NZUS96 KPDT 232201
LLLPDT
ORZ041-044-049-050-502-503-505>511-WAZ024-026>030-521>523-241001-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
301 PM PDT Wed Apr 23 2025

. Short term...Today through Friday...Light winds and warm, dry conditions for the rest of today into tomorrow morning as the upper ridge continues moving across the PacNW. With the ongoing northwesterly flow aloft, winds remain locally breezy (15-25 mph) over the Blue Mountain-Foothills extending through central OR this afternoon into evening when they will then decrease. Skies will remain clear as well before cloud coverage increases tomorrow late morning onwards along with locally breezy conditions over the Cascade Gaps until tomorrow evening. 
The ridge gradually moves east tomorrow evening as a upper trough develops and deepens near the west coast with the shortwave trough moving across the PacNW Friday. Showers will develop at OR Cascades first tomorrow evening but chances are low (<20%). With the southwesterly flow taking over and increased moisture and instability, thunderstorms could develop Friday evening over the Grande Ronde Valley and portions of the Wallowas. However, chances are low (<20%) on their development and extent with CAPE values being relatively low (500 J/Kg or below) and weak moisture content. The soundings for the aforementioned areas were also dry in the lower troposphere as well thus lowering chances on its severity. Chances of showers will increase Friday morning before spreading across most of the forecast area through the day with the Lower Basin, Kittitas and Yakima Valley, and Simcoe Highlands dry. The raw ensembles remain having less than 20% probability for QPF amounts up to 0.10” over the lower part of the East slopes of OR cascades and Ochoco-John Day Highlands, but increases to 30-50% prob Friday night. Winds will remain locally breezy up to 25 mph across the Cascade Gaps as the southwesterly flow aloft persists during the day Friday. High temperatures will continue to be seasonably warm through this forecast period. Feaster/97