Portlanders woke up Friday to clear skies and temperatures in the low 50s, but the calm start is not sticking around. By late afternoon, the city is expected to warm into the low 70s, topping out near 72°F on Friday, April 10, with a legit shot at thunderstorms later in the day that could arrive with heavy rain and gusty winds. The most likely window for storms is late this afternoon into the evening, so it is a good idea to build in extra time for the evening commute and keep that umbrella within reach.
Afternoon Thunderstorm Threat
The atmosphere is primed for pockets of stronger convection this afternoon and evening, especially near the Cascades and along the I‑5 corridor. Any isolated thunderstorms that do fire could bring small hail, brief but intense downpours, and strong outflow winds. In the heaviest cells, new rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch are on the table, and while the overall severe threat remains low, it is…..