PENDLETON, Ore. – The calm, frosty mornings blanketing the Umatilla Valley are about to give way to a wetter, windier pattern. After several crisp fall days, eastern Oregon faces a clear seasonal turn as widespread rain pushes in by Friday night, signaling the region’s first broad fall storm of the season.
According to the National Weather Service in Pendleton, clear skies and light frost this morning will yield to milder sunshine by midday, with highs near 65. Thursday remains mostly sunny, topping out near 66 degrees before clouds begin to thicken late in the day. By Friday, southwesterly winds will increase and rain chances climb sharply across the Columbia Basin and Blue Mountain foothills.
Rain becomes widespread Friday night and Saturday, with a 90% chance of precipitation expected and totals reaching up to a half inch in the valley. Higher elevations above 4,000 feet could see the first early flakes or a brief rain-snow mix—an early sign that the winter transition is beginning. Temperatures will fall into the low 50s by Saturday and mid-30s by Sunday morning, when patchy frost may briefly return in rural areas.
Travelers along I-84 between Boardman and La Grande should anticipate reduced visibility, slick roads, and gusty crosswinds late Friday through early Sunday. Residents are advised to clear drains, bring in outdoor gear, and plan errands around the wettest period Saturday morning.
After all, the sunny streak couldn’t last forever. This weekend marks the first true push of Pacific moisture east of the Cascades—and the start of that long Oregon stretch where coats and windshield wipers become daily companions.
Five-Day Forecast for Pendleton, OR:
Wed: 65/38 – Areas of frost early; mostly sunny, calm breeze.
Thu: 66/42 – Sunny start; clouds building by evening.
Fri: 71/42 – Increasing clouds; rain developing late, breezy south winds.
Sat: 62/37 – Rain likely; cooler with gusty winds, raw feel.
Sun: 55/36 – Showers linger; chilly air, patchy frost early.
