Bend, Oregon – A colder, storm-loaded pattern is settling across Oregon as December begins, prompting a December Snow Alert while winter in Bend turns sharply more active. While it’s too early to determine exactly how many inches of snow could fall, one thing is certain: Oregon is positioned for an above-average amount, especially east of the Cascades where cold air deepens quickly.
According to the Climate Prediction Center, below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation are favored across the Pacific Northwest through December. According to the National Weather Service in Pendleton, multiple Pacific systems, Cascade spillover events, and Arctic fronts may deliver accumulating snow from Bend to Redmond, Sisters, and the high desert during the first half of the month.
According to ODOT, travel hazards will likely increase along US-97, Highway 20, and mountain passes into the central Cascades where blowing snow, icy bridges, and sudden visibility drops may slow travel during morning and evening commutes. Motorists should carry chains, keep winter kits stocked, and check pass conditions before heading west toward Santiam or Willamette Pass.
Holiday events across Bend, Sunriver, and the Deschutes County foothills may face schedule changes if storm bands intensify during evening gatherings. Residents should dress in layers, protect exposed pipes, and prepare for brief outages if wetter snow loads limbs in the foothills or gusty winds accompany stronger fronts.
Though exact totals remain uncertain, long-range signals continue to support a colder, storm-active setup — raising confidence that Oregon is headed for a snowy December and lifting White Christmas odds across the high desert and central Cascades.
