Portland, OR – Oregon may face a sharp cooldown heading into Thanksgiving week, raising concerns about frostbite and hypothermia, according to updated projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Nov. 19 climate outlook highlights a significant pattern shift beginning November 25, with colder-than-normal temperatures expected across the Pacific Northwest through early December.
According to NOAA, several atmospheric drivers are contributing to the incoming cold surge — including ongoing La Niña conditions, the Madden–Julian Oscillation, and the potential for a rare late-November sudden stratospheric warming event. These factors may help push Arctic air southward into the region, placing Oregon inside the below-normal temperature zone during a busy holiday travel stretch.
With residents preparing for Thanksgiving travel, mountain-pass driving, early ski season, and outdoor holiday events, health officials warn that frostbite and hypothermia can develop faster than many people expect — especially at elevation or when wind chills dip significantly.
Common frostbite symptoms include:
• Numbness or loss of feeling
• Tingling or prickling sensations
• Cold, hard, waxy-looking skin
• Skin discoloration (red, white, blue, gray, or purple)
• Blisters that may form after rewarming
Ten key signs of hypothermia:
Shivering, slurred speech, shallow breathing, weak pulse, confusion, memory loss, severe fatigue, stumbling, drowsiness, and — in severe cases — loss of consciousness. Infants may show bright red, cold skin and unusually low energy.
NOAA urges Oregonians to dress in layers, cover exposed skin, and limit time outdoors during the coldest hours of Thanksgiving week. Anyone showing frostbite or hypothermia symptoms should seek immediate medical attention and warm affected areas with warm — not hot — water or gentle body heat.
