Northwest Oregon is forecast to get a rare “atmospheric river” rain that should tamp down wildfire danger but will soak anyone camping on Aug. 15 and 16.
The stream of moisture from the Pacific Ocean, far more common during fall and winter, is forecast to bring 1-3 inches of rain to the Cascade Mountains and coast while the Willamette Valley could see a little less than an inch.
The rain was forecast to begin with light showers the evening of Aug. 14, before picking up steam and raining hard the evening of Aug. 15 and the morning of Aug. 16, and gradually giving way to sunnier skies Aug. 17.
“It’s pretty unseasonal — it does happen from time to time but not very often in August,” said Tanja Fransen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland. “We certainly need it.”
Rain comes as Oregon's drought expands and wildfire danger reaches its peak
The rain comes just as Oregon’s drought has rapidly expanded and wildfire danger reaches its seasonal peak.
More than half of Oregon is now classified as being under a moderate drought and most of the Willamette Valley and northwest Oregon is under a severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The atmospheric river — a stream of moisture brought in from the Pacific — will focus most of its rain on the northern half of the state, with the amount of precipitation declining somewhat to the south.
“It’s going to help with the drought and wildfire danger, but it’s also not a ‘season ending’ event,” Fransen said.
Oregon’s weather is expected to heat back up again by next weekend and wildfires will remain possible throughout late August and September. But the rain will help in a major way.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at [email protected] or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Northwest Oregon to see rare ‘atmospheric river’ rain this weekend
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