Editor’s note: A winter storm warning is now in effect for the Cascades. Full list of active weather alerts in the region can be found here, and click here for a timeline of snow impacts in the Portland metro area.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the Cascades from Central Oregon to the Canadian border starting Thursday evening and lasting through Saturday afternoon.
Drivers can expect 6 to 12 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 40 mph at elevations above 3,000 feet. As much as 15 inches of snow is possible at elevations above 5,000 feet. Slick, slippery roads are expected, especially along bridges and highway overpasses.
KOIN 6 Meteorologist Kelley Bayern is advising drivers to prepare for winter conditions if they plan to travel through the mountain passes this weekend.
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“Big changes are coming to the mountain passes starting on Friday,” Bayern said. “We’ll first see rainfall or a rain and snow mix before conditions cool and turn to all snow by Saturday. Forecasts show significant snow amounts falling above 3,000 feet. Be ready for winter driving conditions heading into the weekend.”
The storm will end a potential record January dry-spell for the Portland area. A weak atmospheric river is forecast to bring rain to the region late Thursday night.
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