PORTLAND, Ore. — KGW has issued a Weather Impact Alert for Wednesday afternoon due to strong thunderstorms forecasted in the Portland metro, with potentially gusty winds and large hail.

Strong showers and thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon and late into the evening ahead of a cold front that’s expected to arrive overnight and cause temperatures to rapidly drop, ending a short stint of 70-degree days.

The thunderstorms are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday, KGW Meteorologist Rod Hill said. 

The biggest Oregon impact will be in the Willamette Valley, including the Portland metro. The forecasted thunderstorm area also extends further north, across much of western Washington.

People should take shelter if they hear thunder. According to Oregon Department of Emergency Management, here are the ways to best protect yourself: 

Lightning safety:

• When thunder roars, go indoors. If you see lightning or hear thunder, seek shelter inside a sturdy, enclosed building. Do NOT take shelter under trees or open-sided shelters like picnic areas.
• If shelter isn’t available, a vehicle with a metal roof, turned off, with the windows closed is safer than remaining outside. Vehicles act as a Faraday cage and will disperse electrical strikes away from you into the ground.

Heavy rain, hail and flooding

• Slow down while driving to avoid hydroplaning or sliding on hail-covered streets.
• Avoid driving through flooded roadways. Even a few inches can be deadly.
• Watch for water accumulation in low-lying areas.
• The safest place during a tornado is a basement. If that’s not available, go to the lowest floor of your home in a small interior room—like a closet or bathroom—away from windows.
• Cover yourself with a mattress or sturdy object to protect against debris.
• If caught outside without shelter, lie in a ditch or culvert and cover your head.
• Remain indoors and away from windows.
• Don’t park under trees due to falling limb risk.
• Be aware that falling trees may impact power lines, buildings, and roadways.

It’s our goal to make sure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information about the weather and its impact on you. The new KGW Weather Impact Alerts will be just that, alerts as far in advance as possible, so that you can be armed with accurate information to keep yourself and your family safe.