Active Winds Along Oregon Coast, Cascades and Valleys: Touch of a Fall Storm

Published 09/24/2026 at 3:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Gold Beach, Oregon) – The first storm of the season (or storm-like system) arrives on the south Oregon coast with some sizable winds on Thursday and Friday, and later maybe even bringing isolated thunderstorms to northwest Oregon or southwest Washington. Above: moody Hug Point / Oregon Coast Beach Connection.

A small craft advisory may be in store, and there's already some gale watches in effect for coastal waters ten nautical miles out. Even areas like Portland and Salem could see gusts up to 35 mph on Thursday night.

Fall weather is just giving a hint before things get lovely again.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Medford spelled out the more active stuff to hit the region, happening in southern Oregon.

“Gusty conditions are expected Thursday and Friday along the coast and east of the Cascades,” the NWS said. “Strong south winds of 20 to 35 mph are possible along the coast and southwesterly winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 30 to 40 mph are expected east of the Cascades.”

Pacific Northwest Weather | Oregon, Washington, Coastline (see NW from space) |---| Washington Coast Weather |---| Oregon Coast Weather |---| Inland Oregon Weather

The NWS said the only thing to look out for is that travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Be sure to secure loose objects on your property.

Larger waves will be active out at sea, with the gale watch in effect through Friday evening – but only for mariners a ways off. Seas up around 10 feet are likely, but possibly higher.

Seaside

There are different gale watches at different times for the entire coastline, including the Columbia Bar. Most of that won't make it too close to shore, but you may see a little extra wave action from Warrenton down through Brookings.

Along the northwest part of the state, things will start to get breezy early Thursday in the valley and coast, but not too cold.

“Low to mid 60s on the coast and low to mid 70s within inland valleys,” the NWS in Portland said. “Rain will spread from west to east as the cold front moves onshore, reaching the coast most likely between 2-5 PM PDT, and inland to the Willamette Valley and I-5 corridor by 5-8 PM PDT. Steady rain will transition to more on-and-off rain showers behind the boundary late Thursday evening through Thursday night.“

Friday's bursts of sunlight may create some thunderstorms in that region, as they increase instability into systems like this.

A half inch of rain could fall in many areas.

“Rainfall amounts are likely to be higher along the coast, in the Coast Range and Willapa Hills, and in the Cascades, where 0.6-1.2 inches are expected,” the NWS in Portland said.

By Wednesday, much of the south coast may be well into the 70s again.

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