From Chilly Gusts to 70 Degrees: Central Oregon’s Major Spring Flip is Here

If you’ve been watching the skies today, you know it’s been a classic Central Oregon mix. We’ve seen the morning dampness give way to some sun, but that high desert breeze has definitely been keeping things crisp.

According to the latest reports from the National Weather Service, we are officially in the "calm before the warm."

Here is what you need to know for the rest of today and the massive shift coming our way.

We’re currently finishing out a transition day as a cool system pushes out of the region. So, we can expect partly sunny skies to stick around. While we had some moisture earlier, things have dried out significantly for the High Desert.

The wind has been the big story for Central Oregon the past couple of days. We’ve seen northwest winds gusting up to 35 mph. The good news? Those winds are expected to taper off as we head into the evening, becoming much lighter overnight.

The highs today are struggling to get out of the mid-to-upper 40s. It’s definitely a "layers" kind of day if you’re heading out for a walk or a ride.

As the sun dips behind the Cascades, the temperatures will drop as well. We’re looking at a chilly night with temperatures dropping into the mid-to-upper 20s. With the winds dying down, it’ll be a still, cold night—perfect for a fire pit, but make sure to protect any early spring starts you might have moved outside!

If today felt a little too much like winter, just hang on. NOAA’s long-range models are showing a massive ridge of high pressure building over the Pacific Northwest starting tomorrow.

Sunday, we begin the climb. Expect mostly cloudy skies but a much milder high in the mid-50s. By Monday, we’re trading the parkas for t-shirts. We are forecasted to hit 70°F, with that warmth sticking around—and potentially climbing into the mid-70s—through Tuesday and Wednesday.

Local Tip: With the ground damp from this morning and temperatures dropping tonight, watch for some patchy frost on the windshields tomorrow morning. After that, it’s full steam ahead into some of the warmest weather we’ve seen so far this year!

Stay weather-aware and enjoy the sunshine, Central Oregon!

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