PORTLAND, Ore. – A dense blanket of fog settled over the Willamette Valley early this morning, swallowing bridges, streetlights, and parts of the I-5 corridor in a gray haze. The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a Dense Fog Advisory in effect until 10 AM PST, warning that visibility could drop below one-quarter mile in spots from Salem to Vancouver, WA, including the Portland Metro area.
Drivers should expect sudden visibility changes through midmorning, especially across low-lying areas, river valleys, and near open fields. Use low-beam headlights, reduce speed, and leave extra distance between vehicles.
As the fog lifts, Friday will bring a brief break of sun with highs near 52°F. But this calm won’t last — rain returns late Saturday, marking the beginning of a wet and breezy stretch lasting through much of next week. Showers and steady rainfall are expected Sunday and Monday, with gusty winds along the coast and cooler air inland.
For travelers heading into the weekend, conditions will favor wet roads and reduced visibility through the valley and coastal ranges. Early holiday travelers should prepare for intermittent rain systems to pass through the Pacific Northwest, potentially complicating Thanksgiving travel plans.
Across the country, forecasters are tracking a developing cold front that may deliver 3–10 inches of snow across the Rockies, Midwest, and Northeast between Nov. 25 and Dec. 3, setting the stage for a wintry Thanksgiving week.
For now, Portland residents can expect foggy mornings, mild afternoons, and increasing clouds — a typical late-November rhythm before a stormier pattern sets in.
Five-Day Outlook for Portland, OR:
Fri: 52/39 – Dense fog early, then sunny.
Sat: 60/41 – Clouds increasing, rain late.
Sun: 51/40 – Rain, breezy.
Mon: 50/42 – Showers likely.
Tue: 47/42 – Cloudy, chance of rain.
