Portland Weather

By Rod Hill on 2019-09-30

The wild weekend weather was highlighted with Sunday’s headline of the coldest September

day on record for the Rose City! Downtown Portland recorded a high temperature of 49 degrees,

becoming the only September day in 145 years of record keeping to not reach 50 degrees. In

fact the previous record for holding in the 40s early in the fall season was October 12, 1881.

More fallen records for September 29th, include 52 degrees at PDX, tying the coldest high

temperature for the month of September, set back in 1948. The following cities also tied or

set a new record for the coldest September afternoon: Vancouver, Hillsboro, Troutdale and McMinnville.

Astoria’s Sunday high of 54 degrees set a cold record for the date.

The cold air fed heavy snowfall over the Cascades with snow levels dipping below 3,000 feet. For the

weekend, Timberline received 11”, Meadows 8” and a report of 6” at 4,600 feet. While locals realize

fall snows typically fall and quickly melt, the early dump is always good for moral!

The last chapter of our chilly episode hit the Willamette Valley and southwest Washington this morning with

the coldest early fall temperatures to date. No records, but PDX dipped to 39 degrees, marking the first

fall morning below 40 degrees. One reporting site in east Battle Ground reported frost and 32 degrees.

Similar chilly temps under clear skies are expected Tuesday morning.

The upper low that provided our crazy weather is moving east out of the Northwest today, allowing sunny skies

and temperatures on the rebound. Forecast models do show below normal temperatures most days

through mid-October. Normal high for Portland is 70 degrees with a normal low of 49 as October begins.

If you are wondering, there is seldom a correlation between September and October weather and what is to come

for the winter season.

KGW Meteorologist Rod Hill