Low clouds cling to the ridges above Pendleton this morning as a light breeze moves across fields and ranchlands along the I-84 corridor. The air feels damp, and you can sense the next push of Pacific moisture gathering as the region steps into a more active December stretch. Drivers should stay alert for slick pavement and increasing crosswinds as the day progresses.
According to the National Weather Service, a Wind Advisory begins 4 p.m. today through 7 a.m. Tuesday, covering the foothills of the Blue Mountains and the Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon. Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph will develop this afternoon, with gusts up to 50 mph possible into late evening. These winds may blow around unsecured objects, snap small limbs, and create isolated power outages—especially in exposed valleys and open farmland.
Rain will increase by afternoon and continue through Tuesday, with repeated light-to-moderate showers keeping roads wet and reducing visibility at times. Travel through Cabbage Hill and along I-84 may be slower, particularly as gusts strengthen tonight. Meteorologists note that saturated soils across the basin may raise the risk of minor tree damage as winds peak.
Nationally, a much harsher winter pattern is emerging. A developing Alberta clipper is expected to deliver bi-daily snow across the Great Lakes December 11–17, with lake-effect bands targeting Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. An Arctic surge follows, pushing the coldest air of the season into New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Ohio Valley this weekend—prime conditions for flash-freezing and dangerous holiday-travel impacts.
Five-Day Outlook (Pendleton, OR)
• Tuesday: Rain, high 58°.
• Wednesday: Rain likely, high 61°.
• Thursday: Chance of rain, high 62°.
• Friday: Partly sunny, high near 60°.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, high 55°.
