PORTLAND, Oregon – Oregon’s mild and mostly dry fall weather is set to give way to colder air and the state’s first widespread winter pattern between November 9 and 15. Forecasters warn that mountain snow, valley rain, and gusty winds will arrive as Arctic air seeps south from Canada and interacts with Pacific storm energy.
According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, Oregon will trend below normal in temperature and above normal in precipitation through mid-November — an ideal setup for early-season snow across the Cascades, Blue Mountains, and eastern high deserts. Western valleys, including Portland, Eugene, and Medford, will stay mostly rainy but turn sharply colder as snow levels drop midweek.
The National Weather Service offices in Portland, Pendleton, and Medford report that a strong cold front early next week will deliver widespread rain followed by falling snow levels, possibly reaching 2,500 feet by midweek. Mountain passes along I-84, U.S. 26, and Santiam Pass could see accumulating snow and hazardous travel, while coastal regions experience strong gusts and chilly rain.
Residents are urged to prepare now — inspect heating systems, clear storm drains, and stock emergency supplies before the colder pattern locks in. Drivers crossing mountain routes should carry traction devices and allow extra travel time during snow events.
With Thanksgiving just weeks away, meteorologists say Oregon’s upcoming cold snap marks the true start of winter across the Northwest — signaling an active, snow-filled stretch for mountain travelers and ski areas alike.
