PENDLETON, Ore. – The still air across Eastern Oregon feels calm this Veterans Day morning, but changes are brewing to the west. A quiet, gray start to the week will soon give way to a more active pattern, with increasing clouds, patchy fog, and the first notable stretch of rain in several days.
According to the National Weather Service in Pendleton, skies stay mostly cloudy through Wednesday morning before a new Pacific system begins moving inland. Light rain may develop late Wednesday evening, with steadier showers likely Thursday and Friday. Most valley locations could see a quarter to half inch of rainfall through Friday evening, with locally higher totals possible along the Blue Mountains.
Fog remains a short-term concern this morning and again early Wednesday, particularly in low-lying areas near the Umatilla River and along I-84 between Pendleton and Boardman. Visibility may drop under one mile in spots before sunshine returns midmorning.
By late Wednesday, clouds will thicken and breezes may increase slightly from the southeast. Rainfall looks most widespread Thursday, when precipitation chances jump above 60%. Temperatures will stay mild for now — highs near 65°F midweek — before slipping back into the 50s by the weekend.
The upcoming weekend trend suggests lighter showers lingering into Saturday with partly cloudy breaks possible Sunday. While it’s far from a winter storm, this mid-November system marks a seasonal shift — a clear sign the Pacific storm track is strengthening and the Northwest’s late-fall rain routine is settling in for the long haul.
Five-Day Outlook for Pendleton, OR:
Tue: 60/39 – Patchy fog, then mostly sunny.
Wed: 58/41 – Increasing clouds, rain late.
Thu: 65/37 – Rain likely; cooler evening.
Fri: 57/40 – Chance rain; steady clouds.
Sat: 60/40 – Showers taper; partly cloudy.
