Thunderstorm chances increase Tuesday night

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:00]Governor Tina Cotch declares a drought emergency in several counties. The governor saying onethird of counties in the state are included in that emergency status, including coups, Clamoth, and Wheeler counties. The governor's office warning extreme dryness could shorten the growing season, decrease water supply, and increase wildfire risk. And Josh, this is something that you and the weather team have been tracking closely for quite some time. You talked about the lack of snow pack. We're talking about drought conditions. What are you seeing here? Uh well, this is really a point in the year where we don't typically see drought across our area or at least hope not to see any drought and we are completely on the flip side of that. So severe drought still persists over the Cascades where we have been lacking in the snow department and for the Portland Vancouver area abnormally dry. So technically not in drought thus far, but we could be heading that way sooner rather than later. And that of course all increasing our fire potential as the fire weather danger is elevated especially for the central and southeastern sections of the Beaver State for the rest of this evening as dry lightning poses a threat to start and spread new fires. That's where it really starts to ramp up as it moves its way. The thunderstorms do along with the higher threat of fires out towards the east by tomorrow evening. All as the summerlike temperatures continue to build here across the Portland Vancouver area. 83 is where we currently reside with increasing clouds to the sunshine though still cutting through as many of us through the northern Lamut Valley are on the toastier side this afternoon.

[00:01:25]well above our average of the upper 60s of where we are typically by the middle of the month of May. As those clouds will eventually help to cool us down for the rest of this evening, but also help to provide some instability to the atmosphere with a nice onshore flow eventually hitting the mountains and a front allowing for all of that moisture to rise rapidly and create the chance for a few isolated thunderstorms. All associated with our latest cold front that will be sweeping its way through our area. All as we prepare for this little kink or shortwave or very shallow trough of cooler air to reside overhead over the next 24 to 48 hours as the jetream stabilizes and becomes a little more linear over the Pacific Northwest.

[00:02:04]That's going to keep that rain potential alive and well through the end of the week. So, we'll time everything out with our futurecast. There's maybe an isolated thunderstorm or two developing by about 10 11:00 tonight. One or two of those bolts happening along the valley.

[00:02:17]But by tomorrow morning, that thunderstorm potential, it starts to fade and then just persistent widespread rain starts to ramp up with a few dry spots a possibility by Wednesday afternoon and by Thursday morning.

[00:02:29]Expecting to see some drying before our next batch of wet weather works its way into our area. So that lightning potential again firing up right around 10 11:00 tonight over the mountains. One or two of those strikes could move their way into the valley before we really start to see that subside shortly after the midnight hour. non severe, but again, lightning is our biggest threat with gusty winds. And then that all tracks its way further to the east tomorrow. That's what's increasing that wildfire potential, but just a bit of a breakdown. Our window of opportunity to see some of those thunderstorms is 9:00 to 2:00 a.m. tonight. The biggest threat is lightning and primarily located over the high terrain at the Cascades. All as our rain gauges fill up close to a tenth to a quarter of an inch here through the valley. Greater amounts over the foothills of the Cascades and closer to a quarter to a/ inch for the coastline.

[00:03:13]So maybe a rumbler or two tonight as we fall back to 52 degrees. Tomorrow's highs, we return to the mid60s for the valley. Upper 50s as those winds are also expected to pick up close to almost 30 miles hour as the brunt of the rain moves through during the morning hours as our 7-day forecast is keeping the wet weather trend going through the start of the weekend. That's where temperatures on Saturday only make it up to 61 degrees. So, we go from above average today to below average on Saturday before drier, sunnier skies return early next week.

[00:03:44]>> Now, talking about those drought conditions, you've said it time and time again. We need that rain. We do. And >> this is why.

[00:03:49]>> Finally, it's returning.

[00:03:50]>> All right, Josh. Thanks. We have much more coming up next.