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The Pacific Northwest is expected to see a split temperature pattern as the region heads into 2026, with inland areas of Washington and Oregon trending warmer than normal, while coastal and eastern sections remain closer to seasonal averages.
Forecast guidance for the Dec. 27–Jan. 2 period shows a broad ridge of high pressure building over the interior West, allowing milder air to push northward into the inland Northwest. This setup favors above-normal temperatures west of the Cascades but away from the immediate coast, with cities like Portland emerging as potential warm spots heading into the New Year…