Pendleton, Oregon – A cold, muted dawn spreads across the plateau as a thin haze clings to fields and dim streetlights glow through the gray. The air feels sharp enough to sting the cheeks, and the damp pavement hints at the freezing fog threat lining up for the midweek stretch—right as Thanksgiving travel begins ramping up across Eastern Oregon.
According to the National Weather Service, patchy freezing fog is expected to form between early Wednesday morning and Thursday morning as lows dip into the upper 20s. Drivers moving along I-84, Highway 395, and the Cabbage Hill grade should plan for rapid changes in visibility and possible slick patches in sheltered valleys. Light wind keeps the fog dense at times, especially near Mission, Rieth, and the northern edges of town.
Today brings mostly sunny skies with a high near 50, but this brighter window acts as the setup for colder, calmer air tonight. Models hint at widespread fog development after midnight with freezing fog pockets most likely before sunrise Wednesday. Areas of freezing fog linger through midmorning before sunshine finally breaks through.
Wednesday night brings another round of fog as temperatures fall to the upper 20s. To be fair, snow isn’t expected at the valley floor, but this pattern marks a clear Winter Tease. Any subtle moisture increase late in the week could shift conditions toward a light icy mix along higher ridges east of town.
Thursday warms back into the low 50s, helping fog lift by midmorning. Friday turns mostly sunny with a high near 55, giving travelers a safer window before weekend changes return.
More updates are expected as Thanksgiving Week travel increases and long-range models show additional moisture gathering across the Pacific Northwest.
Five-Day Outlook for Pendleton, Oregon
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high 50.
Tuesday Night: Patchy freezing fog late, low 28.
Wednesday: Areas of freezing fog early, sunny, high 50.
Wednesday Night: Patchy freezing fog, low 28.
Thursday: Sunny after early fog, high 50.
