Pendleton, OR — A clear, cold dawn spreads across the Umatilla Valley this morning, the air crisp and still under a soft moonlight glow. The quiet won’t last. By Friday, clouds will thicken over the Blue Mountains, signaling a wet shift just in time for the weekend.
The National Weather Service in Pendleton reports a calm day ahead with highs near 56°F before increasing clouds Friday evening. Saturday brings the first measurable rain since early in the week — light to moderate showers spreading across the Columbia Basin and foothill communities through the afternoon.
Rain chances rise to 60% Saturday night, with brief heavier bursts possible west toward I-84. Temperatures will top out near 59°F before dipping into the upper 30s as the front passes. By Sunday, conditions should gradually dry out, leaving cooler and partly sunny skies to close the weekend.
Drivers along I-84 and U.S. Route 395 should plan for reduced visibility and slick roads Saturday afternoon and evening. Farmers and ranchers can expect brief soil moisture gains — a welcome break in the late-fall dryness.
Looking forward, long-range outlooks show a broader pattern change developing after November 8, when colder air may drop south from British Columbia. That could bring the first snow chances of the season to higher elevations of eastern Oregon — including Meacham Pass and the northern Blue Mountains.
For now, Pendleton’s weather feels like a pause before November’s true chill arrives — one calm breath before the Pacific storms return in full.
