Outdoor enthusiasts rejoice as Portland basks under a ridge of strong high pressure bringing abundant amounts of sunshine and warm temps to the region through the weekend.
The National Weather Service is watching as the ridge builds into the latter half of the week and expects dry weather and quickly warming temps each day through Saturday.
Thursday will be a clear day with sunny skies and a high reaching about 83 degrees. Winds will be breezy at times with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Forecast models are all in agreement that Friday will be a toasty day with highs near 90 degrees. If Portland reaches that temp, it will break the old record on May 10 of 89 degrees set in 2019.
Saturday also has a slight chance of breaking heat records as the forecasted high is 89 degrees, and the record temp is 91 set in 1971.
In either case, these will be two very warm days, especially coming on the heels of several weeks of wet, cool weather.
The weather service warns residents about the dangers of cold water temps during spring when snow runoff fills area lakes and rivers. The agency says water temps are mainly in the 40s, and jumping into water that cold can cause cold water shock - a phenomenon in which sudden immersion in cold water causes the body to gasp, hyperventilate, lose motor control, and potentially drown. A recent release from Metro Parks and Nature warned that, as of noon Wednesday, the water temperature of the Sandy River at Oxbow Regional Park near Gresham was 44 degrees.
Swimmers should be prepared by using flotation devices and by never swimming alone. Keep an eye on children and pets near rivers as currents are swift.
Cooler onshore flow returns to the region overnight Saturday into Sunday.
Mother’s Day is looking lovely with slightly cooler temps and sunny skies. The high will be about 78 degrees.
Extended forecasts show some weakening of the upper ridge to start next week. Monday will be mostly sunny, but clouds will move in at times. The high will cool to about 72 degrees which is near normal during mid-May.