textproduct: Pendleton

UPDATE

Winds have subsided below either warning or advisory criteria across the area, and will continue to decrease through the remainder of the evening. As a result, the High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories expired at 4 PM PST.

PREV DISCUSSION

/issued 254 PM PST Wed Dec 17 2025/

DISCUSSION...Current conditions are still relatively breezy throughout the region, with the High Wind Warning still in effect for most of the region until 4 PM today. Will let it expire since winds have weakened since this morning and most of the observing winds are currently settling just below advisory criteria. Our ASOS at the airport recorded a preliminary recording of an 81 mph gust that was observed at 3:53 AM this morning. Winds sustain around 45 to 55 mph through around 5:30 AM with current gusts at the office now around 35 to 40 mph. Winds will continue to weaken through the morning hours until the late morning to early afternoon tomorrow when winds will re-strengthen up to 30 to 40 mph, with a peak expected Thursday evening to Friday morning. Currently not settling for Wind Advisory criteria, although confidence is increasing (40 to 60 percent chance across parts of Central OR through the Columbia Basin) we cross criteria over the next 48-hours.

Elevated river levels to locally minor flooding through the Yakima, Naches, and Klickitat (near Pitt, WA) will continue to be a concern going through the next couple of days. Additional precipitation with the next set of fronts will keep some of the rivers elevated in 'Action' stage through the weekend. Most rivers have already crested (with the exceptions of the Yakima at Kiona and Klickitat near Pitt, WA) and will see slight improvements in river levels over the next 48-hours.

Precipitation wise, it would seem we'll go through a "windshield wiper" effect with the type of precipitation we will expect thanks to the back-to-back warm and cold fronts through Friday. Current radar shows light mountain snow showers mainly in the Cascades (with more coverage in the WA side) and can expect light to moderate snow to continue through Thursday morning. With the approaching warm front, snow levels will rise 7800 to 8800 feet, with the exception near the Kittitas Valley and WA Cascades, which will sit at 6000 to 7000 feet. The approaching warm front will transition virtually all of the mountain snow in the Oregon cascades into rain, while leaving light snow/wintry mix in the WA Cascades. Despite this, we've issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Oregon Cascades at 4 AM to 10 AM Thursday, with most snowfall occurring in the earlier hours. On the Washington Cascade and Northern Blue Mountains side, Winter Weather Advisories are expected through 4 PM tomorrow, with slight chances (less than 30 percent) of a trace or more of freezing rain, mainly during the transition of snow to rain in the afternoon hours Thursday. Expect winter weather driving conditions with some slippery spots across highways and interstate in the advisory areas. Friday sees the return of a cold frontal passage with snow levels dropping 2500 to 3500 feet, with light to moderate mountain snow and valley rain continuing.

A cooling trend will continue through the weekend thanks to the cold front passage and most populated areas will see a return of below freezing low temperatures by the weekend.

AVIATION...00Z TAFs...VFR conditions across all TAF sites through the period. After 12Z all TAF sites will see sub-VFR conditions due to low CIGs and areas of rain/mist. Winds will continue to decrease through the overnight hours however will increase again around 19Z as another frontal passage will occur. However, winds will not be nearly as strong as they were seeing this last wind event. 90

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

PDT 37 55 38 47 / 10 100 100 70 ALW 39 55 40 47 / 10 100 100 70 PSC 39 55 39 50 / 10 100 80 40 YKM 34 47 31 46 / 30 100 80 20 HRI 38 56 39 49 / 10 100 90 60 ELN 30 40 26 39 / 40 100 80 30 RDM 28 55 36 47 / 30 100 90 90 LGD 31 44 36 44 / 20 100 100 100 GCD 30 49 41 47 / 30 100 90 100 DLS 38 47 39 46 / 60 100 100 70

PDT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

OR...Winter Weather Advisory from 4 AM to 4 PM PST Thursday for ORZ502.

Winter Weather Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Thursday for ORZ509.

WA...Winter Weather Advisory from 4 AM to 4 PM PST Thursday for WAZ030.

Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for WAZ522-523.

Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Thursday for WAZ522-523.