Oregon Braces for Powerful Winds Up to 60 mph as Christmas Storm System Moves In

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Wind Advisory for the Willamette Valley beginning at 7 am Wednesday, with squalls travelling up to 55 mph and 60mph across the southern Rogue Valley. The NWS also predicts rain on Christmas Day across most of the state.

Windy Day Across the Willamette Valley Today

High winds are expected in the Willamette Valley and southwest Washington today as a storm system moves in.

The strong atmospheric river bringing heavy rainfall to California through the holiday week is expected to be at its heaviest in the Los Angeles Basin today, with flash and urban flooding, and prolonged heavy snowfall is expected in the Sierra Nevada. The system will also affect Oregon.

In Portland, NWS predicts an east-northeast wind of 8 to 15 mph in the morning, with gusts as high as 31 mph and a 50% chance of rain between 3pm and 4pm. The day will mostly be cloudy, gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

As the day goes on, it will get very windy. An east-southeast wind blowing at 17 to 22 mph will become a south wind at 26 to 31 mph in the afternoon.

Winds could gust as high as 49 mph. Overnight, a northeast wind is expected to die down to 3 to 5 mph. There’s a 60% chance of rain on Christmas Day, with an east wind around 7 mph.

Rogue Valley Weather Today

Two wind advisories were issued for the Rogue Valley from 10pm last night to 1 pm today. Meteorologists predict high southeast winds of 30 to 40 mph, and gusts of up to 60 mph.

The winds may move loose debris, bring down trees, damage property, cause power outages, and make travel difficult. Wind hazards are possible again tonight into Christmas Day.

Stay safe: Tree limbs and holiday decorations will be blown about.