PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Afternoon and evening thunderstorms bumbled up over the Cascades Wednesday afternoon, leaving behind nearly 2,000 lightning strikes.
The lightning threat continues to keep Oregon’s wildfire potential elevated Wednesday night and Thursday. No severe weather is expected, but lightning and little rain will keep the wildfire potential high through the end of the week.
One or two of the lightning strikes seen Wednesday could work their way towards the Portland-Vancouver area by Thursday morning. Not everyone will see lightning or hear thunder Thursday morning, but the threat fades by mid-morning hours.
The increase in clouds Thursday morning will keep Willamette Valley temperatures slightly cooler than average, with highs in the upper 70s…