PORTLAND, OR — Strong south winds that pounded the coast today are easing, but gusty conditions continue to affect coastal regions of Oregon and Washington State. As the afternoon progresses, thunderstorms are expected to form, bringing scattered showers and the potential for brief, erratic wind gusts of up to 55 mph. Inland, gusts up to 30 mph are possible, with tree damage and isolated power outages a concern.
Thunderstorms could produce heavy downpours, small hail, and potentially waterspouts off the coast, which could bring localized wind damage if they move inland. While winds will decrease overnight, cooler and showery conditions are forecast through Thursday. A brief dry spell is expected late Friday into Saturday morning, followed by more rain over the weekend. Next week promises drier conditions as offshore winds develop.