Rain clears, Portland area prepares for more wet weather, mountain snow

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- As one storm clears, another takes aim at western Oregon and southwest Washington by the end of the week.

Morning rain is expected to slow through the day on Thursday. A hit-and-miss light rain shower is likely through the afternoon and evening hours as highs struggle to be greater than the mid-40s. A few breaks in the clouds are possible just before sunset.

Impacts from the second rainy system of the week are expected to be felt as early as Friday morning. That's where rain accumulation will be near three-quarters of an inch from Thursday morning to Friday night.

Rain showers are expected to remain through much of the day on Saturday. That's where winds could gust close to 15-20 mph through the day.

Snow returns to the higher elevations of the Cascades with this latest round of wetter weather. Accumulative snow is expected to fall to 4,000' through the day on Saturday. Nearly 10-20" of snow is possible for some ski resorts around western Oregon by the end of the weekend.

Slightly drier conditions return to the Pacific Northwest by the end of the weekend. That's where afternoon highs will stabilize in the near-average zone of the mid to upper-40s. A few scattered rain showers are expected to last through the start of next week.