Honestly, looking at the sky in Portland right now, you’d think the city was a giant gray mood ring stuck on "melancholy." It’s mid-January 2026. If you’ve lived here more than a week, you know the drill: the rain doesn’t always fall; it just sort of hangs there, waiting for you to forget your umbrella.
But things are shifting.
We are currently staring down a weirdly specific extended weather forecast in portland oregon that might actually break the "Big Dark" monotony. If you’re checking your phone every five minutes to see if the weekend hike at Forest Park is a wash, here is the ground truth. We are coming off a fairly mild start to the month—yesterday hit 55°F at PDX, which is nearly ten degrees above the normal high of 47°F.
Don't get comfortable.
The Mid-January Shift: Sun, Then a Slap of Reality
Right now, the National Weather Service is tracking a ridge of high pressure that is basically acting like a giant "Do Not Disturb" sign for Pacific storms. For the next few days, we’re looking at a rare January treat.
Sunny skies.
📖 Related: Is there actually a legal age to stay home alone? What parents need to know
Clear nights.
It sounds great until you realize clear skies in winter mean all our heat escapes into space. We’re looking at daytime highs hanging out in the low 50s through Friday, but the overnight lows are going to dip. Tuesday night already teased us with 33°F, and we might see some frost on the windshields as we head toward the weekend.
By Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, the forecast holds steady with highs around 52°F and 50°F respectively. It’s perfect "puffy jacket" weather. If you want to get out to the coast or hit the Columbia River Gorge, this is your window. Because after Monday, the vibe changes.
Why the 8-to-14 Day Outlook Matters
Around January 20, the ridge breaks.
The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is currently leaning toward a return to wetter-than-average conditions for the Pacific Northwest. Basically, the storm door is swinging back open. By Wednesday, January 21, the probability of precipitation jumps. We aren't just talking about the "Portland Mist" either; we’re looking at organized systems that could drop a quarter-inch to a half-inch of rain in 24-hour periods.
👉 See also: The Long Haired Russian Cat Explained: Why the Siberian is Basically a Living Legend
Temperatures will also start to slide. While the daytime highs stay in the late 40s, the "feels like" temp (the RealFeel for the scientists in the room) will be much lower due to the humidity and the return of those southwesterly winds.
The La Niña Elephant in the Room
We can't talk about an extended weather forecast in portland oregon without mentioning La Niña. This winter was billed as a "weak La Niña" year.
Usually, that means cooler and wetter.
However, 2026 has been a bit of a rebel. NOAA’s latest discussion notes that while La Niña conditions are present, they are weak and expected to transition to "ENSO-neutral" by early spring. This "weak" status is why we’ve had these random warm spikes.
Here’s the catch: weak La Niñas are notorious for late-season surprises. Expert forecasters, like Rod Hill, have noted that even when a winter starts mild, January or February often delivers at least one legitimate "Arctic intrusion."
✨ Don't miss: Why Every Mom and Daughter Photo You Take Actually Matters
Could it actually snow?
The question every Portlander asks (and fears).
Looking at the current data for the final week of January, there is a signal for colder air moving in from the north around January 25. Some models are hinting at "light snow early" on Sunday the 25th, but before you rush to Fred Meyer to buy all the kale and toilet paper, keep in mind that "snow" in Portland usually means "slop."
The ground is currently too warm for a major stick. If we do get flakes, they’ll likely be mixed with rain, creating that treacherous slush that turns our hills into ice rinks. The real window for a "Big One"—a 6-to-8 inch event—is statistically more likely in early February this year.
Living with the Forecast: Actionable Tips
Forecasts are just educated guesses with better math. But you can still plan your life around them.
- The "Wash Your Car" Window: Do it before Friday. The dry spell is real, but once the rain returns on the 21st, the road grime is going to be brutal.
- Check the Gutters: You’ve got a dry week. Get up there and pull out the pine needles before the heavy rain hits next Wednesday. An overflowing gutter is the #1 cause of "why is my basement damp?" conversations.
- Vitamin D Check: We’re getting sun this week, but it’s still only about 9 hours of daylight. The sun sets around 4:51 PM today and only creeps to 5:00 PM by next Tuesday. Soak up the actual rays while you can.
- Anti-Ice Prep: If you live in the West Hills or anywhere with a steep driveway, keep a bag of de-icer handy. Those clear nights leading into next week will create "black ice" patches even if it doesn't snow.
The bottom line is that the extended weather forecast in portland oregon is telling us to enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, because the last ten days of January look like a return to the classic, soggy Oregon we know and love. Keep the Gore-Tex handy and maybe don't put the snow shovel too deep in the garage just yet.
Next Steps for You
Check your outdoor faucet covers today while the weather is dry. If the temperatures drop into the 20s during the clear nights next week, you'll want those pipes protected. Also, monitor the NWS "Area Forecast Discussion" on Monday evening; that's when the timing for the late-January cold front will become much clearer.