Local Forecast: Tracking Rain, Thunder, and a Mid-Week Chill

Looking at the latest data from NOAA and the National Weather Service, if you were hoping for a dry spring weekend, you might want to keep the rain gear handy. We have a consistent pattern of precipitation and cooler temperatures moving into the region, affecting everything from the High Desert to the Cascades.

The Immediate Outlook: Tonight through Sunday

For those in Bend, Madras, Prineville, and Redmond, tonight will remain mostly cloudy with a 70% chance of rain. Keep an ear out for thunder this evening; thunderstorms are possible before we transition to steady light rain overnight.

Sunday will mirror today’s damp conditions. Expect rain showers to be likely, with another chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

• Highs: Lower to mid 50s.
• Winds: Light, becoming westerly at 5–10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.
• Rainfall: Generally less than a quarter-inch, though thunderstorms could bring heavier localized amounts.

Mountain Travel & The East Slopes

If you are heading toward Camp Sherman, La Pine, Sisters, or Sunriver, conditions are significantly more "wintry."

• Tonight: High mountain snow is expected with a nearly 100% chance of precipitation.
• Sunday Night/Monday: We are tracking actual accumulation. Expect 1 to 3 inches of snow overnight Sunday as the snow level drops to 4,500 feet.
• Monday: The snow level drops further to 4,000 feet, so please be prepared for slick mountain passes and winter driving conditions.

Looking Toward Next Week

The cool, unsettled weather sticks around for the first half of the week.

• Monday & Tuesday: We stay mostly cloudy with highs holding in the low 50s.
• Mid-Week Pivot: Wednesday looks particularly active. We are seeing a 70% chance of rain for the valleys and likely snow for higher elevations.
• The Mid-Week Freeze: Wednesday and Thursday nights will be cold, with lows dipping into the mid-to-upper 20s. Make sure to protect any sensitive spring plants you’ve already put in the ground!

The Silver Lining

If you’re craving sunshine, hang in there. By Thursday and Friday, the region should clear up significantly. We are forecasting mostly clear skies to end the work week, with a beautiful warm-up into the low-to-mid 60s by next Saturday.

Stay safe out there, and keep an eye on the skies!

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