence in surface moisture (dew point and relative humidity) is still low (<30%) due to aforementioned uncertainty in pattern details so will hold off on mentioning potential for any fire weather highlights. Plunkett/86 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... PDT 92 60 99 66 / 0 0 0 0 ALW 90 64 96 69 / 0 0 0 0 PSC 93 59 100 63 / 0 0 0 0 YKM 90 61 98 66 / 0 0 0 0 HRI 93 59 100 65 / 0 0 0 0 ELN 91 59 98 66 / 0 0 0 0 RDM 90 51 96 58 / 0 0 0 10 LGD 87 56 94 62 / 0 0 0 0 GCD 90 56 97 61 / 0 0 0 10 DLS 94 64 100 68 / 0 0 0 0 && .PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OR...Heat Advisory from 9 AM Monday to 9 PM PDT Tuesday for ORZ041- 044-507-508-510. WA...Heat Advisory from 9 AM Monday to 9 PM PDT Tuesday for WAZ024- 026>029-521. && $$ SHORT TERM...86 LONG TERM....86 AVIATION...86