Jefferson County residents heading out for Halloween festivities tonight should bundle up — and plan for freezing temperatures before morning. The National Weather Service is forecasting overnight lows in the low 30s for Madras and surrounding communities through at least Sunday, marking what could be the first consistent hard-freeze stretch of the fall season.

What to Expect This Weekend

Tonight's forecast calls for cloudy skies with a low near 32 degrees and calm winds — cold enough to frost windshields and damage unharvested garden crops. Friday daytime will see partly sunny skies with a high near 52 degrees, keeping conditions pleasant for early trick-or-treaters and afternoon events.

The bigger story arrives Saturday night, when a weather system is expected to push through the region. The National Weather Service is giving a 40 percent chance of precipitation, with snow levels dropping from 5,000 feet to as low as 2,700 feet after midnight — well within range of higher elevations across the county. Residents in Crooked River Ranch (elevation approximately 2,800–3,200 feet) and areas near Ashwood and Antelope could see a brief dusting of snow before the system clears Sunday morning.

Sunday Clears Out

The good news: Sunday itself looks mostly sunny with a high near 52 degrees, and the pattern stays relatively dry into the first week of November. Daytime highs in the mid-50s are expected through Wednesday before another slight chance of showers returns late in the week. Overnight lows through the extended forecast remain in the low-to-mid 30s — firmly freeze territory each night.

Tips for Tonight

  • Trick-or-treaters: Layer costumes over warm clothing — temperatures will be in the mid-40s around 6–7 p.m. and dropping through the evening.
  • Drivers: Watch for patchy frost on bridges and low-lying roads, especially after midnight Friday and Saturday.
  • Gardeners and ranchers: Cover tender plants and check on livestock water systems — sustained sub-freezing nights are here to stay.
  • Travelers on US-26 and US-97: ODOT advises drivers to carry chains through mountain passes beginning in November. Check TripCheck.com before heading out Saturday night.

Madras sits at about 2,242 feet elevation, and while the valley floor is unlikely to see accumulating snow this weekend, the surrounding terrain is another matter. Residents headed toward Sisters on Highway 20 or into the Warm Springs area on Highway 26 should allow extra travel time Saturday night and Sunday morning as conditions develop.

Full NWS point forecasts for Madras and surrounding areas are available at weather.gov. Road conditions can be checked at TripCheck.com.