The Oregonian/OregonLive

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NOAA

In what is literally the calm before the storm, Friday will be relatively quiet with showers and mild temps to nearly 65 degrees.



But then it all breaks loose. Portland should expect strong gusty winds in two batches for Saturday with plenty of showers and even the potential for thunderstorms. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for the Portland area, and a high wind warning for the coast (more on that in a bit).

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NOAA

The deep low pressure system tracking north should hit the inland valleys in two parts, according to a National Weather Service post. The first will hit Saturday morning as the front moves through. This bout should produce some strong winds, but isn't as likely as the next system to cause any damage.

The second round (more likely) arrives in the afternoon “as the surface pressure gradient is more favorable for winds and is more mixed to surface the stronger winds from aloft,” forecasters for the Weather Service wrote.

The service has issued a high wind watch for the metro area from late Friday night and into Saturday evening. During this time, winds from 25-35 mph are likely. Gusts of 40-55 mph are possible. High winds can damage trees and bring down branches and limbs. Localized power outages are possible. Also, during high wind events, travel in high profile vehicles may be difficult.

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BethNakamura/The Oregonian/Oregonlive

Add into all this the possibility of thunderstorms across the forecast area on Saturday. Yep, it could be a wild one.



But if you're really looking for wild, a trip to the coast might be just the ticket. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for the coast and the Coast Range for 4 a.m. -8 p.m. Saturday.



Coastal winds will be from the south at 30-45 mph (sustained) with gusts to 75 mph on the beaches and headlands. Gusts in the cities and towns along the coast will be at 65 mph throughout the day on Saturday.

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The good news is all of this should clear out before Sunday when we’ll returned to rainy weather with a high of 55 degrees. Snow levels in the Cascades will come back down from Saturday night into Sunday morning to about 4,000 feet. Accumulations of up to 6 inches are expected through Sunday at near the higher pass levels.

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