Windy end to a wet week around the Portland area

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Rainy skies subside as easterly winds increase across the Portland-Vancouver area Friday.

Stronger easterly winds will help keep temperatures below average around the northern Willamette Valley on Friday. Some wind gusts could be near 40 mph during the afternoon hours. These windy conditions will make afternoon highs in the mid 40s feel slightly cooler.

Portland's power outage risk is elevated Friday as gusts near 40 mph through much of the day. Even stronger winds are possible closer to the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge.

Mostly cloudy skies will remain overhead as rain showers dry before sunrise Friday. Another round of rain and higher-elevation snow returns Saturday morning. Rain accumulation will be near a tenth of an inch on Saturday as light showers remain scattered in nature. Despite cooler temperatures, snow elevation levels will remain above 4,000 ft. this weekend.

The scattered showers potential remains in western Oregon and Washington through the weekend as easterly winds begin to slow Sunday. The slower east winds will help temperatures rebound into the low to mid 50s around the Willamette Valley Sunday.

Scattered showers remain in the forecast for Monday. Sunnier and drier weather is expected to build over the Pacific Northwest by the middle of next week. That drier weather pattern will also help temperatures warm into the mid to upper 50s by Thursday.