Oregon residents preparing to honor September 11 Patriot Day on Thursday should brace for unsettled skies, with showers and thunderstorms expected statewide. The risk of downpours could affect memorial gatherings, school events, and travel on key routes like I-84 in Pendleton and Highway 99 through Medford.
According to the National Weather Service, storms will peak late Thursday morning into the evening, carrying lightning and localized downpours. Drivers should slow down on wet highways, while outdoor events should have rain contingencies in place. Central and eastern parts of the state face the strongest thunderstorm threat, with Pendleton likely to see activity after 11 a.m.
In Pendleton, storms may linger into Thursday night before drier skies arrive Friday. Medford faces a 30% chance of showers Thursday with improving conditions by the weekend. Eugene should expect lingering clouds and light rain before clearing late Friday. Across the state, Saturday looks like the best window for outdoor Patriot Day remembrances that may shift to the weekend.
Residents are urged to keep devices charged in case of isolated outages, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain, and monitor local alerts. Wet roads combined with increased traffic for community observances could slow commutes and raise accident risks.
Clear skies return by Friday evening for most of Oregon, setting up a sunnier weekend. Still, scattered showers may return Sunday in parts of western Oregon, keeping conditions mixed.
Five Day Forecast for Pendleton, OR:
- Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, high 78°F.
- Friday: Slight chance of showers, high 81°F.
- Saturday: Sunny, high 84°F.
- Sunday: Chance of showers, high 81°F.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, high 79°F.
