A rare and potentially dangerous weather event is expected to impact parts of Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest on Wednesday, with the possibility of large hail, damaging winds, and even isolated tornadoes—an unusual combination for the region.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms across areas of western Oregon and Washington. This elevated risk includes cities along the Interstate 5 corridor, such as Portland, Salem, and Eugene, as well as Seattle and Tacoma in Washington.
What makes this forecast especially notable is just how uncommon severe storms—particularly those capable of producing tornadoes—are in this part of the country. According to the FOX Forecast Center, this is the first time downtown Seattle has been under a level 2 threat since the SPC updated its outlook system over a decade ago. For Oregon, residents in Portland and the Willamette Valley should be aware that these conditions are highly atypical for this time of year…