Summer heat fades, rain chances and fire threat grows around PNW

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Summer-like heat fades as clouds and rain chances increase around the Portland area Wednesday.

A weak system will move onshore early Wednesday morning. It's the cloud coverage that will keep temperatures in the mid-70s. A nearly 15-degree temperature drop is expected from Tuesday to Wednesday's high.

Temperatures will remain cooler than normal for the end of June. A gradual warming trend will start to take shape by the weekend. That's when the rain chances increase again. Wednesday's rain chances are minimal, but will increase on Thursday. Only a couple of one-hundredths of an inch of rain is expected along the Willamette Valley.

Rain chances fade by the end of the week. That's where afternoon highs will climb to above normal conditions once again.

The temperature roller coaster ride seen over the last few months will likely continue through the start of July. The temperature swings and gusty conditions expected east of the mountains will increase the wildfire threat. Isolated thunderstorms with very little rain are expected to keep the fire danger high through Thursday.