Increased Risk of Severe Thunderstorms in Pacific Northwest

Forecasters have raised concerns about the looming threat of severe thunderstorms set to impact western Oregon and Washington over the next day. “On Wednesday afternoon and evening, parts of the Pacific Northwest might experience severe thunderstorms,” warned The Storm Prediction Center during a forecast discussion. “A more probable path for a few supercells has emerged west of the Cascades, potentially bringing large hail, brief tornado activity, and strong local gusts.”

Meteorologists are predicting hailstones ranging from 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter before the storms gradually weaken as they move across the Cascades. Based on the most recent forecast models, thunderstorms are expected to start forming around 2 p.m., causing possible disruptions for the afternoon commuters in the Portland metro area. By 7:30 p.m., the storm’s intensity should decrease as the energy in the atmosphere dissipates. “Sufficient confidence exists for an upgrade to a level 2-Slight risk of large hail, centered along the I-5 corridor in western Oregon/Washington,” experts noted.

To stay informed, tune into Storm Tracker 2 with Meteorologists Dave Salesky and Allison Gutleber, who will provide updates throughout Tuesday. Additionally, Rhonda Shelby will deliver the latest coverage on KATU News starting at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.